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midnightsmum

Weekend Trivia -- Sunday

Happy Sunday Morning, Cottagers! It is a beautiful Indian Summer day here, and of course, Canadian Thanksgiving. I am heading out shortly, to pick up my turkey. Yumm, turkey with razzleberry dressing!!

So, short, sweet, and to the point: When and where was the world's largest man-made accidental explosion? I'll be back later with clues, if you smarties need them!!

Nancy.

Comments (34)

  • cyn427 (z. 7, N. VA)
    12 years ago
    last modified: 9 years ago

    Happy Thanksgiving! Razzleberry? Now there is a trivia question! Never heard of that, but would love details, Nancy.

    Yes, do need clues! Accidental has me thinking of possibly industrial??? Then again, could it be a cooking-related accident-teehee.

    Cynthia

  • midnightsmum (Z4, ON)
    Original Author
    12 years ago
    last modified: 9 years ago

    Not industrial, but in my kitchen, yes, that could happen. Dinner is ready when the smoke-alarm goes off. Razzleberry, lol, came I think from a Mr. Magoo Christmas Carol, and Tiny Tim sang about Razzleberry dressing!! I think - I guess I should Google that.

    Hmmmm, without giving too much away, it was war-time, but not directly war-related......

    Nancy.

  • thinman
    12 years ago
    last modified: 9 years ago

    The one I'm thinking of is chemically related to the Oklahoma City bombing, but there was a lot more than a truckload of the stuff. In a way, it's appropriate, though tragic, that it occurred in the state that it did.

    TM

  • aftermidnight Zone7b B.C. Canada
    12 years ago
    last modified: 9 years ago

    Mornin' all, I think we see a bit about this on TV from time to time. V.C. was quite a hero in this bit of canadian history. If I'm right I know what caused it, where, but not the exact date without looking it up.

    Annette

  • Ginny McLean_Petite_Garden
    12 years ago
    last modified: 9 years ago

    First thing that came to mind was not Canadian nor American but to my knowledge, the worst so far in world history.....oh those Russians ( quoting the Boney M song Rasputin ). Well, a bit to the S West.....Exact date not sure of but I know it was right after my daughters 3rd birthday, April 9, 1986.

    Ginny

  • Ginny McLean_Petite_Garden
    12 years ago
    last modified: 9 years ago

    PS I sure hope you are making Razzleberry dressing from berries and not weeds Nancy! Happy Thanksgiving to you and yours and hopefully you won't all be flying out of there! Lol! Happy thanksgiving to all the Canadian gardeners!!

    We are skipping TG feast this year since I cook a turkey with all the fixings about once a month anyway and my daughter is not going to be here. :( Gardening instead and making wigs for all my skeletons. Apparently, hair keeps growing after death......I guess that deopends on if you had it at the time of death......oh dear, I didn't mean to leave a hint in there...:)

    Ginny

    I'll post pics of my yard.

  • thinman
    12 years ago
    last modified: 9 years ago

    Canadian history? Hmmmm, I may be off on this one. Maybe the one I'm thinking of was big, but not the biggest.

    TM

  • midnightsmum (Z4, ON)
    Original Author
    12 years ago
    last modified: 9 years ago

    Also, accidental, TM. That is very important. The precise date is probably not important - let's say WWI was almost over. I am trying to confirm, but I believe until Little Boy, it was the largest man-made explosion, period.

    Nancy.

  • cyn427 (z. 7, N. VA)
    12 years ago
    last modified: 9 years ago

    Well, I am stumped. Even asked Chuck and he didn't know.

    Monthly Thanksgiving? Yum. I am moving in with you Ginny!

    I believe hair and nails keep growing-ewww.

    Back to explosions...so not refinery fire/explosion (Chuck's first thought was that in Texas, but came up with no specifics). Now, he is leaning toward fertilizer or ammunitions plant. That made me think of fireworks. Are we even anywhere near the ballpark?

    Cynthia

  • midnightsmum (Z4, ON)
    Original Author
    12 years ago
    last modified: 9 years ago

    Boston gets its huge Christmas tree from this city every year, as a thanks for all of the aid sent to it, by rail.

