[Scan-DC] Update on Washington County Cave RSQ

[David Jones]

This is a firsthand account of the Washington County cave rescue:

About two in the afternoon, two guys and two girls (all in their twenty's), 
from Baltimore went into a cave near here. They were to some degree part of 
the rescue efforts all the way to the end.

Can't tell you how I was tipped off, but my son and I traveled over there 
and followed a rescue unit in. Already, the place was being set up, as we 
drove through two check points. At the second point, we got out of the 
truck, still a half mile from the site, and found a guy with a radio. He 
radioed ahead about two cavers being there  ... what to do ... send them 
through. Down at fire ground, we got parked in, as other units gathered in 
behind us.

We suited up, then up to the entrance. A Maugansville guy, was running the 
scene. A girl, one of the original explorers whose friend was trapped, came 
out and told Magilla that whoever goes in needs to be small, the smaller the 
better. Ean looked at me, and then my son, and told [my son] to get ready.

They gave [my son] hearing protection for five people, eye protection, a 
compressed air tank, hose and air chisel. [My son] crawled through a one 
foot round tunnel near the entrance and reached the victum, applied the 
chisel until the tank went down. He was being assisted by the untrapped male 
cave explorer, and two female explorers. [My son] negoiated his way back to 
the entrance to exchange the air tanks. Arriving back at the rescue site, he 
found the fellow had managed to move a bit. Encouraged by the boy's 
movements, he abandoned further use of the air chisel, and started pushing, 
pulling and coaching him out.

Three fire and rescue personnel, 1 from Washington County, and 2 from 
Montgomery County were at the 12 foot climb down just inside the entrance, 
waiting to assist with harnesses and belay lines. [My son] worked everyone 
back to the bottom of the climbdown and his part was done.

The boy was untrappped about 9:30 pm and out of the cave at ten on the dot. 
Everyone who showed up, gets an A for effort and willingness.

A more detailed report will be published at some time in the Dead Dog 
Dispatch, Tri-State Grotto's newsletter