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Loadstar 241
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2022-08-26
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u<j0>
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It's April, 1979, and the
Tombigbee River in Mississippi was
running high and hard. A barge-laden
towboat approached the Old Rooster
bridge just downstream from Demopolis.
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As is often done, the pilot moved
to the less swift current by the bank
and cut loose the load to allow it to
float under the bridge safely.
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Then he maneuvered the tug to the
center of the river and tooted his
horn to signal for the draw-bridge to
be lifted.
But on this beautiful, clear day,
something went terribly wrong.
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The bridge did not raise!
<l1t04.shp>
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The swift current caught the tug
and pushed it broadside to the bridge.
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With the ear-splitting screech of
metal against metal, the tug was
forced over on its side.
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Someone's going to catch hell for
this, you bet!
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Fortunately, the crew had jumped
onto the barge when it was released.
The pilot hung on for dear life,
straddling the pilot house door jam.
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Just when everyone thought all was
lost, the impossible happened...
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The tough little tug wobbled in
the water, but it wouldn't stay down!
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Evidently, they had just taken on
a full load of fuel at Demopolis. The
fuel tank runs along the center of the
boat's hull, serving as ballast.
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So, sloshing water, the tug came
aright.
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With "dead stick" maneuvering and
just plain luck, the pilot lined up
with the barge.
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The engine sputtered. You might
say it was flooded!
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Finally, the old diesel coughed to
life. And in a billow of gray smoke,
tug and barge continued down the
Tombigbee on their way to Meridian,
Missippi.
<l1t19.shp>
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The life and work of a river pilot
doesn't have the glamor and glory it
did in Mark Twain's youth.
But there are certainly moments!
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