    Annette, I need help with clues!!

    Nancy.

  • Ginny McLean_Petite_Garden
    12 years ago
    last modified: 9 years ago

    Uh oh. I think I am way off here......I thought you said WORLD'S largest MM explosion. Hmmmm....now I have to rethink this one.......

    Ginny

  • Ginny McLean_Petite_Garden
    12 years ago
    last modified: 9 years ago

    Guess we got our wires crossed Nancy....or was that ships crossed? But that was a very long time ago.........1917 maybe?

    Internet is not working very good today....must be cyber spooks! Not December yet so it can't be elves......

    Ginny

  • midnightsmum (Z4, ON)
    Original Author
    12 years ago
    last modified: 9 years ago

    Yes, was and is the world's largest accidental man-made explosion; it was supplanted by Hiroshima/Nagasaki as the world's largest man-made explosion. Before that, the largest explosion period was deemed to be the volcano at Krakatoa. Remember, accidental is the key here. Explosions are not judged just by the size of the bang, if you will. One-hundred and thirty explosions were compared by scientists in 1994, this one remains unchallenged in overall magnitude as long as five criteria are considered together: number of casualties, force of blast, radius of devastation, quantity of explosive material, and total value of property destroyed.

    Nancy.

  • Ginny McLean_Petite_Garden
    12 years ago
    last modified: 9 years ago

    I think you could have an arguement about that one if anyone would care to argue but that is getting into technicalities. Chernobyl was also concidered a man made accident.....and caused the most devastation to date. I guess it all depends on the defined parameters. :)

    Ginny

  • cyn427 (z. 7, N. VA)
    12 years ago
    last modified: 9 years ago

    Well, I would say that it wasn't the explosion itself at Chernobyl that was so large. The plant and nearby town were not leveled as the explosion took place in the core of only one reactor. In fact, the other reactors were kept on-line and working for years after the accident The release of radiation was indeed devastating, though.

    Of course, I still don't have a clue what the answer is! :)

    Cynthia

  • Ginny McLean_Petite_Garden
    12 years ago
    last modified: 9 years ago

    Well Miss Cynthia.....there was a clue in my crossed wires post. Once I went back and read Annette's post again and again 'in this bit of Canadian history' it was the first thing that came to mind Dad being a sailor and all.....

    And yes, in the long run, Chernobyl is still killing people and I am still making wigs for my skeletons whether they succumbed to cancer or not....lol.

    Cynthia, you are welcome at my table anytime! I also do ham and scalloped potatoes once a month too! and I guess I am cooking a turkey tomorrow cause my husband just brought home a fresh turkey from Safeway for being such a valued customer. Apparently they ran out of the frozen .99/lb ones. :) Lucky us!! And the birds are getting fresh cranberries as a treat today!

    Ginny

  • cyn427 (z. 7, N. VA)
    12 years ago
    last modified: 9 years ago

    Okay, something to do with ships. Can't seem to get any further. Maybe to do with WW1, but that is all I can guess.

    Can't wait to hear the answer tomorrow! Glad I won't be at school where GW is blocked!

    Cynthia

    ps. I really should do scalloped potatoes for my DH. He loves them. Then again, we could both move in as live-in help (need a butler and maid?)for free-food only! HA.

  • midnightsmum (Z4, ON)
    Original Author
    12 years ago
    last modified: 9 years ago

    lol. Even Chuck doesn't know??!! Well, I'm chuffed. And yes, we did cross channels, didn't we, Ginny?? TM, Martha Mora would know this one!!

    btw, happy Columbus Day to my American friends. And hey guys, Sir Paul just married for the 3rd and(hopefully for him) last time. Another American - seems he does better with them. Her name, btw, is Nancy Shevell.

    Nancy -not Shevell 8(

    Nancy.

  • aftermidnight Zone7b B.C. Canada
    12 years ago
    last modified: 9 years ago

    Hmmmm, nuclear disasters didn't come to mind when I gave my answer. The bit on the canadian thing I saw not too long ago so that's the first thing that came to mind.

