The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1925-02-09
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come In was the only way to set
him out" he said.
Major Norman then directed his
quest ching toward the exact man
ner In which Collins was held In
the natural wise which imprisoned
him. and On this point Geralds was
voluble.
.tFIis whole body. when ! last
] saw him. was covered with rock
and sand cropping down from the
roof" he said. His arms were
wedged in right close to him, and
he couldn't move any part or his
body but his head
He explained his alleged failure
to permit experienced miners, who
early presented themselves at the
cave and offered 70 give their
knowledge TO rescue efforts. 20 en-
ter the cave by saying he believed
he could get Floyd out easily, and
felt that the fewer persons I'M
familiar with the twisting, morrow
passage who entered ths safer the
rescue work would be.
Got Him Out Before.
s.I got Floyd out Of Crystal cave
when he got hung there last
sumner JGeralds said. "and II the
roof hadn't fallen In I'd have
brought hira cut In two moro trips.
Even now. think, perhaps could
get him out"
Geralds scoffed at the idea that
the roof cavern had been caused
deliberately in an effort to hand,-
can rescue workers. He did not
attempt Co explain how It happen
ed TO fan for no apparent reason
when no one was supposed to b
in the tunnel.
Biologists here, however, assert
that such fall would be possible.
Might Live Weeks.
A q man familiar with the
cave and with the men Of this -.
gion who virtually live In them.
Geralds was asked about the the.
cries Of doctors that it would BE-
virtually impossible for a man. |
trapped az Floyd is supposed to
Be-. to i've the length Of time Col
Inns IL reported to have kept alive.
In repiy. GeraIds pointed TO the
DAYS and days In which Collins
voluntarily remained underground
in exploring missions and gave Il
"a his opinion that Floyd could
remain alive down there Tor
weeISs.' .
sssgndicate'' Is Rumored.
One story that has received wide
circulation here, Is that syndicate
Of three men had been organized
To invest In Sand Cave IL Collins
rupert Of having found beautiful,
svaulted room" were true. This also
was put up to Geralds and he de-
s.ied any knowledge Of this.
Military authorities also were at
tempting to develop facts regarding
the relations Of Floyd Collins, his
father. and John Geralds. Andy
Lea Collins, q cousin, Of Kewanee,
III. who arrived here yesterday, de-
clared that the crystal cave matter
had estranged Floyd and his father
and this Is borne out by the gen.
erai testimony Of the countryside:
6 Floyd was on one side OF the
srlit. Andy Lee said, and Geralds
ana the father on the other. He
sid they wanted to acquire Floyds
rights to the cave. It Is a matter
OF record here that q suit between
Floyd and his father over money
derived from the cave, is pending
in civil courts Of this county.
Who was TO be questioned next,
military authorities refused to-
dfvuige. They intiInated, however,
that the mass OF ugly gossip would
be sifted thoroughly.
Odd Stories Told.
The gossip offers almost any pos
sfbillty. In Il IL virtually every.
thing up to downright charge Of
murder, with no hesItancy in nam
ing the guilty person. It points to
tia printed story OF Lieutenant
Robert D. Burden, Louisville fire
man, one OF the first to enter the
cave who described conditions at
the mouth OF the pit as terrible"
who told Of the lack of organized
rescue efforts. and told Of food des.
tined for Floyd having been hidden
In Fecesses along the route to his
prison.
J Burden, IN his account. also said
that once, when he slipped past the
guards posted by Geralds at the
mouth OF the cave, he encountered,
fifty feet along the passageway, a
man, who ordered him out under
penalty Of death. The man Bur.
den said, refused to reveal his
identity or the source Of his
authority.
All this and more Is being passed
from mouth to mouth today, spread
ing like wildfire around the entire