Evening star., 1925-02-04
VISIONS OF ANGELS EASE AGONY
As COLLINS GROANS PLEA TO GOD
Confident of Rescue, Prays sect Me Out If II Is Thy
WH. But Your Viii Be Done'-Not
Afraid to Die.
By the Associated Press


was crawling out of Sand Cave,
| which is the most beautiful I have
ever seen, when. soon after ascend
ing a steep wall, I dislodged a huge
| rock. 1t caught my left foot. That
| was 10 o'clock Friday morning."
Thus begins Floyd Collins' own
story of his experiences Of the last
| five days, trapped in a narrow pas
sage far underground, as told to
William Burke Miller, staff CORES
pondent of the Courier-Journal, and
published in a copyrighted dispatch
from Cave City today.
1.-The first night / spent in yelling
| at the top of my voice." he said.
II knew my chance was slim. but
couldn't give up without doing some
thing. So just shouted and shouted.
After a long time, 1 was unable
to call out any more. l got hoarse.
1 struggled on, though, until 1 finally
lost consciousness Maybe / slept, i
don't know, but I felt better when
1 awoke.
Begged God for Help.
"'Surely'. I thought, No man was
ever trapped like this I prayed as
hard as l could. 1 begged God to
send help to me. Finally / heard a
thing I ever heard. I called back
and got an answer, and found 1t was
Jewell Esters. He couldn't get to
me, but before long Clyde Hester
came back to me. He told me 1t
was Saturday morning. I told Clyde
to get word to my brothers, Homer
and Marshall, and my father. He left.
My brothers came down Saturday
afternoon and saw how I was fixed.
They tried to dig me out, but they
couldn't.
Saturday night I felt better. A
blanket had been brought to me and
1t helped to keep out the cold. ]
was numb all over, but I felt warmer
after I was covered. I couldn't move
and was getting awfully weak.
Dreamed of Angels.
Sunday. after attempt after at
tempt to save me had failed, / began
tinuously. Sometimes I would be In
a stupor. I could hear people com
ing in. but they seemed far away. I
could hear voices. but / could not
remember what was said. Sunday
night I slept some. 1 dreamed of
angels and I awoke praying.
Monday was the first day when
strangers came back to me. I kept
working around whenever felt
strong enough, thinking l could twist
myself free. But each time 1 could
hear pebbles falling into the deep
hole right behind me. 1t caused me
to shudder. I kept thinking what
would happen If the rock above me
would fall. I kept trying to drive
my mind to something else, but it
wasn't any use. How could I? You've
been here and you know-you know
why. I couldn't do much to help
those who came to help me, but
knew a lot of people were willing to
do all In their power. This gave me
courage.
Monday night was a night Of
agony. My foot panied awful. 1t
felt like 1t was going to break off
If as much as wiggled a toe, pains
shot through me. / don't know how
long 1T was before my brother came
in with something to eat, but it
seemed ages. I had some whisky
and 1T warmed me up whole lot
/ could talk for a while, but 1t wasn't
long before 1 was unconscious or
asleep. I don't know which.
90 Tuesday morning. thought to
myself -Four days down here and
no nearer freedom than I was the
first day. How will 1t end? VIII
get out Or l couldn't think of
It. 1 have faced death before. 1t
doesn't frighten me. But 1t is SO
long. Oh, God be merciful,
Tuesday night / felt better than
at any time since I was caught. 1
was mighty weak few hours ago
mighty weak. So many plans have
been tried. so many people, and so
little has been done that 1 am begin
ming to get fearful again. ! keep
praying. I say oh Lord, Dear Lord,
Gracious Lord, Jesus Ali Powerful,
get me out If 1t is Thy will, but
Your will be done I know I am
going to get out. ! feel like it.
Something tells me to be brave and
am going to be.
VIII Not Give Up.
Now, fellow (this Is what he calls
me), you better go out and get warm.
But come back. You are small and
I believe you are going to get me
out. 1 want you to tell everybody
outside that love every one of them
and I'm happy because so many are
trying to help me. Tell them 1 am
not going to give up, that 1 am
going to fight and be patient and
never forget them. You go out now.
but don't leave me too long. l want