Captained by John M. “Bruno” Rosetti, the ANNIE L was the only steel hull vessel in the area at the time the Hurricane of 1947 was approaching. As the captain navigated the ANNIE L to the Bay of St. Louis seeking a safe harbor in which to ride out the storm, he found himself, along with other vessels, at a standstill. The tender of the railroad bridge had already evacuated, leaving the train bridge closed, preventing a number of boats from entering the bayous that offer much needed shelter.
Captain Bruno, relying on the sturdiness of the vessel, rammed the ANNIE L into the train bridge, creating an opening through which all could pass. This hero and heroine quite certainly saved the livelihood of many fishermen and their families in a catastrophic storm.