    Annette

  • Ginny McLean_Petite_Garden
    12 years ago
    last modified: 9 years ago

    Was just telling my neighbour that I really need a maid and a gardener........but it is cold and snowy here hehe. And I am sure I am the only one crazy enough to live with 5 shelties!

    Here's a little clue for a teacher Cyn. This city is considered one of Canada's top 5 smartest! :)

    Ginny

  • thinman
    12 years ago
    last modified: 9 years ago

    This is coming back to me now. A war ship in port full of munitions blew up. I don't remember the city, but it could have been Martha's city in NS. I haven't seen her around here in months. Hope she's OK.

    TM

  • Ginny McLean_Petite_Garden
    12 years ago
    last modified: 9 years ago

    Oops! I meant to say "smart" cities for many reasons. One of which is because it was home to the first Canadian public school. :)

    Ginny

  • cyn427 (z. 7, N. VA)
    12 years ago
    last modified: 9 years ago

    Nancy, this was such a good question that I cheated and looked it up before I went to bed last night-had to know!

    We were inching toward it, but never would have come up with the exact answer.

    First public school, too? Cool. Ours was Boston Latin School.

    Hope you all had lovely Thanksgivings and now, happy Mondays. I am so glad to be off today! :)

    Cynthia

  • midnightsmum (Z4, ON)
    Original Author
    12 years ago
    last modified: 9 years ago

    Ah well, I never like to skunk you guys. I thought this would be a gimmee, as we had talked about this before!!

    It was the the Halifax Explosion. During WWI, the port of Halifax, one of the world's largest ice-free natural harbours, assumed a huge role in troop and material deployment. After German submarine attacks began in 1916, Halifax's harbour assumed an even larger role as an assembly point for merchant ships awaiting naval escort in convoys. Submarine nets were installed, and ship movement was limited to daylight hours.
    {{gwi:614829}}
    Two-way passage by vessels through the narrow, curved harbour passage (called "The Narrows" - connecting the Atlantic Ocean and outer harbour with the Bedford Basin) was not restricted as to direction of travel, provided that vessels followed established collision avoidance regulations. Shortly after the submarine nets were opened around 7:30 AM on December 6, Imo (she was heading to NY, to pickup her cargo of munitions) attempted to depart through the starboard channel. It met an oncoming ship, an American tramp steamer. According to nautical regulations, vessels pass on their port sides with both ships steering to starboard. The two vessels agreed to pass on their 'incorrect' (starboard) sides, with Imo steering to port (left). This was a convenience for the incoming ship, which was docking on the Halifax side of the harbour.

    The two steamers passed harmlessly. By roughly 8:15 AM, Imo was in the port channel as Stella Maris, a tugboat towing two barges, evaded Imo by remaining on the Halifax side of the harbour, passing the Imo on her starboard side and keeping her in the port channel.

    But as Imo departed through the port channel, a second incoming vessel, the French steamer Mont-Blanc ( having just arrived from NY, joining a convoy to cross the Altantic) was entering via the starboard channel. A series of whistle blows communicated from both vessels indicated their intent to remain on course, a collision course. Captain Le Medec eventually ordered Mont-Blanc hard to port, sending the ship into the center channel. At the same time, Imo reversed its engines to stop, but the backward action of the propellers altered her course, bringing her to the center channel as well. The last minute evasive maneuvers by both vessels had sent them back onto a collision course.
    Now, here's the important part: remember how you Dad always said there are no such thing as an accident? Well, the Imo had already broken the rules twice. The Mont-Blanc had neglected to hoist the 'explosives on-board' flag.
    Her cargo included: 2366 tons of wet & dry picric acid, 250 tons of tnt, 62 tons of gun cotton and 246 tons of benzol. So, Captain Le Medec eventually ordered Mont-Blanc hard to port, sending the ship into the center channel. At the same time, Imo reversed its engines to stop, but the backward action of the propellers altered her course, bringing her to the center channel as well. The last minute evasive maneuvers by both vessels had sent them back onto a collision course. At roughly 8:45 AM, Imo's bow struck Mont-Blanc and became lodged in its starboard bow, sparking the benzene[6] and picric acid.[7] Imo attempted to pull back and dislodge, which likely generated further sparks. By now the barrels of benzol stored on the Mont-Blanc's deck were aflame.

