George Washington sinks in Pecos

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Carlsbad Fire Department dive team members Jay Carter, left, and Scott Maxwell, in the water, prepare to check the underwater situation of the George Washington, which sank in the Pecos River Saturday afternoon with 44 sightseers on board. Submitted to the Current-Argus

CARLSBAD ? Residents living along the Pecos River and recreational boaters on the water sprang into action Saturday afternoon to rescue passengers from a sinking paddleboat.

The George Washington stern-wheeler had a load of 44 signtseers when it began going down near the north end of its route.

"The residents that launched their boats and others who had been boating on the river really helped us out," said Earl Phelps, Carlsbad Fire Department engineer. "By the time we got to the scene nearly all the people on the George Washington had been brought to safety and there were no injuries.

The slightly wet passengers were taken to nearby residential docks and from there returned to port.

"We were able to account for everyone that was on the boat," Phelps said. "The civilians did a really good job rescuing the passengers."

Paula and Jim Renfrow, whose home in on the river, said they saw what was happening and joined others to help the passengers to shore.

"Everyone worked together to help get everyone to safety," Paula Renfrow said.

As passengers were brought to the private docks, a party boat arrived to take them back to the landing dock at Port Jefferson Beach where the trip originated.

Phelps said that according to the captain of the George Washington, as he made the routine turn near the island up-river, he noticed the front end of the boat was coming up out of the water and immediately took action.

"He told us that when he noticed the front

end of the boat coming out of the water he then looked to the rear of the boat and saw that it was sinking. He said that he told the passengers to go to the top deck because the boat was sinking," Phelps said.

After the passengers had been brought to safety, fire department divers Jay Carter and Scott Maxwell began the task of diving under the boat to see if there was any damage and to determine how to get the boat out of the water and back to its dock.

At press time there had been no determination made as to what caused the boat to sink.

The George Washington is owned by Carlsbad Cruise Lines.

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