March 08, 2004
Reservists rescue passengers from capsized vessel in Baltimore Harbor
By Brian Witte
Associated Press
BALTIMORE — The Red Cross was assisting 21 survivors from a water taxi accident that killed one woman and left three people missing, as authorities planned another day of recovery efforts.
Six people remained in the hospital, a day after strong winds overturned the pontoon near Fort McHenry. Two people, an 8-year-old girl who was plucked from the cold stormy water by rescuers and a 30-year-old woman, were in critical condition Sunday night.
A 6-year-old boy and two adults were missing.
Recovery crews with divers and dogs trained to find submerged bodies stopped working around 6 p.m. Sunday because of darkness and choppy weather. They were expected to meet at 8 a.m. Monday before resuming the search.
Gonzalo Hernandez, a disaster manager for the Red Cross, said the organization set up a reception area for relatives, and mental health services were being provided to families.
Navy reservists whose quick work helped save 21 people described the horrific scene in which they made their rescue: survivors clinging to the overturned vessel in frigid water pounded by rain, telling them more were trapped below.
The sailors rushed to the scene Saturday around 4 p.m. after seeing the boat in trouble. The rescuers used a ramp on their troop landing ship to lift the water taxi partly out of the water, Petty Officer Jeffrey King said.
“Brother, it was like the end of the “Titanic” movie once that thing lifted up,” King said. “I mean those bodies just floated up.”
Lt. Cmdr. Art Eisenstein said he jumped into the water and grabbed a little girl who was unconscious and floating face-down.
“Just to hear that she’s still with us is just amazing,” Eisenstein said.
Water temperatures were in the low 40s, and heavy rain was pouring from black clouds as survivors were pulled out of the water.
“It was pretty hateful,” Petty Officer Henry Zecher said. “I’m relieved that we were able to save as many lives as we were.”
Fire and police officials also assisted in the rescue.
“The rescue efforts that happened yesterday were nothing short of miraculous,” Baltimore Fire Chief William Goodwin said. “They were able to pluck people out of the water almost immediately.”
The 36-foot pontoon boat overturned with 23 passengers and two crew members.
The ferry had just set off across the harbor from historic Fort McHenry on the way to the city’s Fells Point when it was caught by wind gusting to 50 mph. The boat, which was at full capacity, was equipped with life preservers but passengers are not required to wear them.
Authorities had not released the victims’ names by Sunday evening.
Associated Press writers Foster Klug and Stephen Manning contributed to this report.
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------------------------------------------------------------ Out of every 100 men, ten shouldn't even be there, Eighty are just targets, Nine are the real fighters, and we are lucky to have them, for they make the battle. Ah, but the one, one is a warrior, and he will bring the others back." - Hericletus, circa 500 BC
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