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Started By
Message
re: On this date in 1976, George Prince (Luling) Ferry Disaster
Posted on 10/20/24 at 3:51 pm to Bigfishchoupique
Posted on 10/20/24 at 3:51 pm to Bigfishchoupique
quote:
Stuff like cars, tugs, barges etc are buried long before they get to the mouth of the river.
definitely remember cars from that wreck being found way down towards the mouth, the river deepens, widens, and current picks up as you near the mouth, learned that in Geology class at LSU!
1
Posted on 10/20/24 at 3:53 pm to High C
The recovered bodies were shortly stored at the original Hahnville gym
Posted on 10/20/24 at 3:54 pm to High C
I was on that ferry a few weeks before this.
A number of months later, I boarded the Frosta. Got a chance to talk with the Captain and Chief Mates. You could still see scrapes along the side of the ship.
A number of months later, I boarded the Frosta. Got a chance to talk with the Captain and Chief Mates. You could still see scrapes along the side of the ship.
Posted on 10/20/24 at 3:56 pm to DomincDecoco
quote:
I know that was a joke capt but that river isnt exactly the chatahoochie
we still hold a vigil every year for those we lost, and i can swim just fine sir.
Eta- like somebody else mentioned, it was 40degrees that morning on the river which amplified the cold….most if not all were sitting in their cars.
not sure what you’re getting at, what I meant is that getting off a shipwreck and simply “swimming to the shore,” on the Mississippi near Luling on a cold dark morning is a little different than standing up in a wading pool and walking out
This post was edited on 10/20/24 at 3:58 pm
Posted on 10/20/24 at 3:57 pm to High C
quote:
We were living just outside Luling (Ama) at the time. My stepdad used that ferry for his work commute, but fortunately he was not aboard that morning.
One of my uncles lived in Luling and worked in Destrehan at the grain elevators and rode the ferry back and forth 5 days a week for work. He was one of the first I thought about when I heard about the crash and called to find out he was not on it that morning.
RIP to all those who perished.
Posted on 10/20/24 at 4:01 pm to 777Tiger
quote:
not sure what you’re getting at, what I meant is that getting off a shipwreck and simply “swimming to the shore,” on the Mississippi near Luling on a cold dark morning is a little different than standing up in a wading pool and walking out
Ahhhhh..i see now.
Thought that was a dig at st charles parisb boys ability to swim. Dumb me.
No problem swimming, comprehending OT posts, not so good
Posted on 10/20/24 at 4:02 pm to 777Tiger
quote:
“swimming to the shore,”
A former LSU Head Coach once swam across the Mississippi River, a little further North from there.
Posted on 10/20/24 at 4:04 pm to DomincDecoco
quote:
No problem swimming, comprehending OT posts, not so good
no worries mate!
Posted on 10/20/24 at 4:07 pm to LSUDad
quote:
A former LSU Head Coach once swam across the Mississippi River, a little further North from there.
that was done by someone in my fraternity in the vicinity of the Plaquemines? ferry around the same time
Posted on 10/20/24 at 4:16 pm to Bestbank Tiger
quote:
Isn't that Pokey's hometown?
Yep. And Laron Landry.
It's a village, basically one neighborhood and some single streets of houses extending from the river.
This post was edited on 10/20/24 at 4:23 pm
Posted on 10/20/24 at 4:17 pm to High C
What was the law or procedure at the time on right of way in this situation? And which captain had been drinking or taking drugs?
quote:
This tragedy spurred changes in maritime law. Ships in the river now legally have the right of way over smaller vessels. The Coast Guard now subjects pilots and all other employees on vessels to random drug and alcohol testing.
Posted on 10/20/24 at 4:20 pm to aremore
quote:
treading water for 45 minutes
Yikes.
How did he not die just from the cold?
Posted on 10/20/24 at 4:21 pm to dallastigers
quote:
What was the law or procedure at the time on right of way in this situation? And which captain had been drinking or taking drugs?
Ferry boat pilot was drunk.
%.09 bac in autopsy.
wiki about the disaster
Posted on 10/20/24 at 4:23 pm to 777Tiger
Don’t forget also that most of the victims were dressed for winter and/or in plant gear coveralls etc…, meaning they were water logged quickly. Even if they were good swimmers and weren’t injured in the collision and capsize, it was probably nearly impossible to swim dressed like that.
Posted on 10/20/24 at 4:27 pm to mikelbr
quote:
Ferry boat pilot was drunk.
%.09 bac in autopsy.
Yep, compounded the disaster for those who lost loved ones.
Posted on 10/20/24 at 4:37 pm to Zzyzx
quote:
When it begins to go down just get off and swim to shore?
In the middle of the Mississippi River when it's 40 degrees while you're sitting in your vehicle reading a newspaper, smoking a cigarette, and drinking coffee?
The big issue is the pilot of the ferry was drunk.
Posted on 10/20/24 at 5:09 pm to LSU Grad Alabama Fan
drank to much river water is why they died. I crossed the river at Luling about once a week from 1960 to 1970. In the evening, when traffic was slow us kids would go up to the the steering cabin of the Ollie Wilde and the captain would allow us to rotate the steering wheel under their supervision during the crossing. We also had a specific term for the deck hands. "come on back" was the chant used to align cars in the parking spaces. And you backed until the bumper hit the boat railing.
and we did swim in the river at the Davis cravase between ama and Luling
and we did swim in the river at the Davis cravase between ama and Luling
This post was edited on 10/20/24 at 5:40 pm
Posted on 10/20/24 at 5:25 pm to High C
My pops was in line to cross the river heading for the airport to catch a flight when it happened. I remember the story well. WWL had one of their reporters stationed at the ferry landing for days.
Posted on 10/20/24 at 5:26 pm to mikelbr
quote:
Ferry boat pilot was drunk.
%.09 bac in autopsy.
The truth is that in the world of people who have pilots licenses, ferry pilots are the very bottom rung. The pay is state pay and low, only pilots with a DUI, a felony or other mark on their record will take those jobs.
Posted on 10/20/24 at 5:26 pm to mikelbr
quote:
Ferry boat pilot was drunk. %.09 bac in autopsy
not defending drinking on duty but sugar in the blood system ferments after death, wonder how long it was before body recovery and blood drawn?
ETA: only reason I bring it up is the legal limit for driving back then was.10, and everyone overdid it back then
This post was edited on 10/20/24 at 5:33 pm
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