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By DEAN WELLS

dwells@timesobserver.com

This maiden voyage ended on a much higher note than that of its predecessor.

On Saturday morning, cast and crew of "Titanic the Musical," along with a bevy of volunteers drew quite a crowd to the Allegheny River just downstream of the Hickory Street Bridge. Ringleader John Beard, a minor cast member in the play, attached a cable to one of the bridge's support pillars and proceeded to attach 52 canoes each 17 feet long in an attempt to illustrate the length of the doomed passenger ship for the public.

Beard was assisted by Josh and Piper Lindell, owners of a pair of local canoe liveries, Allegheny Oufitters and Indian Waters.

The Lindells donated the 52 canoes used during the stunt, along with the use of a jet boat.

The event was designed to bring attention to "Titanic the Musical," being presented by the Warren Players at Struthers Library Theater on Oct. 22-25.

Judging by the turnout, the event was a success.

Spectators lined the Hickory Street Bridge and gathered along Pennsylvania Ave. and Crescent Park to watch the canoes being attached in sections to the bridge. It took approximately an hour for volunteers to get the entire flotilla approximately nearly 890 feet long from end to end into the river.

Casualties were limited to two people tumbling into the water during the canoe loading process.

"You couldn't ask for any better weather," Beard said. "And the people who came out were in great humor. And the people coming to watch, it made it just so much better. Everyone in the community just kicked in. Everyody."

Spectators lining the Hickory Street Bridge watched with amusement as the last pieces of the flotilla were put in place and swung out to the center of the river thanks to the current and efforts of the paddlers on board.

"This is just great, just great," said Mark Davis as he and his wife Karen watched from the bridge.

"It's not something you see everyday," another spectator said.

"This is just . . . bizarre," said Piper Lindell, shaking her head and grinning as she videotaped her husband shuttle the final three canoeists onto the flotilla with his jet boat from the bridge above. "Just . . . bizarre."