October 17: Sad Day in Beer History

On October 17, 1814, the largest beer barrel in the world at the time
ruptured at the Meux brewery, and about half a million liters of beer
(porter) poured out. The force of the beer made other barrels
collapse, and overall, over 300,000 gallons of beer poured into the
streets. The beer flood claimed 9 lives; eight dies from the force of
the beer, the ninth from alcohol poisoning a few days later. He was
drinking the beer as it flowed. He was not the only one; rescue
efforts were blocked by thousands of people who rushed out to drink
the free beer.

The brewery was sued, but the rupture of the barrel was ruled an Act
of God, removing any liability; they had pre-paid the duty on the
beer, but an act of parliament refunded the tax. The brewery lasted
until 1922.

The Boston Molasses Tragedy was similar. It happened in January 1919
in the north end of Boston, when a tank containing over 2 million
gallons of molasses collapsed. A wave of molasses, about 10 feet
high, rushed out at 35mph. 21 people died and 150 were injured. They
were sued in (one of the first) class action suits, and this was found
not to be an Act of God but an act of negligence. They were found
guilty, and had to pay a fine of $600,000.