I was in first grade at Danforth School. All the windows in the building were blown across the rooms. Thankfully, the glass flew over our heads since we were so young. Other classes were not spared as much. Metal beams, plaster, and glass covered the hallways. Such upsetting and sad days.
My grandfather was the Pasadena Fire Chief at this time and fought this fire. He was standing behind a building during the second big explosion. It knocked him down, but the building saved his life. Pretty crazy. I watch all these documentaries, hoping to spot him.
My grandfather also is in the Pasadena fire department at the time my granddaddy was in the civil defense and they were both down there at the time of the second explosion
I wasn't born until 1955, but I remember my dad taking me to Texas City in 1964 to look around after we moved to Houston from the east coast. I was too young to understand what all had happened there, but I did recognize a deserted and broken town - even 17 years after the event in 1947. I was a little overcome by a strange, macabre feeling just walking along those broken concrete sidewalks and peering into vacant buildings. I remember broken glass and shattered black structures which used to be chemical plants. They had been left alone all those years later. I suppose they've been replaced and built over by now.
It's interesting that there were still a fair number of damaged structures that existed in Texas City 17 years later. Thanks for sharing your experience from back then.
I was only a month past 3.5 years, but I remember the chaos of the adults. My Dad was an independent garageman with a big shop. He had a huge Dodge wrecker and immediately went from Houston to the site to help. He was gone for two full days, I remember.
The home movie taken of the explosion was actually taken by that lady with color film, and you can see the characteristic red/orange color of the ammonium nitrate fire and explosion on that film. This being an older TV show done in black & white, you don't see the color film. It's available somewhere, because I've seen it. I've also seen the old LIFE magazine issue where this explosion was the feature story, and they weren't shy in those days about showing piled up dead bodies, even in a family magazine. It's pretty gruesome, but it was just a couple of years after the war, and people weren't as sensitive about seeing those types of things in the news.
It was an absolute miracle that the lady who filmed that footage survived that massive explosion because not only the flying shrapnel is deadly So is the concussion from the explosion
This tragedy is woven in my life. My grandparents in Houston who had a clear view of the-then 2 lane Gulf Freeway, I-45, and thought the trucks were hauling wood. Of course, they were bodies.
True story- a witness to the explosion was thrown a mile away from the docks, losing all of his clothes in the process. He survived without serious injury.
Sounds like the eaman on the hms hood. When it disintegrated one of its crew were blown away from the ship. He was on lookout one second...the next up in the air...then in the water. He was blown several hundred yards from where the ship used to be. Minimal injuries.
I've always wondered how an explosion could be so powerful that it could rip all of the clothes right off your body that you are wearing. Some people also were literally blown right out the shoes on their feet.
I remember this like it was this morning. My dad, his three brothers were lifted from Rosecrans Field in St. Joseph with several others to go there to help. TWA was the Airlines that took them.
My Dad worked with a guy who was six when this happened, he and his mom went to every makeshift morgue looking for his Dad, they found him in the hospital 3 days later, with nearly every bone in his body was broken.
That's a great question. She obviously survived the explosions as she apparently re-enacts herself filming just before the initial blast. Still, she could have been injured when she made the historic shot(s) back in 1947.
Amazing footage. I will have to find more of that Survival show. Did anyone else feel wrong watching the people on their way to identify the dead? Women dressed in black being carried by family members on their way to try to ID whatever was left of their husband. I was a little surprised that was filmed back then.
Grew up in the 70s sandwiched between Texas City & Pasadena and right next to Bayport Channel. I think it was Shell that blew up during that time. Not as big but still terrifying & shook and broke windows miles away. As a kid being around all this & looking back on it, I lived thinking that my world could literally explode at any given moment. Anxiety & panic attacks were the outcome.
This film was first televised in the 1950s. I made a VCR tape of it in the 1980s and occasionally showed it to my chemistry students when discussing the danger of certain nitrates. At 13 minutes in, someone would usually ask me what does the narrator meant by "the refugee center for the colored people". These kids were born in the 1970 or 80s and couldn't imagine why a temporary morgue had to be segregated. It was a huge disaster; loved ones were dead. How could it possibly matter? I'd just tell them that times were very different back then.
