Post by L Roebuck on May 5, 2007 6:50:57 GMT -5
Comments from a troglodyte
By BOB LEVERKNIGHT
Last week, I read a story about some lost cavers in the Simmons-Mingo caves in West Virginia.
Interesting, was that I recognized some of the names in that story. See, my lovely bride and I are also cavers.
This explains some of the bumper stickers on the back of my vehicles. Case in point, the small rectangular reflective one, in bright yellow with what has been confused with several other things in black.
The sticker in question is an unofficial caver recognition symbol, it's actually bats coming out of a cave in a mountain. One person, many years ago thought it was some sort of satanic symbol, another thought it was some sort of military logo. Nope, just a way of cavers telling each other “I'm a caver, I know my... (in the interests of good taste, I won't repeat the whole saying here.)
Another that begs explanation, is the one that states “Free Floyd Collins”.
Floyd Collins was self billed as the “World's Greatest Caver” back in the 1920s. Mr. Collins was exploring Sand Cave in Kentucky, when he managed to dislodge a rock that trapped his leg. To make a long story a little less long, his plight managed to become one of the world's first media circuses, and yes, ‘Ole Floyd was not rescued alive. Hence, the “Free Floyd Collins” sticker.
One of many inside jokes in the caver community.
Full Commentary
By BOB LEVERKNIGHT
Last week, I read a story about some lost cavers in the Simmons-Mingo caves in West Virginia.
Interesting, was that I recognized some of the names in that story. See, my lovely bride and I are also cavers.
This explains some of the bumper stickers on the back of my vehicles. Case in point, the small rectangular reflective one, in bright yellow with what has been confused with several other things in black.
The sticker in question is an unofficial caver recognition symbol, it's actually bats coming out of a cave in a mountain. One person, many years ago thought it was some sort of satanic symbol, another thought it was some sort of military logo. Nope, just a way of cavers telling each other “I'm a caver, I know my... (in the interests of good taste, I won't repeat the whole saying here.)
Another that begs explanation, is the one that states “Free Floyd Collins”.
Floyd Collins was self billed as the “World's Greatest Caver” back in the 1920s. Mr. Collins was exploring Sand Cave in Kentucky, when he managed to dislodge a rock that trapped his leg. To make a long story a little less long, his plight managed to become one of the world's first media circuses, and yes, ‘Ole Floyd was not rescued alive. Hence, the “Free Floyd Collins” sticker.
One of many inside jokes in the caver community.
Full Commentary
