How many, have nursed a knocking Rod home?

My brother in law had a motor home with a 454 in it. It spun a bearing 20 miles from his house. I told him NOT to drive it but get it towed. He thought it would be ok if he went real slow. When I tore it down, never seen anything like it before. The rod bearings got so hot they melted out of the caps. Crazy as it sounds, I was able to rebuild it but everything that is supposed to be round had to be machined.