This is one of the unbelievable but real life incidents. I have put the references at the end of the each picture; as you are seeing. You should stay to see these snaps deeply. I got these pictures floating around on the internet and thought of adding references to them for you. But unluckily, I cannot give credit to the original publisher because I didn’t find that information. However, enjoy the story!
Listen! Never try this at home as this is a professional captain on the job.
The towboat is coming near to the bridge having barges (loaded with coal) on it.
This snap will give you good idea about the speed of the running river. Just at or near to flood stage
Oh Shit! the bridge didn’t give a way and the towboat is still at speed. Also the boat is forcing backward as hard as possible to keep it from colliding the bridge. Notice here, the tug has freed itself from the barges.
But failed against the flow.
Uh Oh! The flow is turning the boat around towards its one side.
The cook thinks there is something wrong going on.
The boss will be really crazy now!
Captain? Is the boat insured?
Uh…. Boss? You are not going to believe what we have done!
Getting low; see the flag still flying there.
Have a close look; the wheelhouse door and the door in the second deck are opening. At the bottom right hand side of the snap you can observe that the bridge guardrail is still drowning.
See water pouring out of the upper bridge deck.
Here the water is pouring out of the second deck doorway.
The picture is showing that the working deck is still underwater, but trying to rise up.
Its amazing! See the smoke is still coming out of the exhausts. It not dead!!!
See the prop wash on the back of the tug. The boat is powering up.
This incident took place in April 28, 1979 at the old Rooster Bridge at Demopolis, Alabama. ‘CAHABA’ was the boat.
Captain Jimmy Wilkerson dropped two out of total 4 barges through the east span of the Rooster Bridge. He planned of running them around through the lift span and catching them from below. Pilot Earl Barnhart was on the boat assisting the two crew members in taking off safety wires, winch wires, etc.
River’s flow was fast; Wilkerson underestimated it, and reached too close to the bridge. This powerful flow laid the CAHABA onto the bridge. When its lower port deck went covered with water, the vessel rotated, went through the span, and came to earlier position once it cleared. Captain Wilkerson took safety at the sticks; but, at one stage he was sitting on the starboard pilot house door frame, when the port front pilot house window broke up; the whole area was filled with water.
Al Democrat was a photographer. He was from Linden and photographed when the CAHABA blew for a draw at the Rooster Bridge. These images were published in the Linden newspaper following the day on incidents.
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