According to the book, "City of Fire," some of the white victims of the 1947 Texas City disaster were covered in black soot and/or oily grim which led some emergency responders to take these people to the "colored" hospital(s) nearby.
From 15:16 ... These guys know what caused the first blast, know that the intensely burning S S High Flyer is loaded with ammonium nitrate, and are working the fire. That is so far beyond 'balls of steel'.
The volunteer crews of the two tugboats did indeed have "balls of steel" (as many rescuers had during the dates of April 16 - 18, 1947 at Texas City). With their tugboats they attempted to pull the S.S. High Flyer with its already burning cargo of ammonium nitrate away from its berth. It is my understanding that after they failed to move the ship any appreciable distance from the dock area, they cut their tow lines and sped away just in the "nick of time" when the ship exploded with pretty much the same or even greater blast strength of the S.S. Grandcamp earlier in the day.
Perhaps that's just as well as after the explosions of the ships Grandcamp and later the High Flyer, as noted by an insurance adjuster weeks later, hardly any windows in Texas City buildings were not damaged or broken. The nearby city of Galveston has to be given much credit for saving lives and treatment of the injured of many victims of the Texas City disaster. Literally within minutes of the Grandcamp explosion, Galveston initiated its hurricane relief program to prepare its three hospitals, Red Cross chapter and other emergency personnel for a large number of casualties (Galveston had suffered a hurricane in 1900 that is still considered the worst natural disaster to strike the U.S. with around 5 thousand people killed).
This documentary's extensive use of the radio coverage from Texas City, mostly from KTHT, stands out. Is there any site on RUclips that has more extensive use of the longform broadcasts from the scene?
Indeed, but not nearly as bad as the whole fire department being killed with the exception of one individual who apparently was sick on this day of the explosion of the S.S. Grandcamp.
Weren't they, though, post-war American built ships that were parceled to the French? Grandchamp (?) was bringing twine among the other cargo. Never knew the French needed twine.
Another coincidence, both Halifax and Texas City 30 years apart had two different ships both named High Flyer involved in secondary explosions after the main destructive explosions which had destroyed the two cities, just adding to the chaos and heartache.
You could probably at least double the Beirut explosion to equal what happened at Texas City seeing that two ships, the SS Grandcamp and SS High Flyer, were both loaded with ammonium nitrate and exploded hours apart.
Isn't it sad they dont teach us our own history? I'm 37 amd I learned of this event today. An evil corporation being responsible is what I blame for the lack of coverage.
@@kebcarter4752 Yes, many U.S. Coast Guard regulations for the proper and safe handling of hazardous cargos at U.S. ports came into effect as a result of what happened at Texas City in April 1947.
According to the book, "Disaster at Texas City," by Ron Stone, "the "no smoking" signs on the ship (Grandcamp) were written in French. Although stevedores and not supposed to smoke in the hold of a ship or in the warehouse, the often did. Stevedores could often get away with minor infractions of the rules because their bosses feared strikes."
The civil lawsuit you're referring to, "Civil Action 787," "United States of America, Defendant," (delivered on April 14, 1948, nearly one year after the first explosion at Texas City). My understanding is that the name of Elizabeth Dalehite (she lost her husband in the explosion) was listed with "Civil Action 787" and was also used to represent the thousands of plaintiffs filing a civil lawsuit against the Federal Government as a result of the Texas City Disaster. These plaintiffs also included businesses and perhaps any Unions filing civil suits over this matter.
This is the only episode of "Survival" that I have. I'd also like to see that one on the USS Franklin as my dad witnessed the attack on the Franklin from his carrier, CV-10, the Yorktown.
@@FN_FAL_4_ever If it's any help, I see there's a DVD of the Survival! series for sale on eBay (perhaps Amazon too). It has 10 episodes including the one about the USS Franklin.
