By Ryan Clark
Enquirer staff writer


DAYTON, Ky. - All along the river here, where gawkers mixed with
passersby, everyone wanted to know what happened. Why did the boat go out
so early in the morning? Why couldn't they signal the oncoming barge? Why
couldn't the barge see the small houseboat? The quiet marinas lining
Northern Kentucky were mobbed after a man was killed, another escaped and
two others are missing after a barge hit their 36-foot houseboat
overnight.

As officials searched and the day wore on, life began to get back to
normal Thursday, aside from the flashing lights of emergency vehicles and
TV cameras along the shoreline.

"It's different on a boat," said 48-year-old Randy Griffith. He lives in
Newport but keeps his boat at the River City Marina, just a splash from
where the collision occurred. "In a car, if you have an accident, you can
get out. In a boat, it's either sink or swim."

Griffith, who has kept his boat at the site for five years, said he's
leery of being on the river at night.

"You've got to be careful," he said. "That's like I say, you have to stay
on this side of the river. If you wander out, you can find trouble."

Less than a half-mile from the wreck, Capt. Dennis New watched the search
from his perch on board the Queen City Riverboat.

"Whatever happened, a boat has no business being out on the river at 4
a.m.," said New, who has been working on the river for 33 years. "Then
again, every boat needs a lookout to watch for things. Basically, if you
do what you're supposed to do, these things won't happen."

Greg Sizemore, 46, watched the recovery attempt from the Queen City
Riverboats parking lot. Owner of a 40-foot offshore boat, Sizemore, of
Covington, was considering bringing it to the River City Marina for the
Labor Day fireworks show.

Now he isn't sure.

"It just shows you how dangerous the river can be here at dark," he
said. "Especially for the fireworks show, where people will be
partying. People need to be careful down here. I'm just not sure if we'll
come or not."

At the Watertown Yacht Club, those who live on the water are divided about
whether the incident will affect their lives.

Ron Boenitsch has lived on his boat, the Weekend Retreat, for more than
three years. But after 23 years in the Navy, the 57-year-old said there
isn't much that scares him.

"I've seen much worse than that," Boenitsch said. "You just shouldn't go
out there at night."

But Johnny Goodwin, 75, from Clifton, who spends time on his Seabird at
Watertown, said he may stay away from the area now.

"It's just so dangerous," he said. "... People need to know that there are
times when it's hard to see you out there."

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