Cooper River Bridge
Pixie
Julian Buxton III.
Their are 2 bridges that run across the Cooper River from Charleston to Mt
Pleasant. One is older (referred to as the Grace Memorial Bridge) and very
narrow, it now only travels South bound into Charleston. (I hate this bridge
it's very tall and creeps me out when I drive across it due to my fear of
heights). I was told that you can feel the bridge sway if you stand on it.
Here's the story. Back in February 1946 an World War II era freighter, the
'Nicaragua Victory', was moored up river from bridge, during a storm the
ships captain ordered another anchor to be dropped. He then ordered that the
slack be pulled up on the first anchor. Then accidentally both anchors were
pulled out of the mud and the ship was floating downstream sideways. With
the engines shut down, there was no steering and it struck the bridge. three
vehicles were on the bridge, one made it across. An army mail truck stopped
and watched as the remaining vehicle plumaged into the river killing the
family. In March of 46 they dredged and pulled this car out (1940's
Oldsmobile)and all 5 bodies were still inside. Lost were Elmer Lawson his
wife Evelyn, his mother Rose Lawson, son Robert and daughter Diane.
There are two recorded sightings in this book on the family. One in 1966 by
another family who while crossing the bridge pulled up along side the sedan.
The mans wife commented on how strange the people looked and were dressed
and that their faces were expressionless. The 1940 sedan seemed to swerve at
them and the guy driving slammed on his breaks to a stop, at the same time
the apparition also slammed on it's breaks but lunged forward beyond them
where it appeared to vanish after they heard a foghorn.
The second was in 1996, a woman caught up to the old car and was fascinated
with it so she slowed down to look at due to it being an antique in great
shape. She almost flipped her own car over the side of the bridge when she
saw. Five people dressed in clothes and hair styles from early this century.
The two children and elderly woman sat in the back seat, a man driving with
a younger woman in the passenger seat. All stared straight ahead devoid of
animation, until the head of the driver slowly turned to look out the window
towards her. He was expressionless with an (white) unearthly pallor, eyes
sunk so far back into his head that she could not see them. Naturally the
woman freaked and slammed on her breaks, she continued to watch the car till
it disappeared into a fog bank. End.
These bridges are very old and we had a ground breaking ceremony this year
for the new 8 lane bridge due to replace these. I imagine it will take a
couple of years to complete, so if you are in the area and see an old car on
the bridge<:-0
--
Pixie