Spelunkers find wallet man lost in N.Y. cave in 1996

9/10/2013

WATERTOWN, N.Y.  — A group of cave explorers have found the wallet dropped in 1996 by a man who spent two days lost underground in northern New York.

The Watertown Daily Times reports that members of a western New York spelunkers group found Joseph Sweet’s wallet Saturday while exploring the caves under the city.

The wallet contained money, bank and library cards and Sweet’s driving permit.

Sweet was 19 when he and another man became lost in the system of caves in July 1996. The batteries in their flashlight died, so the men were forced to burn $70 in bills for light and warmth. They were eventually rescued by firefighters.

The cavers plan to give Sweet his wallet back this weekend.