Ship Sinks in Great Salt Pond, Three Survivors
By Camilla Garrison
Late afternoon on August seventh, adventurers John Gasner, Camilla and Isaac Garrison were returning from a voyage in the Great Salt Pond of Block Island on Mr Gasner’s thirteen-foot Boston Whaler. They were wearied after a long journey across the vast pond there and back, and from a long swim at Andy’s Way beach.
Andy’s Way, Block Island, Rhode Island
Camilla Garrison (left), John Gasner (right)
Making it through the narrow pathed, tightly packed harbor, the crew pulled up alongside the mooring, attached to the Gasner dingy, a bathtub-sized rowboat that Isaac had just barely managed to maneuver on their way in. Right next to Payne’s dock, this particular mooring was posted about twenty-five feet from shore, where a few other dingys and kayaks were lying. Isaac cut the motor and drifted towards the small boat, which Camilla caught and began detangling the lengths of rope. The crew then worked to transfer the bucket, towels, sweatshirts, life vests and fishing rod, before getting in, careful not to smash their fingers between the boats. Johnny sat in the middle and sorted out the oars and oarlocks, while Camilla and Isaac sat in the back, knees down, out of the way of the oars. They were just remarking on how the middle seat needed to be replaced soon, for it didn’t quite fit three, when Isaac noticed how much water was coming in the back. On the way there, the boat was dry from the sun, but acquired about two inches of water in the bottom, which was already weighing them down on the way back. The water came in steadily, and at this point, Johnny was way up in the air, while Camilla and Isaac were inching downward. Then all of a sudden (it happens really fast you know) the three were under water. Camilla, not realizing the depth (about chin-level) exclaimed “Swim! swim!” while Johnny, who was standing in the boat, hoisted up the bucket above his head and instructed Isaac to collect the oars and he swam in to see if his cell phone was still alive. Pulling the boat up from the bottom, Camilla watched Isaac in their lifejacket swim after all six floating shoes, carrying two wooden oars, well above their height.
On the beach, the phone was still working, and the contents of the bucket, including water bottles, Isaac’s watch, and more. Johnny came back out to assist Camilla in pulling the boat in while Isaac, carrying an armload of shoes on shore wondered where the fishing rod was… Isaac scoured the ground while Camilla swam back to the bigger boat to check whether they left it behind. Johnny came with the rowboat and circled the area where they had sank. Camilla joined in, and called out to a neighboring boat with a teenage captain “Have you seen a fishing rod? We just sank!” “Really?” he replied “Yes!” she said. Well he continued tying up the boat, and then got in a small motorized dingy with his presumed sister and they went speeding away.
Soon, after many a buried rope or stick, Isaac stumbled upon a line, they dove under, forgetting they were wearing a life vest and glasses, choosing the smarter option, Isaac then pulled the lost fishing rod out of the sand! Thank goodness they didn’t land on the hook! The two swam back to the beach with the rod where they gathered up the soaking clothes, oars and shoes. They anchored the rowboat and all three went along to the Jeep across the street.