From: Kate Wood
Sent: Tuesday, September 18, 2001 10:09 AM
Subject: To all of our friends
Dear Friends of Landmark West!
We all knew that this fall would be a momentous time in our city's history, but of course no one could predict the unutterable
shape that change would take. Those of us in the office on West 67th Street are, thankfully, as unscathed as any of us can
be when the city is in such pain. We are mindful, however, that many of you may not be okay, from those who watched the
disaster unfold from the streets and buildings of lower Manhattan or on television to those who were actually in the Trade
Center when the planes struck. Our hearts go out to each and every one of you, and we thank you for doing all that you can
to help this city, this country, and its people to recover.
The spirit of Landmark West! has always been one of working together to make a difference. Among those that made a
decisive difference in the aftermath of the Trade Center disaster was our own Huntley Gill. Huntley is a West Sider,
indispensible friend of this organization, and owner of the John J. Harvey fireboat. One Tuesday, September 11, Huntley
and his mates took the Harvey from its usual dock at Pier 63 Maritime to the World Trade Center to help evacuate people and pump
much-needed water onto the flames. For more details, please see Huntley's description, attached below, or Harvey
website, http://www.fireboat.org The entire crew of the Harvey showed remarkable valor and strength, and we are so proud
to have them as part of the Landmark West! community.
This message also goes out in the spirit of the Jewish New Year 5762, which begins today. Traditionally a time to plan for a
better life, the New Year has particularly special meaning at this moment, a week after the events that brought our nation to
a standstill. We hope that each of you will join us in a prayer that all will become right in the world and that happier days are
ahead.
Love,
Arlene and Kate
On the morning of Tuesday the 11th, Chase Welles, Chief Engineer Tim Ivory, Tomas Cavallaro, Andrew Furber and I met
spontaneously at John J. Harvey and took her south from Pier 63 Maritime to help at the World Trade Center. We joined tugs and
ferries to evacuating a trapped crowd from the sea wall near the Battery, taking some 150 people north to Pier 40. En route,
the Fire Department radioed a request that we drop our passengers as quickly as possible and tie up adjacent to the site to
provide pumping capacity as hydrants were not working. FDNY designated Harvey Marine Company Two and assigned
an officer. We joined NYFD boats Fire Fighter and McKean on the sea-wall to provide the only water available at the site.
Joined on Wednesday by Pilot Bob Lenney (NYFD ret) and Assistant Engineer Jessica DuLong, who provided welcome
relief (and remained on board without it themselves), Harvey worked non-stop at the site until last night (Friday) after
hydrants had been restored and she was at last sent home.
Countless friends and supporters made Harvey their base for volunteering in the emergency, working on shore on clean-up,
rescue work and organization. Andrew Furber worked as a welder through the Tuesday night cutting people and remains
out of emergency vehicles, and later cutting steel that had been WTC 2. Jeanne Preece and John Doswell wielded fire hose
most of the day Wednesday to provide the only area at the site which was not covered by 2 inches of a horrible, ubiquitous
choking dust; this area then became the main supply center for the emergency. Darren Vigilant provided regular ferry service
to and from Pier 63 Maritime in his go-fast boat; John Krevey provided food, beverages and regular, unstinting support. Captain
Pamela Hepburn organized the deck and set up the lines (secured to trees for lack of cleats) with quick-release toggles.
(Both John and Pamela's families are homeless as their apartments are adjacent to the site.) Many others, too numerous to
name, pitched in without hesitation.
Remarkably, John J. Harvey turns 70 in 21 days. Supporters of John J. Harvey should be proud that this great old lady was
saved to work for our City in crisis.
Huntley Gill
huntley@fireboat.org
212 874-4771
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