“It's all very well to run around saying regulation is bad, get the government off our backs, etc. Of course our lives are regulated. When you come to a stop sign, you stop; if you want to go fishing, you get a license; if you want to shoot ducks, you can shoot only three ducks. The alternative is dead bodies at the intersection, no fish, and no ducks. OK? ― Molly Ivins
I've seen other documentaries about this explosion, but this one was like being there for real.
After growing up in Texas City pre-EPA regulations, I can take almost any smell. The place smells bad now, but back then it was really bad!
I was in first grade at Danforth School. All the windows in the building were blown across the rooms. Thankfully, the glass flew over our heads since we were so young. Other classes were not spared as much. Metal beams, plaster, and glass covered the hallways. Such upsetting and sad days.
Thanks for sharing your own personal experience regarding this horrific event from so many years ago.
That had to have been terrifying!
Your older than my grand father
I wasn’t born yet (1956) but my daddy was out there on a tow boat. Woke up in the hospital in Galveston! I went to Kohfeldt Elementary.
@@ju_ju9483 But younger than my father! He was 23, out in the harbor on a tug boat.
My grandfather was the Pasadena Fire Chief at this time and fought this fire. He was standing behind a building during the second big explosion. It knocked him down, but the building saved his life. Pretty crazy. I watch all these documentaries, hoping to spot him.
My grandfather also is in the Pasadena fire department at the time my granddaddy was in the civil defense and they were both down there at the time of the second explosion
I wasn't born until 1955, but I remember my dad taking me to Texas City in 1964 to look around after we moved to Houston from the east coast. I was too young to understand what all had happened there, but I did recognize a deserted and broken town - even 17 years after the event in 1947. I was a little overcome by a strange, macabre feeling just walking along those broken concrete sidewalks and peering into vacant buildings. I remember broken glass and shattered black structures which used to be chemical plants. They had been left alone all those years later. I suppose they've been replaced and built over by now.
It's interesting that there were still a fair number of damaged structures that existed in Texas City 17 years later. Thanks for sharing your experience from back then.
This is really well done.
I was only a month past 3.5 years, but I remember the chaos of the adults. My Dad was an independent garageman with a big shop. He had a huge Dodge wrecker and immediately went from Houston to the site to help. He was gone for two full days, I remember.
Thanks for sharing your own and your dad's personal experiences regarding this tragic event.
Your daddy was a good man to do that.
The home movie taken of the explosion was actually taken by that lady with color film, and you can see the characteristic red/orange color of the ammonium nitrate fire and explosion on that film. This being an older TV show done in black & white, you don't see the color film. It's available somewhere, because I've seen it. I've also seen the old LIFE magazine issue where this explosion was the feature story, and they weren't shy in those days about showing piled up dead bodies, even in a family magazine. It's pretty gruesome, but it was just a couple of years after the war, and people weren't as sensitive about seeing those types of things in the news.
There is some of that color film that lady took of the initial explosion at Texas City in this RUclips video: ruclips.net/video/HkzwYlWiGzI/видео.html
It was an absolute miracle that the lady who filmed that footage survived that massive explosion because not only the flying shrapnel is deadly
So is the concussion from the explosion
This tragedy is woven in my life. My grandparents in Houston who had a clear view of the-then 2 lane Gulf Freeway, I-45, and thought the trucks were hauling wood. Of course, they were bodies.
That last story with the car keys. Speechless.
True story- a witness to the explosion was thrown a mile away from the docks, losing all of his clothes in the process. He survived without serious injury.
Sounds like the eaman on the hms hood. When it disintegrated one of its crew were blown away from the ship. He was on lookout one second...the next up in the air...then in the water. He was blown several hundred yards from where the ship used to be. Minimal injuries.
I've always wondered how an explosion could be so powerful that it could rip all of the clothes right off your body that you are wearing. Some people also were literally blown right out the shoes on their feet.
I remember this like it was this morning. My dad, his three brothers were lifted from Rosecrans Field in St. Joseph with several others to go there to help. TWA was the Airlines that took them.
