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Dozens rescued from unlucky riverboat

Published: June 11, 2005

Dozens of passengers had to be ferried ashore after a riverboat became stranded on a rock on the Susquehanna River.

The Pride of the Susquehanna got stuck at around 8:30 p.m. Friday near Independence Island. The boat tilted slightly when it struck the rock, and the crew asked everyone aboard to move toward the stern in an unsuccessful attempt to help dislodge the craft, according to passengers.

The 64 passengers were safely taken from the stranded boat to the River Boat Docks, where the vessel is based, Harrisburg Mayor Stephen R. Reed said.

The crew will remain on the ship until it gets free. That may be a few days, since the river is not expected to rise until Tuesday or Wednesday.

Several passengers said they were not fazed by their eventful voyage.

“Everybody thought it was pretty funny,” said one of the passengers, Tara Gerner.

Not the first time

On Sept. 26, 2002, the Pride of the Susquehanna got stuck for three days in shallow water on a rock ledge. Rains from remnants of Tropical Storm Isidore helped to raise the river level, which freed the boat.

Also that year, the ship became stranded in the river when its battery died.

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Published in Odd and Rescues
Attribution: www.phillyburbs.com