Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1925-02-11
COLLINS CASE
Continued from PAGE One)

luflnef attempts OF ceSucc III that
manner since early Thursday.
Further tests with the amplifica ton
device attached to the electric light
wire leading down to Collins, late to-
day, gave what the physicians here
asserted was absolute proof that Col
Inns still is alive.
A series of raspy noises, interrupt
ed the regularly timed, faint rattle in
the head phones. Indicating, the ply
sicians declared, that Collins was
coughing or moving about.
The breathing sounds in the receiv-
ers, at the rate of 20 times minute,
after the coughing" sounds had
ceased, dropped to IL or II times a
minute, indicating, physicians said,
that Collins had fallen asleep.
NJ. +. S. Posey, secretary of the
state highway commission and the
engineering representative of Gov
ernor Fields, said the banana oil
odor became apparent when the
shaft reached 81 feet and now was
much stronger. He said the odor
was so strong that he is confident
the shaft is within ten feet Of its
goal.
Another section of timbering was
to be finished by ten o'clock tonight
low the banana oil scent, which
comes from a mud seam, in the hope
of reaching the entombed cave ex-
plorer before dawn.
Miners working in the Sand Cave
shaft. through which they hope to
reach Floyd Collins, already i'm
pIisoned more than eleven days,
struck comparatively easy going be-
low the forty foot level late toby.
The shaft is now somewhat more
than forty feet deep. II. r. Carmi-
chael, director of the work. said, but
no measurement has been taken.
Some dirt was mixed in with the
rock uncovered this evening and
workers expected to make faster
progress for the rext few feet be-
fore the strata again changes.
No tests with simplifying devices
to determine whether or not the cave
victim lives have been made since
early morning when eXperimenters
expressed the opinion that Collins
still breathed. although much more
slowly than yesterday.
There were fewer visitors at the
cave today than for several days.
Chief interest swung to Cave City,
where a military court of inquiry
held at the call of Governor William
j. Fields. heard several witnesses re-
late what they had done and what
las been done to aid Collins.
Investigation was made because
OF charges by certain persons that
others had not acted properly in the
rescue work and on account of re-
ports and stories circulated in re-
gard to the situation at the cave. in
Guiding rumor tina: the entrapment
OF Clillns might be a hoax Of some
sort. The governor said the circula
tlon or such reports was unfortunate
as they tended to impede the rescue
work.
stories reciting some OF these ru-.
mors were sent out by various CORE
spondents. In a statement issued in
connection with the inquiry, the gov
ernor mentioned the Associated Press
dispatch on the subject The despatch,
IN part, said that some persons had
expressed doubt that Collins was
trapped in the cave, but that those
who actually reached Collins are
hrmly convinced his leg is caught so
he cannot release himself.r
Skepticism and specuations among
the spectators as to Collins fate were
common knowledge to newspapermen
and the fact was so recorded along
with statements that any hint of a
hoax was discredited by men in a po-
sition to speak authoritatively
II. I. Carmichael. in charge of the
shaft operations. Indicated he be-
lieved that the shaft was nearing an
underground drain or tunnel which
might lead to Collins tunnel The
bottom of the shaft at midnight had
reached sandy Strata through
which the banana OIL odor came
strongly. but the direction from
which it came was difficult to deter
mine. The diggers centered their eff
forts on the bottom of the shaft as
tn possible source of the oil.