OCR Text |
Show Finis. The last chapter has been written in the life of Floyd Collins, of Kentucky, life-long cave explorer, who despite the efforts of science and mechanics, and hundreds of rescuers, perished in one of his well-loved caverns, which refused even to give up his body. The fate of Collins, unique as it is, has a parallel in many other deaths that have occurred in pursuing the secrets of nature. Many were not so spectacular, and some more merciful, merci-ful, in that the end came with less long-drawn out agony, but all were tragedies that lie in wait for those who go out of the ordinary channels in seeking to fathom earth's secrets. Nature seems jealous of her treasures. In the ice fields of the Arctics are the frozen bodies of those who would know what lies at the poles of the world. The desert is lined with bones of those who first sought to know what lay beyond it. In the crevices of the mountains are many who sought to win fame by reaching an unsealed peak. ,The sea holds untold treasures, and also the bodies of those who were foolhardly enough to seek them. The list of these tragedies is long indeed. Many persons remark, cynically, that little sympathy should be wasted upon those who wilfully go into danger in the hope of adding to world knowledge of hitherto inaccessible inaccessi-ble things. They point out that vanity, as a rule, has much to do with the adventures. This is true, in great degree. It is human nature to wish to achieve, and to desire fame. But it is also true that actions having a more or less imperfect motive often have resulted in splendid achievements, discoveries discov-eries of immense benefit to humanity. Then, too, those who prefer the safer walks of life, with their lack of adventure, do not understand the force that actuates the heart of the explorer ex-plorer and the experimenter, and urges him to achieve his desires, even at the risk of perishing in the attempt. He can not be judged by ordinary standards. Floyd Collins has made the great sacrifice in following this desire. If his spirit lingers near his cavern tomb, doubtless it is glad that he will rest forever jn the cave land he loved. |