July 20, 1887 - February 13, 1925

Cave explorer and guide, Collins discovered Crystal Cave in 1917. He has been referred to as "The Greatest Cave Explorer Ever Known".

Searching for another entrance to Mammoth Cave or a new cave, he, explored a hole, later know as Sand Cave. On January 30, 1925 as he was exiting the narrow passagway of the cave he dislodged a rock pinning his leg.

Trapped 150 feet from the entrance, he was found the next day by Jewell Eaton. After many days of efforts to extricate Collins it was determined it too dangerous to continue and an artifical shaft was begun. When they reached Collins on February 17 he was dead from exposure and starvation.