The Best of Intentions
In 1925, Floyd Collins became a household name. People all over America were fascinated, horrified, and deeply moved by his dire plight. This extremely emotional response was naturally even stronger among the Cave City locals. Many of them were inspired to rush to Sand Cave and help in the best way they knew how to. As a result, for too long Collins was left to the zealous, unqualified, and amateurish attempts of the locals, who, because of their stubborn pride, did everything they could to expel the outsiders. Unfortunately, these outsiders were the only ones with the professional skill, rationality, and organization that Collins' predicament demanded. While the outsiders could have saved Floyd Collins, the locals prevented his rescue. It is clear that from the outset the outsiders had the necessary skill, rationality, and organization to rescue Collins. For instance, on Tuesday morning Henry Carmichael, a licensed engineer from Kyrock, Kentucky, organized a "systematic and coordinated operation" (Murray and Brucker 94). With his engineering efficiency, he soon realized that a shaft would be needed. However, it wouldn't be started until Thursday, two days later. Carmichael and his Kyroc
The locals' attempts were not only unsystematic and disordered, but also completely ignorant. A major contributing factor to Floyd's tragic death was starvation (Murray and Brucker 213). This could have been avoided if only the locals had thought to run a feeding tube down the passageway and put it close to Floyd's mouth before the second cave-in, ensuring that he would continue to be fed (Murray and Brucker 120). The locals also failed to put a portable phone near Collins (Murray and Brucker 120). As Murray and Brucker say, "With light, heat, communication, and food, Floyd's chance for survival and ultimate rescue would have remained good" (120). The natives also showed their ignorance by continually entering Sand Cave, often with no clear purpose, until General Denhardt forbade unauthorized entry on Thursday (Murray and Brucker 132). Murray and Brucker report that as early as Tuesday morning Gerald "was more convinced than ever that final success depended on keeping excess traffic out of the cave. Nobody must be permitted to enter" (92). This clearly shows that the multitude of people entering Sand Cave was a problem right from the beginning. Later, the "excess traffic" caused a second cave-in, forcing rescuers to dig a shaft (Murray and Brucker). However, its construction took too long-Dr. Hazlett estimated that Floyd had died no more than three days before rescuers were able to reach him (Murray and Brucker 213). This total ignorance about rescue procedures unquestionably worked to prevent Floyd's rescue. It is clear that although the natives were certainly motivated by the best of intentions in attempting to save Floyd Collins, they inadvertently prevented his rescue in several ways. It was the outsiders such as Woodson and the two Kratches, Thomas Carmichael, General Denhardt, Professor Funkhouser, and many others who had the professional skill, rationality, and organizatio
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Approximate Word count = 1287
Approximate Pages = 5 (250 words per page double spaced)
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