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I was listening to a show on XM when this was brought up. Amazing! Does anyone remember this happening?
Ho Hum. Just another day on the river.
Just a quick note: I merely found this on the web and really do not know the outcome of the tugboat, or the crew, I assume they survived since the tug is back under power after its trip under the bridge. I have received numerous emails regarding where this occurred -
The Real story......
The bridge is the "Demopolis Rooster Bridge" located some 10 miles west of Demopolis on U.S. Highway 80 and across the Tombigbee River. The incident occurred in the spring of 1979 during a spring flood. Barges has been released to be picked up on the lower side, but the tug ran into trouble and wound up turning over sideways as the pictures indicate, coming out on the other side. The bridge was a draw bridge and has since been replaced by a clear span just North of this location. Funding for the Rooster bridge came in part from an auction of roosters held in Demopolis on August 14 and 15, 1919. Luckily no one was injured and the tub is still in operation on the Tombigbee. |
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I know the story of these photos. There was an amateur photographer going west on U. S. 80
to his home in Meridian, MS. He was stopped in a line of traffic because of the bridge being raised for the tug and tow. He got out of his car, had his camera with him and walked up to the edge of the old Rooster Bridge to take a picture of the tug. This scenario unfolded in front of him and he took the series of photos. They were published in the now defunct "LIFE" magazine.
All of the crew members of the tug survived without injury and another tug, down river, came to their rescue.