RECOVERED FROM WATERLINE: A flashlight blinking Morse code found 146 meters from Texas camp’s food hall — the code repeated: “Down. Down. Down.”
Divers are now inspecting the old drainage tunnels.
They weren’t on any official blueprints.

RECOVERED FROM WATERLINE: Flashlight Blinking Morse Code Found at Texas Camp, Signaling “Down. Down. Down.”

On July 10, 2025, as rescue operations persisted at Camp Mystic, a Christian all-girls summer camp ravaged by a catastrophic flash flood along the Guadalupe River in Kerr County, Texas, divers made a chilling discovery. Approximately 146 meters from the camp’s food hall, near the waterline of the receding river, they recovered a flashlight emitting intermittent light signals in Morse code, repeating the phrase “Down. Down. Down.” The find, coupled with the revelation that divers are now inspecting old drainage tunnels not documented on any official camp blueprints, adds a haunting new chapter to the series of mysterious artifacts uncovered since the July 4 flood that killed over 100 people, including 27 campers and counselors from the camp.

The Flood’s Lasting Impact

The flash flood, triggered by nearly 10 inches of rain in a few hours, turned the Guadalupe River into a 30-foot torrent, obliterating low-lying cabins like Cabin 6 and damaging others, such as Cabin 4. Camp Mystic, a nearly century-old institution hosting 750 girls, was left in ruins, with debris strewn across the Texas Hill Country. As of July 10, 2025, 109 deaths have been confirmed in Kerr County, with 161 people, including five campers and a counselor from Camp Mystic, still missing. Search efforts, involving over 500 personnel, helicopters, and drones, have uncovered a string of enigmatic items: a rusted whistle engraved “Cabin 6,” nine identical drawings of a shadowy figure beneath Cabin 4, a schoolbook with “She knew” written inside, and five backpacks arranged in a perfect circle. The flashlight, with its cryptic Morse code message, intensifies the sense of unease surrounding the tragedy.

The Flashlight and Its Message

The flashlight, a durable, waterproof model commonly used for camping, was found partially submerged at the river’s edge, 146 meters from the food hall—a central hub where campers gathered for meals and activities. Despite being exposed to water, the flashlight was operational, its batteries intact, emitting a steady sequence of light pulses. Rescuers trained in Morse code quickly recognized the pattern as spelling “Down. Down. Down.”—a phrase not immediately clear in meaning but ominous in context. In Morse code, “Down” translates to “-.. — .– -. ,” a sequence of dashes and dots repeated three times with brief pauses.

Initial analysis suggests the flashlight was deliberately set to signal, possibly using a programmable feature found in some modern models, like those with built-in SOS modes. Unlike the universal distress signal SOS (three short flashes, three long, three short), the message “Down. Down. Down.” is specific and unusual, suggesting intent. The flashlight’s location near the waterline, far from the food hall, raises questions about how it arrived there and who activated its signal.

The Undocumented Drainage Tunnels

The discovery prompted divers to explore the area, leading to the revelation of old drainage tunnels beneath the camp, absent from official blueprints. These tunnels, partially collapsed and clogged with debris, appear to predate Camp Mystic’s 1926 founding, possibly linked to early 20th-century irrigation or mining efforts in the Texas Hill Country. Their omission from camp records has stunned officials, as the camp’s emergency plans, last inspected on June 2, 2025, relied on accurate site maps. Divers are now navigating these tunnels, searching for trapped survivors, bodies, or additional artifacts, though murky water and unstable structures pose significant risks.

The tunnels’ discovery suggests a hidden aspect of the camp’s landscape that may have played a role in the flood’s impact or the artifacts’ dispersal. Hydrologists speculate that the tunnels could have channeled floodwaters unpredictably, potentially explaining the flashlight’s placement or the earlier finds, like the whistle 212 meters from the flood zone and the backpacks 100 meters away.

Theories Behind the Flashlight’s Message

The flashlight’s Morse code message has sparked intense speculation. One theory posits that it was a distress signal from a camper or counselor, indicating a need to go “down” into the tunnels for safety or to escape rising waters. Survivors’ accounts describe chaotic evacuations, with some girls swimming through cabin windows or clinging to ropes. A camper might have programmed the flashlight to signal for help, though the specific phrase “Down. Down. Down.” suggests a more complex intent than a standard SOS.

Another possibility connects the flashlight to the drainage tunnels. The message could be a literal instruction to look “down” into the underground network, perhaps indicating trapped individuals or hidden evidence. The tunnels’ undocumented nature fuels speculation that they were known to someone at the camp, possibly tied to the schoolbook’s “She knew” message or the shadowy figure in the Cabin 4 drawings. The military-grade paper of the drawings and the sealed schoolbook suggest a pattern of preserved artifacts, and the flashlight’s waterproof design fits this trend.

A more speculative theory, echoed in X posts, links the flashlight to the camp’s history or an external presence. The Texas Hill Country has a rich past, with archaeological finds like a 6,500-year-old hunting kit in Marfa, Texas, hinting from ancient activity. Some wonder if the tunnels and flashlight point to a forgotten event, perhaps military-related, given the region’s proximity to Fort Sam Houston. However, no records yet support this idea, and authorities caution against conspiracy theories.

Investigative Efforts

The Kerr County Sheriff’s Office, Texas Rangers, and FBI are analyzing the flashlight for fingerprints, DNA, and programming details to determine who set its message and when. The device’s make and model are being traced to see if it matches camp-issued equipment or a camper’s personal item. The drainage tunnels are being mapped using sonar and drones, as divers face hazards like collapsing earth and poor visibility. The FBI’s forensic team is cross-referencing the Morse code message with the handwriting in the schoolbook and the prayer book’s circled phrase, “Guide us through the darkness,” from the backpack find, seeking connections.

Hydrologists are studying the tunnels’ role in the flood’s dynamics, as the river’s 30-foot surge scattered debris unpredictably. The flashlight’s operational state, like the dry whistle and sealed schoolbook, suggests it was protected or placed post-flood, possibly in a dry pocket within the tunnels or along the waterline.

Community and Emotional Resonance

The Camp Mystic community, grappling with the loss of campers like Janie Hunt and Lila Bonner, sees the flashlight as both a clue and a symbol. At a July 9 vigil in Kerrville, families lit candles, with some interpreting “Down. Down. Down.” as a call to search deeper for answers. Survivor Stella Thompson, 13, recalled hearing “weird noises” near the river before the flood, fueling speculation about the tunnels’ significance. Parents like Emily Carter expressed dread: “First drawings, then a book, now a flashlight signaling ‘Down.’ It’s like the camp is hiding something.”

On X, posts amplify the mystery, with users linking the flashlight to the shadowy figure or suggesting a trapped camper’s desperate signal. Authorities urge calm, emphasizing the need for evidence-based conclusions to respect grieving families.

Broader Implications

The flashlight and tunnels underscore the flood’s complexity and the camp’s unpreparedness for a disaster of this magnitude. The absence of flood warning sirens, deemed too costly, and the outdated blueprints highlight systemic failures in the Texas Hill Country, where climate change has increased rainfall intensity by 20% since the 1950s. Governor Greg Abbott’s July 6 pledge to find all missing persons continues, but the discoveries raise questions about the camp’s history and land use.

The Morse code message, echoing “Down. Down. Down.,” resonates as a haunting directive, possibly guiding rescuers to the tunnels or symbolizing the tragedy’s depths. As divers probe the underground network and forensic teams analyze the flashlight, the Camp Mystic artifacts weave a narrative of loss, mystery, and unanswered questions, urging investigators to look deeper into the darkness below.