The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1925-02-05
TN HEROIC FIGHT
TO SAVE COLLINS
Redouble Efforts to Rescue
Man Held in Cave Since
Last Friday.
HOPE HE IS FREE
Report Comes that Slide Freed
Collins Leg but Doubt Elk
pressed by Rescue Party.

Cave City, Ky.-Dr. w. H. Haz-
lett, Chicago surgeon, landed near
Cave City shortly before noon to-
day, his plane having made the
trip from Louisville in an hour and
five minutes. DIR. Hazlett, dis
patched to Cave City by Mrs. EN-
mons Blaine of Chicago in hopes
he might save Floyd Collins from
death in Sand Cave, where Collins
is imprisoned, planned to confer
with relatives of the cave victim
this afternoon.
Cave City, Ky.-A slide in Sand Cave
this morning left Floyd Collins, 80,
foot free for the first time since he
was imprisoned on Friday morning,
when a boulder wedged his legs where
rescuers were unable to reach them,
but Collins was left walled in behind
rock which fell from the side of the
cave. Collins called from the other
side of the rock slide that his feet
were free, but said he was toe weak
to work his way out. This informa-
ton was brought to the mouth of the
cave by Roy Cooksey, a negro engaged
in rescue work. The rock barricade
probably can be cleared away some
time this afternoon, Cooksey said.
Slide Barricades Progress. ss.
The slide which now barricades
progress was described by Ewing ASH
ley, an employee of the Kentucky Rock
Asphalt company, who was in the res
cue party which discovered the debris,
as one huge rock about the size OF q
soap box with an accumulation of
earth and small stones surrounding 1t.
Ashley has re-entered the cave with
iron hooks and rope with which it is
hoped to move the rock and clear the
passageway. If Ashley's information
is correct and no unforeseen difficulty
is experienced, Collins may be reached
within few hours, it was predicted.
Another trip into the cave this af-
ternoon revealed that Collins may have
been only partly freed around the feet.
William B. Miller, staff correspondent
for the Courier-Journal, emerging
from the cave shortly after 1915 p.
M. said he thought Collins was but
little better off himself and asserted
that the wall blocking further efforts
to reach Collins probably was two feet
thick.
Talks With Reporter.
While Miller was working away with
the debris between Collins and him
self, another rock fell behind him. 1t
was of little consequence and Miller
was of little consequence and Miller
out Miller says he crawled to the
wall and yelled to Collins:
"Are you free 2"
Il think So" Collins answered. Chow
about my milk ?"
81 left it at the side near you on my
last trip. Can't you get it,"
"No."
"Then you're not free?" Miller quer.
led.
mo
Homer Collins, brother of the cave
victim, also was in the cavern at the
time and became wildly excited, Miller
related. Homer Collins in his frantic
efforts was causing small stones and
earth to fall into the already narrow
passageway and Miller says he devoted
all his efforts for several moments en-
deavoring to persuade Homer to leave
the cave.
John F. Collins, Cripple Creek
Colo, miner who volunteered, also
said that he had talked to the impris-
oned man but had been unable to see
him because of rock blocking the
passage. John Collins, who is not re-
lated to Floyd Collins, said that it
was his first trip in the cave and that
he did not know the slide was a new
one.
New Debris a Handicap.
The rock which now blocks the
passage fell from the side of the
cavern, according to Cooksey who
says it was the same disturbance
which left Collins feet free, although
the cave victim still is caught in the
hole where he has spent 124 hours.
Wether it would be difficult matter to
release him after the newly accumu-
lated debris can be cleared away was
a matter of speculation.
Progress made during the night in
removing stones, cave ooze and 9TH
er matter from around Collins body
as far down as the calf of his leg and
the work of widening and deepening
the passageway leading from the en-
trance may have been responsible for
the slide, it was stated.
An airplane was sighted near Cave
City shortly after IL o'clock and was
believed to be the machine bringing
DIR. w. H. Hazlett, Chicago surgeon,
from Louisville where he left a train
for faster transportation.
CONTINUED on page 81