Floyd Collins

Floyd Collins. The Floyd Collins Trail. , As a town built for opportunity, Cave City naturally became famous for a man who risked it all in search of fortune. In January 1925, one of the greatest news stories between the two world wars broke across the nation, with Cave City at its epicenter - Floyd Collins was trapped in Sand Cave., Collins, whose family owned the show cave called Great Crystal Cave, had gone searching for a cave closer along the road to Cave City. Finding a closer cave meant cutting off the competition in the local "cave wars". His search found misfortune instead. While crawling through a narrow passage, his foot dislodged a stone that pinned his ankle where he could not reach it, and he lay trapped in cold and darkness., For 17 days the nation sat breathless as rescuers worked in difficult conditions. Charles Lindbergh flew dispatches about Collins across country. President Woodrow Wilson would ask, "How's that chap Collins doing today?", Not well, Mr. President. On day 17, a shaft dug to reach Collins found him lifeless. He had succumbed to the elements, a victim of the same hopes and dreams that had built a city.