    As the fire spread out of control, Mont-Blanc's crew were unable to reach fire-fighting equipment and, aware of their volatile cargo, they quickly abandoned ship upon the captain's orders. Within 10 minutes, their two rowboats containing the 40-man crew reached safety on the Dartmouth side of the harbour as the burning ship continued to drift towards the Halifax shore. Any warnings shouted by the French speaking crew were not understood as they fled further inland away from the burning ship, as Halifax is located in a primarily English speaking part of Canada.[8][9][10] Other ships came to aid the burning Mont-Blanc. Efforts to scuttle the ship also failed as the seacocks were seized shut.
    {{gwi:614835}}
    There are a myriad of details of how the days progressed - 1,000 people died immediately; another 1,000 from their injuries. Many, not realizing the danger, had lined up along the wharves, and sadder still, in-front of the windows of their homes, to watch. The ship was instantly destroyed in the giant fireball that rose over 1.9 kilometres (1.2 mi) into the air, forming a large mushroom cloud. Shards of hot metal rained down across Halifax and Dartmouth. The force of the blast triggered a tsunami, which rose up as high as 18 metres (60 ft) above the harbour's high-water mark on the Halifax side. It was caused by the rapid displacement of harbour water near the blast, followed by water rushing back in towards the shore. The effects were likely compounded by the narrow cross-section of the harbour. There was little information documented on this event as witnesses were generally stunned and injured as the wave washed ashore, though the wave contributed to the death toll, dragging many victims on the harbour front into the waters. Imo was lifted up onto the Dartmouth shore by the tsunami. Captain Haakon From and most of the crew that were on the bridge of the Imo and on its decks were killed by the tsunami. A black rain of unconsumed carbon from the Mont-Blanc fell over the city for about 10 minutes after the blast, coating survivors and structural debris with soot. It was December 6th, and the next day it snowed. Those who were not immediately killed, or burned in the fires (the blasts set stoves ablaze in homes, and they had plenty of fuel, as most would have their oil tanks full prior to winter) were now in danger of dying from exposure.

    As Annette alluded, the death toll could have been worse if not for the self-sacrifice of an Intercolonial Railway dispatcher, P. Vincent (Vince) Coleman, operating at the Richmond Railway Yards. He and his co-worker learned of the danger from the burning Mont-Blanc from a sailor and began to flee. Coleman remembered, however, that an incoming passenger train from Saint John, New Brunswick was due to arrive at the rail yard within minutes, and he returned to his post to send out urgent telegraph messages to stop the train.
    " Stop trains. Munitions ship on fire. Approaching Pier 6. Goodbye. "

    Coleman's message brought all incoming trains to a halt and was heard by other stations all along the Intercolonial Railway helping railway officials to respond immediately. The Saint John train is believed to have heeded the warning and stopped a safe distance from the blast at Rockingham, saving the lives of about 300 railway passengers. The rescued train was later used to carry injured and homeless survivors to Truro, Nova Scotia. Coleman was killed at his post as the explosion ripped through the city.
    {{gwi:614836}}

    Ah, and Boston? A relief train left from Boston, 1,100 kilometres (700 mi) away, at 10:00 PM on the day of the explosion. Relentlessly chugging through wintry terrain, it was delayed by heavy snowfall but reached Halifax a day plus a few hours later, at 3:00 AM on December 8, unloading much needed food, water, medical supplies, and some aid workers to relieve the Nova Scotia medical staff, many of whom had worked without rest since the morning of the explosion. And that is why Boston gets a ginormous Christmas tree every year.

    Thanks for playing everybody - I should have had better clues!!

    Here is a link that might be useful: The Full Story

  • cyn427 (z. 7, N. VA)
    12 years ago
    last modified: 9 years ago

    What an amazing story. Aren't there always so many "what if"s in disasters like that?

