No injured cavers recorded.
Saturday, 22 February 1975 While the tragedy in Salamander Cave was unfolding, nearby Wayne Cave was also being flooded. Wayne Cave is well-known for having a cave stream which rises during heavy rain. With 4.27 miles of passage, this is the longest cave in the county. Four cavers from Illinois, Paul Homan (37), Bob BonDurant (32), Randall Masterson (26), and Gene Strain (40), entered the cave Saturday. Around midnight the wife of one man notified the police that the group was in the cave. Rescuers managed to enter the cave for about a quarter mile but were unable to contact the four men because of the chest-deep water. By 12:15 p.m. cavers Tom Rea and Kevin Komisarcik were able to get to the Mountain Room where they found the missing group. They reached the surface by 2:30 p.m. Sunday.
Analysis: "The cavers trapped in Wayne Cave followed accepted procedure and sought a high spot to await lower water and rescue. They huddled together to provide heat and rationed their meager food supply. They were cold, wet, and hungry, but had light and otherwise were in good shape when rescued. Although Masterson and Strain were novices, the calm thinking and experience of Homan and BonDurant probably prevented additional disaster on an already tragic weekend." (Moore)