Schroeder's Pants Cave facts for kids

Schroeder's Pants Cave is a cave found near Goodell Corners in Herkimer County, New York. It has a unique name and a memorable history.

About Schroeder's Pants Cave

This cave was first explored in the 1950s. Two teachers, Herbert W. Schroeder and George A. Buck, from Dolgeville High School, were among the first to explore it.

How the Cave Got Its Name

The cave got its unusual name from Mr. Schroeder himself. During one of his early trips into the cave, he accidentally ripped the seat of his pants! This funny incident led to the cave being named "Schroeder's Pants Cave."

A Difficult Rescue Attempt

In 1965, a sad event happened in the cave. A person named James G. Mitchell from Manheim, New York got stuck in a deep pit. This pit was about 75-foot (23 m) (23 meters) deep and had a very cold waterfall. Sadly, Mr. Mitchell passed away due to the cold.

Rescuers tried very hard to get him out. A special team even flew in from Washington DC on Air Force Two. Despite a three-day effort, they could not recover his body. The cave entrance was then sealed off, making it a kind of natural memorial.

Later Discovery

Forty-one years later, in 2006, a group returned to the cave. They were able to successfully find and recover Mr. Mitchell's remains. This brought the cave back into the news after many years.

Cave Waters

It is believed that the water inside Schroeder's Pants Cave connects to East Creek. Scientists used a special dye to trace the water flow. They found that the cave water traveled about 3 miles (4.8 kilometers) to reach East Creek.