    Your clues and the others were great. I just didn't know this one! Always fun AND informative!

    Cynthia

  • cyn427 (z. 7, N. VA)
    12 years ago
    last modified: 9 years ago

    What an amazing story. Aren't there always so many "what if"s in disasters like that?

    Your clues and the others were great. I just didn't know this one! Always fun AND informative!

    Cynthia

  • thinman
    12 years ago
    last modified: 9 years ago

    Good question and good story, Nancy. I had been thinking of the Texas City, Texas disaster of 1947. A ship full of ammonium nitrate caught fire and blew up. Here's a little excerpt from Wikipedia:

    At 9:12 AM, the ammonium nitrate reached an explosive threshold and the vessel then detonated, causing great destruction and damage throughout the port. The tremendous blast sent a 15-foot (4.5 m) wave that was detectable over nearly 100 miles (160 km) off of the Texas shoreline. The blast leveled nearly 1,000 buildings on land. The Grandcamp explosion destroyed the Monsanto Chemical Company plant and resulted in ignition of refineries and chemical tanks on the waterfront. Falling bales of burning twine added to the damage while the Grandcamp's anchor was hurled across the city. Sightseeing airplanes flying nearby had their wings shorn off,[4] forcing them out of the sky. Ten miles away, people in Galveston were forced to their knees; windows were shattered in Houston, Texas, 40 miles (60 km) away. People felt the shock 100 miles away in Louisiana. The explosion blew almost 6,350 tons of the ship's steel into the air, some at supersonic speed. Official casualty estimates came to a total of 567, including all the crewmen that remained onboard the Grandcamp, but many victims were burned to ashes or literally blown to bits, and the official total is believed to be an underestimate. The entire volunteer fire department of Texas City was killed in the initial explosion on the docks while fighting the shipboard fire, and with the fires raging, first responders from other areas were initially unable to reach the site of the disaster.

    Thanks for the trivia fun.
    TM

  • Ginny McLean_Petite_Garden
    12 years ago
    last modified: 9 years ago

    Great story even though unfortunate. I was thinking about this last night and trying to imagine what an explosion of that magnitude would be like in our modern day.......

    Dad spoke of Halifax Harbour many, many times as he was overseas during most of WWII. He also spoke often about the sea disasters that have long been part of every shipboard converstion, the HE being the "big one". Of course he wasn't there but he also shared many times the fact that his ship, HMCS Toronto if memory serves me correctly, had just left Pearl Harbour hours before the bomb. I remember the story of VC on the History channel years ago too.

    Dad is almost 92 now and is living with advanced dementia. Most days he can't remember if he has his teeth in but he can remember every detail about his time in service. I can't even begin to imagine what those memories do to a person's psyche.

    Thanks for the trivia fun Nancy. Look forward to it every week now. :)

    Ginny and Dad :)

  • midnightsmum (Z4, ON)
    Original Author
    12 years ago
    last modified: 9 years ago

    Rank order of largest conventional explosions/detonations by magnitude:

    These yields are approximated by the amount of the explosive material and its properties. They are rough estimates and are not authoritative. I have no idea what TJ means, and it was not footnoted. - from Wikipedia:

    Event Approximate yield

    N1 launch explosion - 6-7 kt of TNT (29 TJ)
    Minor Scale and Misty Picture - 4 kt of TNT (17 TJ)
    Heligoland - 3.2 kt of TNT (13 TJ)
    Siberian pipeline sabotage - 3.0 kt of TNT (12 TJ)
    Halifax Explosion - 2.9 kt of TNT (12 TJ)
    Texas City Disaster - 2.7-3.2 kt of TNT (11-13 TJ)
    Port Chicago disaster - 1.6-2.2 kt of TNT (7-9 TJ)

    The N1 was a Soviet-era rocket, the equivalent of an American Saturn V - I couldn't find out whether this is the thrust is produces for take-off, or whether there was an actual accident.
    Minor Scale and Misty Picture - these were both planned explosions by the US government using convention weapons.
    Heligoland - From 1945 to 1952 the uninhabited Heligoland islands were used as a bombing range. On 18 April 1947, the Royal Navy detonated 6,700 tonnes of explosives ("Big Bang" or "British Bang"), creating one of the biggest non-nuclear single detonations in history.
    Siberian pipeline - alleged sabotage by the CIA, in 1982.
    The Texas City Disaster was the deadliest industrial accident in U.S. history.
    Port Chicago - Munitions detonated while being loaded onto a cargo vessel bound for the Pacific Theater of Operations, killing 320 sailors and civilians and injuring 390 others.

