Submitted to The Dorchester Banner
With the Lady K on the surface, watermen attached make-shift boards to raise the sides of the damaged craft, so that it would not take on more water as it was towed to shore. At the rear is the Tilghman Island Volunteer Fire Company’s Rescue 70 boat.[/caption] COOK POINT - “When we got the call, it was 4:21 a.m. It was blowing a gale.” That’s how Tilghman Island Volunteer Fire Company Captain Nick Craig remembered the incident that began on Saturday morning. Todd Haddaway’s “Lady K” was taking on water fast at the mouth of the Choptank River, after breaking a board on her bottom. In the dark. In the middle of the river. In high winds. That’s how the story of a tragedy sometimes begins, but not this time. Maybe because when Dorchester and Talbot county watermen hear that one of their own is in trouble, they drop what they’re doing – which at 4:21 a.m. means they were earning their living – and they go help. EDITOR'S NOTE: Check Wednesday's print edition for a full story and more photos of this cooperative rescue and salvage operation.