In 1925, a rescue mission turned tragic when a man met a slow demise while trapped in a cave. Renowned explorer William Floyd Collins ventured into Sand Cave in Kentucky with only a kerosene lamp. Collins, known for commercializing the Great Crystal Cave, was working to widen a tight passageway when his lamp dimmed, prompting him to try to exit.
Unfortunately, a rock dislodged by his foot trapped him, leaving him twisted and stuck. After being discovered missing, young Jewell Estes communicated with Collins, initiating a rescue effort. Despite being trapped in a precarious position, Collins cooperated with rescuers and provided critical details of his location.
Various rescue attempts, including harnessing and chipping away at the rock, were made, with crowds gathering both inside and outside the cave. The continuous activity caused cave instability, leading to a collapse that cut off access to Collins. As days passed, Collins’ condition worsened, and miners faced challenges creating a shaft to reach him.
Tragically, when rescuers finally reached Collins, he had already passed away. Due to safety concerns, his body remained in the cave, later being stolen and put on display. Collins was eventually laid to rest in 1989 near the cave, his story inspiring artistic works over the years. Skeets Miller’s interview with Collins won a Pulitzer Prize, immortalizing this harrowing event.