    Humans do seem to love to blow stuff up, don't they?? ;-))

    Nancy.

  • cyn427 (z. 7, N. VA)
    12 years ago
    last modified: 9 years ago

    Wow, everyone-fascinating stuff.

    Ginny, my dad was in WWII. He would be 93 now-died in 2006 at age 88. I sure wish I had taped him talking about the war and his childhood I find I am forgetting some of the stories or parts of them, at least. Lost treasures.

    Cynthia

  • Ginny McLean_Petite_Garden
    12 years ago
    last modified: 9 years ago

    Cynthia ~ Wish I'd have thought of that! Much of Dad's memories are now kinda jumbled into different stories; facts are straight but combined. ;) I can't even imagine my life without him and his stories! I was very lucky to find pictures of him and his crew members at the Naval Museum in Calgary. First ship he served on was the HMCS Calgary. When my DH and I came here to take care of Dad I redid his room all in sailor theme and framed all the pics and the snapshots of him in uniform and on the ship. He was thrilled! Everyone in the family has copies and my eldest brother has all his medals.

    Nancy ~ I think there lives in every little boys soul, the desire to blow up the competition......lol! Or at least just to make a very loud noise!! :)

    Ginny

  • thinman
    12 years ago
    last modified: 9 years ago

    Nancy - Not that makes a whit of difference to any of us, but just because I happen to know this and want to look smart, I will tell you that TJ means Terajoules, a measure of energy given off by these explosions.

    That was nice. I do feel a little smarter now.

    TM

  • midnightsmum (Z4, ON)
    Original Author
    12 years ago
    last modified: 9 years ago

    lol. TM - I was HOPING that you would let us know. I hate it when the 'official' sources don't footnote, even if they consider the knowledge to be common!

    Cyn and Ginny - as you may or may knot know, my days currently are spent on the phones, raising money for political parties and charities! My favourite is called 'The Memory Project'. It is all about recording our soldiers memories. I talk to the most amazing people, some of them veterans, many of them people who were children in Europe during the war. Several weeks ago, I spoke to a man who was born in the Netherlands, and as a 10-year-old boy, remembers standing on his parents roof, watching paratroopers land - he lived in a place called Arnhem. If you have ever seen a movie called 'A Bridge Too Far', that's what was going on around him. Also, you can google Operation Market Garden. Did he donate? You bet!! The Dutch still remember and respect the memories of their 'liberators'. So many fascinating stories. To the vets who tell me their story is boring, I always tell them that it is like the 3 blind men describing an elephant - every had a different view, and they all complete the story!!

    Nancy.

    Here is a link that might be useful: The Memory Project

  • Ginny McLean_Petite_Garden
    12 years ago
    last modified: 9 years ago

    Nancy, I think that is absolutely wonderful!! Wasn't aware of that fact of your life and glad you shared it with me. Somewhere in the corners of my belfry The Memory Project rings a bell. Think I heard about it on one Rememberance Day service. Dad would love to tell you stories if he could stay awake long enough on a clear day!
    I think I have seen that movie or at least parts of it or parts of a documentary about the Dutch. Dad has been all over the world and has carried many memories of each and every place he has experienced. Everyone still refers to Dad as Pappa McLean and he is such a gentle soul. I'm sure you would enjoy talking with him; his birthday is 2 days after yours (and probably 40 years before!). Listening to the stories I have heard over the years, it seems like a totally different world he lived in before I was born. It's tough to swallow sometimes when the experience is so close to home and I'm just getting teary so I'll stop now. Keep up the good work! :)

    Ginny and Dad

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