In 1925, world watched as man trapped in cave

Last week, the world nervously watched and waited to learn the fate of the Thai soccer players and their coach. A similar occurrence happened in 1925, when spelunker Floyd Collins became trapped in Crystal Cave in Cave City, Ky., resulting in a worldwide media frenzy.

Collins, 37, became trapped on Jan. 30 in a narrow passage 55 feet from the surface and 150 feet from the entrance when his foot dislodged a nearly 20- pound rock that wedged his ankle.

Unable to remove the stone, Collins was alone in the dark after his lantern failed. Discovered by friends the next day, crackers and an electric light were sent down to him. Engineers and geologists who had rushed to the site decided to dig a shaft to reach the trapped man.

Drawn by press and radio reports, tens of thousands of people, including hawkers, gathered in the winter’s cold to watch the miners as they attempted to reach Collins.

“Fresh workers burrow in cave to save collins,” read a front-page headline in The Baltimore Sun.

By the time rescuers reached Collins on Feb. 17, he had been dead for several days from hypothermia and exposure. They were unable to remove his body.

“Collins buried in cave where he met death,” reported The Sun.

In 1989, Collins’ body, which had rested in a coffin in the cave, was removed and buried at Mammoth Cave Baptist Church Cemetery in Kentucky.