No injured cavers recorded.
Saturday, 22 February 1975 More than 2 inches of heavy rains on top of already saturated ground brought widespread cave flooding to the Bloomington, Indiana area. A stream in Salamander Cave normally leaves the cave through a narrow, sinuous canyon just inside the entrance passage. Upstream the passage averages 6 feet in height. 500 feet from the entrance is Breakdown Mountain and the start of 30-foot-high stream passage, which makes this a popular beginners' cave. Around 1 p.m. three university freshmen, Kim Alan Aldrich (19), Marcia Ann Bott (18), and Terry Lee Yokem (18), entered the cave during the heavy rain. Only Aldrich had any previous caving experience and none were members of any caving organization. Both Aldrich and Yokem were equipped with hard hats and carbide lamps; Ms. Bott carried a large flashlight. The three were met at the entrance by John Abney and his group which was leaving the cave because of the rising water. They did not heed a warning given by Abney. Another warning was issued by Kathy Hoey, a graduate student who had been studying the aquatic life of the cave. She had entered around 10:15 but was leaving because the water in the passage was boot-top high and becoming muddy. Ms. Hoey later warned another group entering the cave. They left soon after they saw the situation for themselves. The three freshmen, however, continued into the cave. In the middle of the afternoon the storm intensified, and there were repeated downpours. Abney notified the Indiana State Police about the flooding cave, and they contacted area cavers. Michael Moore and Jim Keith found only 18 inches of air space in the entrance when they checked about 8:15 p.m. At 10:10 p.m. Moore, Keith, and Don Paquette returned to Salamander Cave. Less than 100 feet into the entrance passage they discovered the bodies of Marcia Bott and Kim Aldrich. A very brief search failed to locate the body of Yokem. It was assumed that he had either escaped to the Breakdown Mountain or else his body was farther upstream in the entrance passage. The searchers left to notify the authorities before attempting to remove the bodies. Because of the continued raining and flooding, they were not able to do the recovery until after 8 a.m. the next morning. Yokem's body was found a short distance from his companions'
Analysis: "The inexperienced spelunkers were warned of the flooding twice while entering the cave. It is impossible to know what really happened, but lack of caving knowledge could have led to the following: As the water began to rise more rapidly they must certainly have become alarmed and perhaps panicked and attempted to escape. Alternatively, as others have done, they could have sought safety at the Breakdown Mountain and then attempted to get out as soon as the first flood crest had passed. In either case, they nearly reached the entrance. "Approximately one inch of air remained trapped at the 8-foot-high ceiling throughout the flooding, and at least one cave cricket survived there. It would have been impossible, however, for a human to remain at the ceiling at that point. Some of the high spots upstream in the flood passage are higher than the place where the three drowned, but it is not known if these areas trapped air during the flood. It appears that they made no effort, or were unable, to retreat once they reached the final turn in the entrance passage. "The deaths of Kim Aldrich, Marcia Bott, and Terry Yokem may be attributed to improper preparation for the trip, poor judgement, and panic. Had they waited in the large passage at the Breakdown Mountain for only a few more hours, rescue could have been trivial." (Moore)