"THE TOWN THAT WOULDN'T DIE"

On April 16, 1947 the Port of Texas City, Texas suffered the deadliest Industrial accident in U.S, history, and one of history's largest non-nuclear explosions.
The French registered SS Grandchamp sat docked in port when her cargo of 2,200 tons of Ammonium Nitrate caught fire and exploded resulting in a chain reaction of additional fires and explosions in other ships and storage facilities nearby.  It resulted in the death of at least 581 people, including all but one member of the Texas City fire department.
The Ammonium Nitrate , used for both fertilizer and explosive, was mixed with clay, petrolatum, rosin and paraffin wax to avoid moisture caking, then bagged.  Longshoremen reported that the bags were warm to the touch when loaded.
Around 8:00 am smoke was reported in the hold of the Grandchamp.  Attempts to douse the fire failed.  The fire attracted crowds to watch (from a safe distance, they thought).  The yellow-orange smoke attracted more crowds and when the explosion occurred at 9:10 it destroyed the Monsanto Chemical factory, ignited oil and chemical tanks on the waterfront and some 1,000 buildings.  The ship's anchor was hurled across the city and a 15 foot wave was detected nearly 100 miles from the Texas shore.  Two sightseeing planes had their wings shorn off.  People felt the shock 250 miles away in Louisiana.
The cargo ship High Flyer, also loaded with Ammonium Nitrate and moored nearby also caught fire and exploded 15 hours later adding to the death and devastation.  One of her propellers was found nearly a mile inland and now sits in a Memorial Park alongside the anchor of the Grandchamp.
Fire Departments from as far as Los Angelas responded the call for help as all the fire equipment in Texas City was destroyed.
More than 5,000 people were injured with 1,784 admitted to area hospitals.  More than 500 homes were destroyed and 362 freight cars obliterated.  Property damage was estimated at $100 million ($1.1 Billion at today's prices).
Monsanto rebuilt and other industries as well.  Investors joined in and Texas City lives and thrives today.......Medicineman!