Sounds like something shorted inside the male plug. Breakers don't always
trip as quickly as we'd like them to

It sure surprised me. I feel if I had not been 'right there', that I
would have had a fire! Now if I haven't damaged the compressor.

Breakers clear a circut when they detect overcurrent.
If you don't have an AFCI, they don't give a damn about arcs.