Texas City Disaster: Hearings Before a Special Subcommittee of the Committee on the Judiciary, House of Representatives, Eighty-third Congress, First Session, Pursuant to H. Res. 296, Authorizing the Committee on the Judiciary to Make an Investigation of All Claims Arising Out of the Explosions at Texas City, Texas on April 16 and 17, 1947. November 16, 17, and 18, 1953U.S. Government Printing Office, 1954 - 350 pages The Texas City disaster was an industrial accident that occurred April 16, 1947 in the Port of Texas City, Texas. It was the deadliest industrial accident in U.S. history, and one of history's largest non-nuclear explosions. Originating with a mid-morning fire on board the French-registered vessel SS Grandcamp (docked in the port), her cargo of approximately 2,200 tons (approximately 2,100 metric tons) of ammonium nitrate detonated, initiating a subsequent chain-reaction of additional fires and explosions in other ships and nearby oil-storage facilities. It killed at least 581 people, including all but one member of the Texas City fire department. The disaster triggered the first ever class action lawsuit against the United States government, under the then-recently enacted Federal Tort Claims Act (FTCA), on behalf of 8,485 victims. |
Other editions - View all
Common terms and phrases
act or omission ammonium nitrate fertilizer April 16 Army bills of lading BRICKFIELD BRYAN Bureau of Mines cargo charred Chief of Ordnance Coast Guard coating committee CONGRESS THE LIBRARY Dalehite damage Defendant detonation DEWALT discretionary function District Court dunnage employees evidence explosive hazards FDAP Federal fertilizer grade ammonium FGAN fire hazard fires and explosions Galveston Government grade ammonium nitrate Grandcamp handling heat Henry G High Flyer HYDE inherently dangerous injuries Italics supplied JONAS Judge LANE liability Lion Oil loaded manufacture MARKWELL ment monium negligence Ordnance Department Ordnance Plant paper bags persons petrolatum Picatinny Arsenal Plaintiffs prior to Texas proximate cause record regulations safety SANDBERG ship shipment specifications statement statute Steamships SUDERMAN Supreme Court temperature testified testimony tests Texas City Disaster Texas City explosion tion Tort Claims Act transportation trial Underwriters Laboratories United warehouse warning
Popular passages
Page 289 - clearly erroneous' when although there is evidence to support it, the reviewing court on the entire evidence is left with the definite and firm conviction that a mistake has been committed.
Page 288 - Any claim based upon an act or omission of an employee of the Government, exercising due care, in the execution of a statute or regulation, whether or not such statute or regulation be valid, or based upon the exercise or performance or the failure to exercise or perform a discretionary function or duty...
Page 188 - The extent and character of the work to be done by the Contractor shall be subject to the general oversight, supervision, direction, control, and approval of the Contracting Officer.
Page 279 - ... based upon the exercise or performance or the failure to exercise or perform a discretionary function or duty on the part of a Federal agency or an employee ofthe Government, whether or not the discretion involved be abused.
Page 3 - For the purpose of any such investigation, the Committee on Internal Security, or any subcommittee thereof, is authorized to sit and act at such times and places within the United States, whether the House is in session, has recessed, or has adjourned, to hold such hearings, and to require, by sutopena or otherwise, the attendance...
Page 279 - January 1, 1945, on account of damage to or loss of property or on account of personal injury or death caused by the negligent or wrongful act or omission of any employee, of the Government...
Page 3 - ... papers, and documents, as it deems necessary. Subpenas may be issued under the signature of the chairman of the committee or any member of the committee designated by him, and may be served by any person designated by such chairman or member.
Page 326 - This is one of those cases that a judge is likely to leave by the same door through which he enters. As we have been told by a master of our craft, "Some theory of liability, some philosophy of the end to be served by tightening or enlarging the circle of rights and remedies, is at the root of any decision in novel situations when analogies are equivocal and precedents are silent.
Page 128 - ... shall not be laden on or discharged from any vessel at any point or place in the United States, its territories or possessions not including the Panama Canal Zone, until...
Page 329 - These no longer are natural or simple products but complex ones whose composition and qualities are often secret. Such a dependent society must exact greater care than in more simple days and must require from manufacturers or producers increased integrity and caution as the only protection of its safety and wellbeing. Purchasers cannot try out drugs to determine whether they kill or cure.