Tugboat Escapes Disaster!

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On April 28, 1979 at the old Rooster Bridge at Demopolis, Alabama Captain Jimmy Wilkerson piloting the tugboat CAHABA, was dropping two of his four barges through the east span of the Rooster Bridge, with the intent of running around through the lift span and catching them below. Pilot Earl Barnhart was on the tow helping the two deckhands take off safety wires, winch wires, etc.

Wilkerson underestimated the current, and got too close to the bridge. The current laid the CAHABA onto the bridge. When the lower port deck went awash, the vessel rolled, went through the span, and came back up once it cleared. Captain Wilkerson remained at the wheele; however, at one point he was straddled on the starboard pilot house door frame, and the port front pilot house window blew out, filling the place with water.

The photographer, Al Democrat, was from Linden and happened to get caught as the CAHABA blew for a draw at the Rooster bridge. The pictures were published in the Linden newspaper at that time.