March 24, 2013

Runaway Barges

Towboats retrieve several barges on the Mississippi River Sunday morning, March 24, 2013 in Cape Girardeau.The barges from the Sheila Johnson towboat were knocked loose Sunday north of Cape Girardeau.

LAURA SIMON ~ lsimon@semissourian.com A tugboat and towboat race to catch a stray barge on the Mississippi River as it nears the Bill Emerson Memorial Bridge Sunday morning, March 24, 2013 in Cape Girardeau.

LAURA SIMON ~ lsimon@semissourian.com A stray barge floats south on the Mississippi River just north of the Bill Emerson Memorial Bridge Sunday morning, March 24, 2013 in Cape Girardeau. Barges from the Sheila Johnson towboat were knocked loose Sunday morning.

LAURA SIMON ~ lsimon@semissourian.com A towboat gains control of one of several stray barges the Mississippi River just north of the Bill Emerson Memorial Bridge Sunday morning, March 24, 2013 in Cape Girardeau. Barges from the Sheila Johnson towboat were knocked loose Sunday morning.

LAURA SIMON ~ lsimon@semissourian.com A towboat heads towards one of several stray barges the Mississippi River just north of the Bill Emerson Memorial Bridge Sunday morning, March 24, 2013 in Cape Girardeau. Barges from the Sheila Johnson towboat were knocked loose Sunday morning near mile marker 60.

LAURA SIMON ~ lsimon@semissourian.com A towboat pushes between two stray barges the Mississippi River just north of the Bill Emerson Memorial Bridge Sunday morning, March 24, 2013 in Cape Girardeau. Barges from the Sheila Johnson towboat were knocked loose Sunday morning.

LAURA SIMON ~ lsimon@semissourian.com Chunks of foam float along the Mississippi River shore near a sinking barge in downtown Cape Girardeau Sunday morning, March 24, 2013. Barges from the Sheila Johnson towboat were knocked loose Sunday morning near mile marker 60. The bridge was closed to traffic while towboats retrieved the barges and cleared them from the bridge.

LAURA SIMON ~ lsimon@semissourian.com Towboats race to catch a stray barge on the Mississippi River as it nears the Bill Emerson Memorial Bridge Sunday morning, March 24, 2013 in Cape Girardeau. Barges from the Sheila Johnson towboat were knocked loose Sunday morning.

LAURA SIMON ~ lsimon@semissourian.com Towboats and a tugboat race to catch a stray barge on the Mississippi River as it nears the Bill Emerson Memorial Bridge Sunday morning, March 24, 2013 in Cape Girardeau.

LAURA SIMON ~ lsimon@semissourian.com A tugboat gains control of one of several stray barges the Mississippi River just north of the Bill Emerson Memorial Bridge Sunday morning, March 24, 2013 in Cape Girardeau. Barges from the Sheila Johnson tugboat were knocked loose Sunday morning near mile marker 58. The bridge was closed to traffic while tugboats retrieved the barges and cleared them from the bridge.

LAURA SIMON ~ lsimon@semissourian.com Towboats maneuver around the Mississippi River just north of the Bill Emerson Memorial Bridge Sunday morning, March 24, 2013 in Cape Girardeau.

LAURA SIMON ~ lsimon@semissourian.com Towboats race to catch a stray barge on the Mississippi River as it nears the Bill Emerson Memorial Bridge Sunday morning, March 24, 2013 in Cape Girardeau.

LAURA SIMON ~ lsimon@semissourian.com People watch from the floodgate as towboats race to catch a stray barge on the Mississippi River as it nears the Bill Emerson Memorial Bridge Sunday morning, March 24, 2013 in Cape Girardeau.

LAURA SIMON ~ lsimon@semissourian.com A retrieved stray barge loaded with coal begins to sink into the Mississippi River along the river walk in downtown Cape Girardeau Sunday morning, March 24, 2013. Barges from the Sheila Johnson towboat were knocked loose Sunday morning near mile marker 60.

LAURA SIMON ~ lsimon@semissourian.com An onlooker chats on the phone near a sinking barge loaded with coal along the Mississippi River in downtown Cape Girardeau Sunday morning, March 24, 2013. Barges from the Sheila Johnson towboat were knocked loose Sunday morning near mile marker 60.

LAURA SIMON ~ lsimon@semissourian.com A stray barge nears towboat workers on the Mississippi River just north of the Bill Emerson Memorial Bridge Sunday morning, March 24, 2013 in Cape Girardeau. Barges from the Sheila Johnson towboat were knocked loose Sunday morning.

LAURA SIMON ~ lsimon@semissourian.com Towboats head towards several stray barges on the Mississippi River just north of the Bill Emerson Memorial Bridge Sunday morning, March 24, 2013 in Cape Girardeau. Barges from the Sheila Johnson towboat were knocked loose Sunday morning near mile marker 60. The bridge was closed to traffic while towboats retrieved the barges and cleared them from the bridge.

LAURA SIMON ~ lsimon@semissourian.com Members of the Cape Girardeau Police Department reopen the Bill Emerson Memorial Bridge Sunday morning, March 24, 2013 in Cape Girardeau. Barges from the Sheila Johnson towboat were knocked loose Sunday morning near mile marker 60. The bridge was closed to traffic while towboats retrieved the barges and cleared them from the bridge.

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Towboats retrieve several barges on the Mississippi River Sunday morning, March 24, 2013 in Cape Girardeau.The barges from the Sheila Johnson towboat were knocked loose Sunday north of Cape Girardeau.

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