On This Day
·

Rescuers finally reach the body of caver Floyd Collins too late, 18 days after he became trapped in Sand Cave, Kentucky,

Rescuers finally reach the body of caver Floyd Collins too late, 18 days after he became trapped in Sand Cave, Kentucky, bringing a tragic end to a story that had captured the nation [1]

William Floyd Collins (July 20, 1887 – c. February 13, 1925) was an American cave explorer who became trapped and died in what became Mammoth Cave National Park. The incident earned major media attention during the efforts to rescue him.

During the early 20th century, in an era known as the Kentucky Cave Wars, spelunkers and property owners entered into bitter competition to utilize the bounty of caves for commercial profit from tourists, who paid to see the caves. In 1917 and 1918, Collins discovered and commercialized Great Crystal Cave in the Flint Ridge Cave System, but the cave was remote and visitors were few.

Historical Significance

William Floyd Collins (July 20, 1887 – c.

Events Before

  1. Charlie Munger is born

    Charlie Munger, American businessman, known for american businessman, was born on 1924-01-01.

  2. Grossdeutsche Volksgemeinschaft and Völkische Block replace the banned NSDAP

    Grossdeutsche Volksgemeinschaft and Völkische Block replace the banned NSDAP

  3. German-Swiss poet and novelist Hermann Hesse (36) weds Swiss soprano and painter Ruth Wenger (26); divorce in 1927

    German-Swiss poet and novelist Hermann Hesse (36) weds Swiss soprano and painter Ruth Wenger (26); divorce in 1927

  4. 1st Winter Olympic Games open in Chamonix, France

    The 1924 Winter Olympics, officially known as the I Olympic Winter Games (French: Iers Jeux olympiques d'hiver) and commonly known as Chamonix 1924 (Arpitan: Chamôni 1924), were a winter multi-sport...

  5. Vladimir Lenin is placed in a Mausoleum in Red Square, Moscow

    On Monday, 21 January 1924, at 18:50 EET, Vladimir Lenin, leader of the October Revolution and the first leader and founder of the Soviet Union, died in Gorki aged 53 after falling into a coma.

Events After

  1. A major flood on the Rhine River strikes Cologne

    Cologne is the fourth-most populous city of Germany and the largest city of the German state of North Rhine-Westphalia with nearly 1.1 million inhabitants in the city proper and over 3.1 million...

  2. American songwriter Irving Berlin (37) weds heiress and writer Ellin Mackay (23) in a simple civil ceremony in NYC, unti

    American songwriter Irving Berlin (37) weds heiress and writer Ellin Mackay (23) in a simple civil ceremony in NYC, until her death in 1988

  3. Abdulaziz Ibn Saud becomes King of Nejd and Hejaz, forerunner of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

    Abdulaziz Ibn Saud becomes King of Nejd and Hejaz, forerunner of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

  4. American comedian George Burns (28) weds American comedienne Gracie Allen (31), until her death in 1964

    American comedian George Burns (28) weds American comedienne Gracie Allen (31), until her death in 1964

  5. John Logie Baird gives the first public demonstration of television in his laboratory in London

    John Logie Baird gives the first public demonstration of television in his laboratory in London

More from the 1920s

birth

Isaac Asimov is born

Isaac Asimov, American writer and biochemist, known for american writer and biochemist, was born on 1920-01-02.

birth

Charlie Munger is born

Charlie Munger, American businessman, known for american businessman, was born on 1924-01-01.

birth

Vernon L. Smith is born

Vernon L. Smith, American economist and nobel laureate, known for american economist and nobel laureate, was born on 1927-01-01.

Byelorussian Communist Organization is founded as a separate party

The Byelorussian Communist Organisation was a communist group in Belarus, led by Usievalad Ihnatoŭski.

Frequently Asked Questions

What happened on February 16, 1925?
William Floyd Collins (July 20, 1887 – c. February 13, 1925) was an American cave explorer who became trapped and died in what became Mammoth Cave National Park. The incident earned major media attention during the efforts to rescue him.
Why is Rescuers finally reach the body of caver Floyd Collins too late, 18 days afte... significant?
William Floyd Collins (July 20, 1887 – c.

Explore More

February 16 in HistoryYear 1925