Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1953-02-08

Bothered D. {. Men
Lost in Cave
CONTINUED From First Page.)
cover the walls and ceiling Of
the cave.
1.-THE cold is what gets you,"
the older man said.
Cave Floor is Pitted.
ut wasn't the lack Of food or
water from seepage out Of the
walls. The thing that got us most
was the cold. What can you do
about it when you get so cold
your bones rattle?"
They didn't move without
holding onto each other. What
little sleep they had was gained
huddled together for warmth.
Some sections of the cave floor
are pitted by Civil War .Saltpeter
excavations and they dared not
move separately for fear of fall
ing into one of these pits, they
said.
II don't know how far we
wandered until we got up on that
ledge" Mr.. Breeder said. It
seemed they could tell night
from day by the changes in tenn
perature, they added. Men IA
miliar with the cave, however,
say it maintains a constant
temperature.
The cave has been mapped by
w. j. Stephenson, 1917 Arnet
lane, Bethesda, a member of the
Washington Grotto of the
National Sociological Society.
Seven other members, including
H. H. Douglas of Falls Church,
was enroute to aid in the search
when the two were found.
Car Was Clue to Trouble.
Mr.. Dalen said one of the men
asked him what the rescue party
was doing in the cave. His an
swer was obvious. but he ex-
planned that Mr.. Breeders
parked car had attracted atten-
ton.
Mr.. Breeder replied that was
our last hope-that some one
would begin to wonder about the
car being parked there all that
time"
The car was spotted by Emory
Eye, a truck driver for the State
Roads Commission late Wednes-
day afternoon, but he gave it
little thought. It was still there
Thursday morning and again
Thursday afternoon.
He reported it to State Troop
er William Cunningham, who
asked Arlington police to check.
In the telephone conversation,
Mr.. Breeden's parents said they
had the impression that the car
was parked in Franklin and that
there was no question of a cave
mishap They said the son had
gone for a drive in Virginia and
had told them he would write or
telegraph.
Earlier Search Called Of.
Trooper Cunningham quoted
Arlington police as saying the
parents made no mention Of
their sons interests in caves.
In Franklin, any further search
was delayed until it could be
established that the younger
Breeder was missing.
On the strength of report from
Mr.. Eye, volunteer f1remen had
entered the cave Thursday and
abandoned the search when they
received no replies to their
shouts. The sounds did not pen
citrate deep enough for the lost
men to hear.
Possibility Of their plight de-
veloped this morning when The
Star checked again with the
Breedens; learned of the sons
interest in cave exploring. When
the information was relayed to
Trooper Cunningham. he replied
now We'll conduct a real
search" After the two men were
found, the trooper said IF it
hadn't been for that call. they
might still be in there"
Experienced rescue workers
also were working into two near
by caves, entrances to which
lead off the same path the two
Washington men took to get to
Trout cave.
Fathers of both men arrived
here several hours after rescuerS
brought the pair out of the cave.
Despite the hours without food,
the victims seemed little inter-
ested in it and took only little
milk and bread. But they dropped
into a sound sleep. A doctor said
their condition was good and
that they will return to WASH
ington tomorrow.