Who or what event is portrayed in this story?
Although a mid-January afternoon, the day was fine. The sun warmed her legs beneath her wool skirt. With her black shoe, she kicked some small pebbles at the pigeons cooing nearby. The flapped their wings and took a few steps with their small red feet but quickly returned to their places, pecking at the ground beneath them.
‘Maria,’ Mrs Clougherty called out to her.
Maria turned and waved. She pointed at the firewood and received a nod in return.
Suddenly, a rumble caused Maria to look up, she thought it was a train was running along the tracks above her head but she only saw brown. A sweet-smelling wave of death.
A fireman from Engine Seven surveyed the mess and sighed. He could hear screams, horses whinnying, and the creaks of metal. There was a worry that the tracks might fall down on them, but his first priority was to find survivors. Another shot rang out and the whinnying stopped. His boots come off in the molasses—wet, warm and sticky. Damn.
He bent down to pull his boot out when he saw the bright red coat.
Who or what event is portrayed in this story?
The previous Death By … story is based on:
Chrysippus of Soli (c. 279 BC – c. 206 BC) was a Greek Stoic philosopher. He died during the 143rd Olympiad (208–204 BC) at the age of 73. He was watching a donkey eat some figs and cried out: "Now give the donkey a drink of pure wine to wash down the figs", whereupon he died in a fit of laughter.
Sources:
Congrats Laura! You got it right! Another point.
ReplyDeleteAnd guys, personally I don't care if you research on google to find the answer.
Denis, you totally deserve a point for that. However, there are people who paying close attention to the tallies and I fear they will come through my computer and eat me. Death by... Carnivorous Creature!
Laura - 10 points
JTWebster - 4 points
Glynis - 2 points
Jan Morrison- 2 point
Cherie - 2 point
Bev Hankins - 2 point
Old Kitty - 2 point
Jayne Robin Brown - 1 point
Youngman - 1 point
Angela Brown - 1 point
Suze - 1 point
Sia McKye - 1 point
Alex Cavanaugh- 1 point
Connie Keller - 1 point
Pat Newcombe - 1 point
Sarah Pearson - 1 point,
Susan Roebuck - 1 point
Lynda R Young - 1 point
Denise Covey - 1 point
Nicki Elson - 1 point
JC Martin - 1 point
Talli Roland - 1 point
Golden Eagle - 1 point
Let me know if these tallies are off.
And just a hint: Not all names used in the stories will be the right name. Sometimes if I use the right name, it'll be too easy. I can't make it that easy, can I?
Won't research it online - that would be too easy. Just glad I have a point.
ReplyDeleteAnd don't know today's answer. Sounds messy though.
Not sure, but it does sound intriguing.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Alex - no researching for me - I'll just see what I know - which is zilch so far! :)
ReplyDeleteThis must be the Boston Molasses disaster of 1919 when a molasses storage tank burst and killed 21.
ReplyDeleteI'd like to say I knew this but unlike the others, I'm not above googling to find out the answer - especially as it's the first time I've been in time to try :-)
Is it bad that I'm spending more time thinking of ways to steal Laura's points than I am figuring out the mystery? :)
ReplyDeleteWow! What a way to die!
ReplyDeleteLoL, DL! :)
ReplyDeleteHeehee, I know this one!! Boston Molasses Disaster. A tank of molasses exploded. I can't remember the exact date, sometime in the earlyish 20th Century. Ick, gruesome!
Hope you have a great weekend, Clarissa!
No cheating! What fun would that be. I don't know this either but that just sucks!
ReplyDeleteHeather
Very messy indeed! And of course, I have no idea what the story is lol!
ReplyDeleteOne day I will know the answer. I will.
ReplyDeleteThis has got to be what happened in Boston early in the last century. The only reason I say that is because hub's from New Hampshire. One trip up, he showed me some sites around Boston and I remember him talking about this molasses, which I remember because I adore pancakes with syrup/molasses on top.
ReplyDeleteSince you love coffee, Clarissa, I think you'd enjoy trying coffee and chicory. Cafe du Monde's coffee is a bit milder than Community Roast coffee.
I'm reading the comments and I've never heard of this disaster before.
ReplyDeleteI'm just curious to see how much I know without using a search engine. Not much, of course.
ReplyDeletePoor Maria!
I vaguely remembered something about a molasses disater but didn't know where it was or when.
ReplyDeleteThanks for your comment on my post on L'Aussie's blog!
Oh, now that is so well-written! I could really feel Maria's fear...
ReplyDeleteI thought about Googling, but then I'd feel like a bit of a cheat. On the other hand, I'm going to miss out on a good prize! lol
ReplyDeleteps thanks for taking the time to read my short story. :)
Ooh death by molasses. Okay, I get to tell you my joke.
ReplyDeleteThe mole family is underground. Papa Mole sticks his nose out the mole hole and says "Uh mmm, Farmer Brown's wife is baking pie."
Mama Mole sticks her nose out the mole hole and says "Sure enough, I smell cinnamon and brown sugar."
Baby Mole tries to scrabble past his parents and finally yells "Get out the way! All I smell is molasses!"
Pardon the pun, but poor girl sure came to a sticky end!
ReplyDeleteJ.C. Martin
A to Z Blogger
I'm guessing a vat of molasses tipped over onto the poor girl. Regardless, not a pleasant way to go...
ReplyDeleteThis had me tense all the way through as I was waiting with dread. No doubt the molasses did her in. What a sad, horrifying story.
ReplyDeleteDenise
There was a flood of molasses early last century when a vat exploded. Somewhere on the eastern side of USA.
ReplyDeleteAnother well written story Clarissa. You must have done so much research for this challenge. I wonder how many will appear in your future writing!
Ew, a sticky way to go this time.
ReplyDeleteBoston Molasses Disaster (21 died): specifically Maria Distasio, age 10 killed when molasses tank burst and drowned/suffocated people in a wave of molasses
ReplyDeleteSo when you are over 70 you should learn to control your fits of laughter right? The molasses story is really a new one on me.
ReplyDeleteHey, Clarissa, have you read, 'The Poisoner's Handbook,' by Deborah Blume?
ReplyDeleteIntriguing excerpt. You hooked me in. Glad I stopped by.
ReplyDeleteIf you've the chance, pop over to my blog. I'm the award winning author of the Bella and Britt series for kids.
Thanks for sharing. Good stuff.
I have no idea, but it sounds like a very horrible way to go. Not that any way is particularly good.
ReplyDeletenow, that's a unique death. Hope the police won't put you under investigation if they read your series :)))
ReplyDeleteIt must be horrible dying like that. Can't stand molasses and of course, I don't know the answer.
ReplyDeleteSoli was something else. Now I know what the term 'I slay me' means. :)
I'm sure I won't be able to comment on the ones I've missed, but I'll go read them still.
After reading this story, I still have no idea but it's an interesting tale.
ReplyDeleteCheers!
~Nicole
Blog: The Madlab Post
*Rockin' the A to Z Challenge! - My recent posts are K for Karma; L for Love; M for Matrimony*
@MadlabPost on Twitter
Very interesting and creative theme for the challenge!
ReplyDeleteEllie, who has 3 blogs in the challenge
Ellie's Blank Book
Ellie's Couch
Help Michigan Pets