No injured cavers recorded.
At about 4:00 p.m. on Sunday, February 20, four cavers from West Nashville, Gary Callis (18), Bobby Harrell (24), Larry Hoyal (20), and Doug Wall (16) went exploring in Indian Grave Point Cave near Smithville, Tennessee. After a couple of hours their four flashlights and one lamp began getting dim and it became impossible to find their way out. The cavers settled down to await rescue, burning their rope to keep warm and help pass the time. The rope produced enough acrid smoke that they were forced to move to another room.
Authorities were alerted when the cavers failed to return home Sunday evening. The search began in the Gordonsville area, the cavers' stated destination, but at 12:30 p.m. on Monday shifted to Indian Grave Point Cave near Smithville when the lost men's car was found outside. The search inside the cave was pursued by five members of the Nashville Grotto. Forty-five minutes later the lost cavers were found in good condition. They had spent 24 hours in the 56 degree cave.
Analysis: It goes without saying that one should carry adequate lights and more than one light source per caver. The cavers would have been found sooner if they had left exact word of their objective. They had learned of the cave by the publication, Caves in Tennessee.
stranded when lights died. used a signout, but gave different location which delayed rescue
This record was last updated on 27th Apr 2024 at 23:11 UTC.