My Dad worked with a guy who was six when this happened, he and his mom went to every makeshift morgue looking for his Dad, they found him in the hospital 3 days later, with nearly every bone in his body was broken.
Reminds me of Lebanon.
I talked to a lady a few years back that witnessed this event.
And what did she say she felt while watching it
Soooo similar to the Halifax Disaster. Right down to the new fire truck. So sad. RIP to the souls lost.
Thanks for sharing
Dad worked with some older guys in the mid 70s in Texas City who were there..
Great stuff, what happened to the lady who was filming the explosion from the shore when the blast occurred.
That's a great question. She obviously survived the explosions as she apparently re-enacts herself filming just before the initial blast. Still, she could have been injured when she made the historic shot(s) back in 1947.
@@WAL_DC-6BIt's a miracle that she survived the blast , If not hit by shrapnel , The concussion from the blast is just as deadly
Amazing footage.
I will have to find more of that Survival show.
Did anyone else feel wrong watching the people on their way to identify the dead?
Women dressed in black being carried by family members on their way to try to ID whatever was left of their husband. I was a little surprised that was filmed back then.
A city tragedy now forgotten due to BP's heinous negligence in 2005
And we're supposed to LEARN from history.
2010- Deepwater Horizon❤
Wow the anchor off the ship what weighed 1.6 tonnes was found 2 miles away
My grandma lived in pearland when the explosion happened . She told me the whole house shook
I'm not surprised as apparently the shock from the explosion could be felt by people as much as 50 miles away.
Glad the experts were there 🔥☄️🤔
Grew up in the 70s sandwiched between Texas City & Pasadena and right next to Bayport Channel. I think it was Shell that blew up during that time. Not as big but still terrifying & shook and broke windows miles away. As a kid being around all this & looking back on it, I lived thinking that my world could literally explode at any given moment. Anxiety & panic attacks were the outcome.
Jeez, I hope things are going better for you now. Thanks for comments!
I'm surprised to see the ambulances are allowed on the roads next to burning fuel tanks.
This film was first televised in the 1950s. I made a VCR tape of it in the 1980s and occasionally showed it to my chemistry students when discussing the danger of certain nitrates. At 13 minutes in, someone would usually ask me what does the narrator meant by "the refugee center for the colored people". These kids were born in the 1970 or 80s and couldn't imagine why a temporary morgue had to be segregated. It was a huge disaster; loved ones were dead. How could it possibly matter? I'd just tell them that times were very different back then.
According to the book, "City of Fire," some of the white victims of the 1947 Texas City disaster were covered in black soot and/or oily grim which led some emergency responders to take these people to the "colored" hospital(s) nearby.
From 15:16 ... These guys know what caused the first blast, know that the intensely burning S S High Flyer is loaded with ammonium nitrate, and are working the fire.
That is so far beyond 'balls of steel'.
The volunteer crews of the two tugboats did indeed have "balls of steel" (as many rescuers had during the dates of April 16 - 18, 1947 at Texas City). With their tugboats they attempted to pull the S.S. High Flyer with its already burning cargo of ammonium nitrate away from its berth. It is my understanding that after they failed to move the ship any appreciable distance from the dock area, they cut their tow lines and sped away just in the "nick of time" when the ship exploded with pretty much the same or even greater blast strength of the S.S. Grandcamp earlier in the day.
You do what's necessary. If you're already that close, theres really nowhere to run.
Texas City didn’t even have its own hospital!
Perhaps that's just as well as after the explosions of the ships Grandcamp and later the High Flyer, as noted by an insurance adjuster weeks later, hardly any windows in Texas City buildings were not damaged or broken.
The nearby city of Galveston has to be given much credit for saving lives and treatment of the injured of many victims of the Texas City disaster. Literally within minutes of the Grandcamp explosion, Galveston initiated its hurricane relief program to prepare its three hospitals, Red Cross chapter and other emergency personnel for a large number of casualties (Galveston had suffered a hurricane in 1900 that is still considered the worst natural disaster to strike the U.S. with around 5 thousand people killed).
