Emily Chan
The mild weather that day also likely contributed to the spread of the sticky substance. Streams of molasses filled the area for two blocks.
As temperatures dropped in the evening, the conditions worsened since the molasses grew thicker.
Buildings collapsed, the wreckage pinning people down. Others got stuck in the molasses. Hours after the accident, at least one person died of asphyxiation.
One man even died after being admitted into an asylum, with the family claiming that his death was caused by trauma from the molasses accident. That fateful day highlights the consequences of overlooking safety in favor of profit.
