Twenty one people were killed on Commercial Street in the North End when a tank of molasses ruptured and exploded.  An eight foot wave of the syrupy brown liquid moved down Commercial Street at a speed of 35mph. Wreckage of the collapsed tank visible in background, center, next to light colored warehouse.  Elevated railway structure visible at far left and the North End Park bathing beach to the far right. A "before" view of the disaster can be seen in <a href="//commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:North_End_molasses_tank.jpg" title="File:North End molasses tank.jpg">this image</a>.
<a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/24029425@N06">BPL</a>
Taken on 15 January 1919
<a rel="nofollow" class="external free" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/boston_public_library/4901555337/">https://www.flickr.com/photos/boston_public_library/4901555337/</a> Panorama of the Molasses Disaster site