Poor Tubby

I love to watch my “geek channels” on TV. You know, the Science Channel, History Channel, Discovery Channel and the like. I especially enjoy the programs that feature the construction of bridges, skyscrapers and roller coasters.

I’m sure you’ve all seen the 1940 footage of the collapse of the Tacoma Narrows Bridge. You know, the black-and-white footage of the suspension bridge that began swaying and rocking in the wind, then finally coming apart and tumbling into the water below. Anytime there’s a program about a bridge, you can be sure they’ll show that obligatory footage.

No one was hurt or killed in that disaster.

Except for Tubby.

If you notice on the footage, there’s a man walking on the bridge who had just escaped his car which he had left on the bridge. Inside that car was his cocker spaniel named Tubby.

Tubby didn’t make it. He went down with the bridge.

Every time that there has been a program about a bridge, I always say, “Okay, get it over with” when the Tacoma Narrows Bridge footage is shown.

Now, maybe I’ll have a little more reverence, knowing that Tubby the cocker spaniel is, indeed, perishing in that footage.