Post by L Roebuck on Apr 24, 2006 18:41:37 GMT -5
Discovered cave revives memories of lost boys
HANNIBAL, Mo. - Nearly 40 years later, the story of three boys who disappeared never to be found still haunts this northeast Missouri town.
Now, a cave discovered at the site where a new school is planned has rekindled memories of the tragedy and prompted an investigation to see if the cave could hold the remains of Craig Dowell and brothers Bill and Joey Hoag.
Officials with the Missouri Department of Transportation doubt it. MoDOT has found nothing in a preliminary investigation. A cave biologist is expected in town Wednesday to map the cave and thoroughly check for any signs of remains or other indications that the boys may have wandered into it.
"I know the community would like some closure, but we haven't' seen anything," MoDOT spokeswoman Marissa Brown said.
The boys - Dowell was 14, Joey Hoag 13 and his brother 10 - were last seen in the late afternoon of May 10, 1967. In Mark Twain's hometown, the boys were modern-day Tom Sawyers and Huck Finns, planning to explore part of what's known as Murphy's Cave - the entrance was uncovered when Missouri Route 79 was under construction at the time. That cave sits near the site where the new school is planned.
When the boys disappeared, thousands of people joined in the search, including speleological organizations and rescue units from several states. National news organizations covered the search. No signs of the boys were ever found.
Recently, a construction crew at the site of the new Stowell Elementary School uncovered the entrance to a small cave. MoDOT officials found that someone had drawn an arrow on a wall of the cave, but Brown said that may have been drawn by one of the people looking for the lost boys four decades ago.
MoDOT is involved because a roadway is being rerouted as part of the school project.
Alan Leary, a biologist and MoDOT's senior environmental specialist, said the cave is tall enough for walking, "just not real long." He estimated it is only about 50 feet long.
He said the cave was probably, at one time, linked to a larger cave system, but is prone to flooding.
Hannibal Courier-Post, www.hannibal.net
www.belleville.com/mld/belleville/news/state/14418223.htm
HANNIBAL, Mo. - Nearly 40 years later, the story of three boys who disappeared never to be found still haunts this northeast Missouri town.
Now, a cave discovered at the site where a new school is planned has rekindled memories of the tragedy and prompted an investigation to see if the cave could hold the remains of Craig Dowell and brothers Bill and Joey Hoag.
Officials with the Missouri Department of Transportation doubt it. MoDOT has found nothing in a preliminary investigation. A cave biologist is expected in town Wednesday to map the cave and thoroughly check for any signs of remains or other indications that the boys may have wandered into it.
"I know the community would like some closure, but we haven't' seen anything," MoDOT spokeswoman Marissa Brown said.
The boys - Dowell was 14, Joey Hoag 13 and his brother 10 - were last seen in the late afternoon of May 10, 1967. In Mark Twain's hometown, the boys were modern-day Tom Sawyers and Huck Finns, planning to explore part of what's known as Murphy's Cave - the entrance was uncovered when Missouri Route 79 was under construction at the time. That cave sits near the site where the new school is planned.
When the boys disappeared, thousands of people joined in the search, including speleological organizations and rescue units from several states. National news organizations covered the search. No signs of the boys were ever found.
Recently, a construction crew at the site of the new Stowell Elementary School uncovered the entrance to a small cave. MoDOT officials found that someone had drawn an arrow on a wall of the cave, but Brown said that may have been drawn by one of the people looking for the lost boys four decades ago.
MoDOT is involved because a roadway is being rerouted as part of the school project.
Alan Leary, a biologist and MoDOT's senior environmental specialist, said the cave is tall enough for walking, "just not real long." He estimated it is only about 50 feet long.
He said the cave was probably, at one time, linked to a larger cave system, but is prone to flooding.
Hannibal Courier-Post, www.hannibal.net
www.belleville.com/mld/belleville/news/state/14418223.htm