This documentary's extensive use of the radio coverage from Texas City, mostly from KTHT, stands out. Is there any site on RUclips that has more extensive use of the longform broadcasts from the scene?
Yes, there's a video
with a complete recording on RUclips
It seems terrible that the fire engine was destroyed on its first run.
Indeed, but not nearly as bad as the whole fire department being killed with the exception of one individual who apparently was sick on this day of the explosion of the S.S. Grandcamp.
They turned the high school gym into a temporary morgue.
1947, Texas City, french boat
1917, Halifax, french boat.
1917, Halifax, French ammunition ship.
Weren't they, though, post-war American built ships that were parceled to the French? Grandchamp (?) was bringing twine among the other cargo. Never knew the French needed twine.
Another coincidence, both Halifax and Texas City 30 years apart had two different ships both named High Flyer involved in secondary explosions after the main destructive explosions which had destroyed the two cities, just adding to the chaos and heartache.
Another coincidence the grandcamp was from Rouen France where Joan of arc was burned at the stack which made her a french saint.
Joan of arc was burned at the stake.
Searched this up after the Beirut explosion.....Such tragedies
You could probably at least double the Beirut explosion to equal what happened at Texas City seeing that two ships, the SS Grandcamp and SS High Flyer, were both loaded with ammonium nitrate and exploded hours apart.
Isn't it sad they dont teach us our own history? I'm 37 amd I learned of this event today. An evil corporation being responsible is what I blame for the lack of coverage.
@@cowsagainstcapitalism347 It’s a well known and documented event.
Is ANYONE really learning from the past?!
@@kebcarter4752 Yes, many U.S. Coast Guard regulations for the proper and safe handling of hazardous cargos at U.S. ports came into effect as a result of what happened at Texas City in April 1947.
Damn!
I wonder what language the no smoking signs were in.
According to the book, "Disaster at Texas City," by Ron Stone, "the "no smoking" signs on the ship (Grandcamp) were written in French. Although stevedores and not supposed to smoke in the hold of a ship or in the warehouse, the often did. Stevedores could often get away with minor infractions of the rules because their bosses feared strikes."
Do you know if the lawsuit, a first of it's kind, was the result of the Union's actions?
The civil lawsuit you're referring to, "Civil Action 787," "United States of America, Defendant," (delivered on April 14, 1948, nearly one year after the first explosion at Texas City). My understanding is that the name of Elizabeth Dalehite (she lost her husband in the explosion) was listed with "Civil Action 787" and was also used to represent the thousands of plaintiffs filing a civil lawsuit against the Federal Government as a result of the Texas City Disaster. These plaintiffs also included businesses and perhaps any Unions filing civil suits over this matter.
It is the OCAW union, I believe.
@@WAL_DC-6B Hello. Did you just text me?
@@kebcarter4752 No
Mentholatum is great for burns, along with salted chili's 🌵🌶
Do you have any other “Survival” episodes? This episode and the USS Franklin episode were my favorites
This is the only episode of "Survival" that I have. I'd also like to see that one on the USS Franklin as my dad witnessed the attack on the Franklin from his carrier, CV-10, the Yorktown.
Dan Uscian the things our grandfathers and fathers witnessed then, almost unimaginative
@@FN_FAL_4_ever If it's any help, I see there's a DVD of the Survival! series for sale on eBay (perhaps Amazon too). It has 10 episodes including the one about the USS Franklin.
“It's all very well to run around saying regulation is bad, get the government off our backs, etc. Of course our lives are regulated. When you come to a stop sign, you stop; if you want to go fishing, you get a license; if you want to shoot ducks, you can shoot only three ducks. The alternative is dead bodies at the intersection, no fish, and no ducks. OK?
― Molly Ivins
I miss Molly Ivin's commentary, wit and humor. She was a great newspaper columnist.
All because someone needed a smoke break!!!!
Upon loading workers felt the heat built from storage. People DIDN'T take smoke breaks then.
5:07 poor cow 🐄
Rut Roe
Well said!