Drinking stories that put yours to shame

[Gregory Hicks <ghicks () cadence com>]

Here you go Gadi!

http://www.cnn.com/2007/LIVING/wayoflife/10/26/mf.drinking.storries/index.html?iref=mpstoryview

# Story Highlights
# History full of drinking stories that are hard to swallow
# Bartenders in canoe dipped drinks from alcohol fountain
# Brew-nami of 1.3 million gallons of beer killed 9 people
# Sailors drank vat of rum preserving dead body of Adm. Nelson

[...snip...]

2. The London Brew-nami of 1814

The Industrial Revolution wasn't all steam engines and textile mills.
Beer production increased exponentially, as well. Fortunately, the good
people of England were up to the challenge and drained kegs as fast as
they were made. Brewery owners became known as "beer barons," and they
spent their newfound wealth in an age-old manner -- by trying to party
more than the next guy.

Case in point: In 1814, Meux's Horse Shoe Brewery in London constructed
a brewing vat that was 22 feet tall and 60 feet in diameter, with an
interior big enough to seat 200 for dinner -- which is exactly how its
completion was celebrated. (Why 200? Because a rival had built a vat
that seated 100, of course.)

After the dinner, the vat was filled to its 4,000-barrel capacity.
Pretty impressive, given the grand scale of the project, but pretty
unfortunate given that they overlooked a faulty supporting hoop. Yup,
the vat ruptured, causing other vats to break, and the resulting
commotion was heard up to 5 miles away.

A wall of 1.3 million gallons of dark beer washed down the street,
caving in two buildings and killing nine people by means of "drowning,
injury, poisoning by the porter fumes, or drunkenness."

 The story gets even more unbelievable, though. Rescue attempts were
 blocked and delayed by the thousands who flocked to the area to drink
 directly off the road. And when survivors were finally brought to the
 hospital, the other patients became convinced from the smell that the
 hospital was serving beer to every ward except theirs. A riot broke
 out, and even more people were left injured.

Sadly, this incident was not deemed tragic enough at the time to merit
an annual memorial service and/or reenactment.

3. New York state of mind: The Dutch ingratiate themselves to the
natives

In 1609, the Dutch sent English explorer Henry Hudson westward for a
third attempt at finding the fabled Northeast Passage. A near mutiny
forced him southward, and upon reaching land, he encountered members of
the Delaware Indian tribe.

To foster good relations, Hudson shared his brandy with the tribal
chief, who soon passed out. But upon waking up the next day, he asked
Hudson to pour some more for the rest of his tribe. From then on, the
Indians referred to the island as Manahachtanienk -- literally, "The
High Island."

And not "high" as in "tall;" high as in "the place where we got
blotto." Most people would agree that Manhattan has stayed true to the
spirit of its name ever since.

[...more at the URL...]
http://www.cnn.com/2007/LIVING/wayoflife/10/26/mf.drinking.storries/index.html?iref=mpstoryview

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