Evening star., 1925-02-15
Dangerous Area Expected in
Next IS Feet-May Reach
Him Late Today.
INQUIRY HELD TO SHOW
NO HOAX PERPETRATED
Corrugated Pipe Brought to Cave
Shaft May Be Used in
Lateral Tunnels.
BY the Associated Press.

Serious dirt 1dllS tonight ou tHi &C
sides of the shaft being sunk to res
cue Floyd Collins from his under
ground tomb has delayed work in
the sinking of the shaft to a deeper
depth by eight hours" said an official
bulletin issued at 9 o'clock tonight
by H. T. Carmichael, in charge Of
the rescue work.
"It is undesirable on account OF
the most unfavorable and dangerous
ground expected in the next 10 feet
to sink the shaft lower tonight than
55 feet" the statement said.
May Find Quicker Route.
IAN attempt was made" said the
bulletin, ito tunnel toward. Collins,
but the result of this exploration,
which now shows no immediate re
suits. may do so at any time, and 1t
is thought on account of the cavern
Gus territory transversed in the nrst
few feet after leaving the shaft that
possibly quicker route reacnlns z
to Collins may be developed thereby.
Unusual precautions are being
taken and the result and progress OF
the sinking of the shaft VIII suner
accordingly" said Prof. Funkhouser.
who issued the official statement
along with MT.
1t was laundering and lightning
here AT GAS o'clock tonight and 1t
was feared that rain and wet weather
again would interfere with progress
in sinking the shaft.
Next Step Not Indicated.
The official bulletin issued by Mr..
Carmichael and Prof. Funkhau auser to-
night did not indicate what steps next
would be taken by them to clear the
shaft of the fallen debris neither olo
lit contain any more Information as "
the nature of the three-sideo caVe-ln
than the statement that serious oir
falls had occurred on three sioes Vi
the lower part of the smart
with newspapermen withheld from
the mouth of the shaft by 39-foo1
military area radius, no one knew
outside of the offieials, just what con-
dition existed at the bottom of the
shaft, and the officials refused te
issue any further information than
was contained in the brief bulletin al
9 O'Clock.
Expected Earlier Rescue.
The thoughts of millions tonight
were centered on the heroic rescue
effort. Collins has been imprisoned
for Is IL days. State officials direct
ing the untiring volunteers earlier
TODAY had expressed strong hopes OF
reaching Collins by 9 o'clock Sunday
morning at the latest and finding him
alive.
The shaft. at 55 1-2 feet, was bent
toward Collins prison late this after
noon by the most experienced ere"
of hard rock miners among the dig
gers Twelve feet of space separated
-, ,,in
which all hoped would lead to the i'm
prisoned cave explorer
They hoped that most OF this DIS
tance would be empty space and the
wall between the shaft and the cavern
would be thin. They based this hope
on the exchange of soundings be-
tween the natural channel of the cave
and the rescue shaft. At noon they
were able to hear each others voices
and encouragement to Collins was
shouted down the hole. \ esterday
five of the miners heard Collins gasI
and groan, they told the military
court of inquiry.
Rumor Source Traced.
Brig. Gen. H. H. Denhardt, lieuten'
ant governor of Kentucky and II
supreme command of the rescue ef-
fort, tonight issued 1,50O-wort
statement laying the blame for cir
culation of rumors that Collins might
not be in the cave, current last Sun
day, February s, on a correspondent
of a Chicago newspaper.
Gen. Denhardt said this CORE
spondent came to him Sunday eve
ming saying he planned to make thes'
rumors the basis of a story, and Gen
| Denhardt protested strongly agains
! it.
| "He said the days of fake journal
| ism were not passed and 1 told him
| held views to the contrary" Gen
| Denhardts statement said. Il be
lieve he and a companion newspaper
man were responsible for the circu
| lation of these rumors.
Put Case Up to Governor.
| IT drove all night to Frankfort t.
| lay the situation before the governor
and get him to authorize a militar.
board of inquiry. Monday. Februar.
| 9. the military inquiry was ordered
! II do not know the name of tn
newspaper he represented, but he ha
been replaced. was anxious to hav
him appear before the military in
| ouiry. but he had gone before it's in
| yestiEation could get under way.
believe his newspaper accepted h:
story in good faith and 1 do no
blame them.
IT have been here constantly, wit
the exception of my trip to Frank
| fort. since February 5, and 1 have ye
| to hear a single person express tn
! Continued on Page 4, Column g.
| ~ H.. ID L..