Trapped! the Story of Floyd Collins

After my first trip through one of the sections of Mammoth Cave, I was addicted to this world. My husband turned me on to this man, Floyd Collins, who I have never heard of. We both bought a book from the park store and I couldn't pull myself away from this one. As we drove for hours on our vacation, I would read multiple parts to my husband while he was driving. I couldn't fight the tears as I read so many parts of this book to him. I don't normally get consumed by movies or books, but this book and the story of Floyd Collins has left such an impact on me. It is inevitable the you will find yourself feeling trapped along with Floyd and find a warm level of love and respect for him as his days and conversations are described. I can't even begin to describe feeling as though I was right there beside Homer, Skeets and Johnnie with their dedication to saving this man. I wish there was a movie about this - not a documentary, but a movie. The drama, suspense, characters and events of this story are so realistic and R.K. Murray did a great job on this book. Definitely a winner.

When asked about his earliest childhood memory, my late father would tell of his dad carrying him to his uncle's house to listen to radio news reports of the attempted rescue of Floyd Collins from a cave in nearby Kentucky. This book brings to life those events that captured the nation's attention in Jan.-Feb. 1925. Trapped is a well-written, well-documented account of the tragedy that occured in the central Kentucky hills and before watchful eyes of the nation. Its a gripping account that manages to capture the facts of the event, including great details of America's first modern media circus, while still attending to the many colorful characters who played a role in Collin's life, the rescue attempt, and the aftermath.

The best book I've ever read, period. Within the context of a rescue attempt of a Kentucky caver, the authors paint a revealing picture of America in the 1920's. From the glory seeking Louisville fireman to a journalist who won the nobel prize, this story is not to be missed. Just read the 1st five pages, up to the 1st line break, & you'll be hooked. I've never handed this book to anyone who wasn't totally enthralled w/ it.

As a former resident of Lexington Kentucky, I quickly became fascinated with caves soon after moving there. After visiting Mammoth Cave and several smaller caves in the area, I heard the story of Floyd Collins. Being naturally curious I had to read the book. I read it in one sitting! The reader is wedged in that narrow space, the suspense is unberable. But it was not until a year later when I actually visited the site that the full scope of the tragedy hit home. The site is at least a ten minute treck through the woods. It's very lonely. At the end of the path is an outcropping of rock, not at all what I expected, tremendously overgrown with only a small written testimonial to his life and tragic death. At the bottom of a steep slope is an opening.Apparently the state or local government was in such fear of anyone trying this fatal mistake again, the opening is covered with thick metal bars. My fascination faded, a hard shiver went down my back and I truly felt a sadness for this unfortunate explorer. This book is a MUST READ, the reader will not be disappointed.

I became fascinated with Floyd Collins (the caver whose entrapment in a Kentucky cave precipitated America's first true media circus) after hearing the soundtrack to the off-Broadway musical which opened in NY in 1996. "Trapped" fills in all the blanks and answers most all of the questions a listener to the CD may develop. The tone of the writing is authoritative, but certainly not overly technical. It is an exciting, page-turning read, and remarkably suspenseful considering we all know how it turns out. I look forward to reading other works by Brucker/Murray. Perhaps "Floyd Collins", the musical will inspire new interest in the book, and an updated new edition will be considered. Thanks.