Cave Explorer. He was a professional cave explorer, who received recognition after being trapped in the Sand Cave near Cave City, Kentucky. He was attempting to enlarge the cave's opening to facilitate tourists, who were touring the beautiful phenomenon of nature. On January 30, 1925, Collins became trapped in a cave with his leg pinned under a 26-pound rock, which was 55 feet below ground. A young newspaper reporter, William Burke Miller, crawled to him, bringing him water, food, and much encouragement. His ordeal became nationally known as Miller was submitting a daily report to his editor. Miller's story was soon picked by the news wire service and shared with syndicated newspapers nationally. On the fourth day, part of the tunnel fell in, blocking the cave's passageway. Miller and Collins could only communicate from a far distance for the next two weeks. After no further communication from Collins for three days, the rescue team reached his lifeless body on February 16. His exact death date is not known. For his reporting of this incident, William Burke Miller was awarded the 1926 Pulitzer Prize in Journalism in the category of reporting. In 1954 Miller was part of the group that explored Floyd Collins' Crystal Cave. Collins discovered Crystal Cave on January 18, 1917. His remains were actually buried four times: First, his body was left in Sand Cave; then in April 1925 it was removed and buried outside the entrance to Crystal Cave, then the remains were placed inside Crystal Cave; and finally at the church cemetery in Mammoth Cave National Park. Authors Robert Brucker and Robert Murray of the University of Kentucky published their 1982 book "Trapped," which brought Collins and his ordeal in Sand Cave to the attention of the public once again.
Cave Explorer. He was a professional cave explorer, who received recognition after being trapped in the Sand Cave near Cave City, Kentucky. He was attempting to enlarge the cave's opening to facilitate tourists, who were touring the beautiful phenomenon of nature. On January 30, 1925, Collins became trapped in a cave with his leg pinned under a 26-pound rock, which was 55 feet below ground. A young newspaper reporter, William Burke Miller, crawled to him, bringing him water, food, and much encouragement. His ordeal became nationally known as Miller was submitting a daily report to his editor. Miller's story was soon picked by the news wire service and shared with syndicated newspapers nationally. On the fourth day, part of the tunnel fell in, blocking the cave's passageway. Miller and Collins could only communicate from a far distance for the next two weeks. After no further communication from Collins for three days, the rescue team reached his lifeless body on February 16. His exact death date is not known. For his reporting of this incident, William Burke Miller was awarded the 1926 Pulitzer Prize in Journalism in the category of reporting. In 1954 Miller was part of the group that explored Floyd Collins' Crystal Cave. Collins discovered Crystal Cave on January 18, 1917. His remains were actually buried four times: First, his body was left in Sand Cave; then in April 1925 it was removed and buried outside the entrance to Crystal Cave, then the remains were placed inside Crystal Cave; and finally at the church cemetery in Mammoth Cave National Park. Authors Robert Brucker and Robert Murray of the University of Kentucky published their 1982 book "Trapped," which brought Collins and his ordeal in Sand Cave to the attention of the public once again.
Bio by: Linda Davis
Inscription
Trapped In Sand Cave,
Jan. 30, 1925.
Discovered Crystal Cave,
Jan. 18, 1917.
Greatest Cave Explorer
Ever Known.
Family Members
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See more Collins memorials in:
Records on Ancestry
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