of their excessive pride, the natives did everything they could to expel the outsiders. On Monday morning Isaac F. Woodson and Fred and Ernest Kratch of the Woodson and Kratch Monument Company came from Louisville to discuss their plan for rescuing Floyd (Murray and Brucker 93). Among other things, they had planned to survey the area a full four days before the experts-shocked that it hadn't been already-got it done (Murray and Brucker 93). Johnnie Gerald refused to listen to their argument and immediately sent them back to Louisville (Murray and Brucker 93). In addition, Homer Collins stringently opposed Carmichael's early scheme to sink a shaft, delaying its start by two critical days (Murray and Brucker 96). The natives even disputed Carmichael's conservative plan to clear out the upper regions of the cave because of "their continuing desire to keep strangers out" (Murray and Brucker 96). Most of all, though, the natives resented General Denhardt's arrival, despite the fact that he stopped the rowdiness, pickpocketing, and drinking at the cave entrance and brought authority and discipline to the operation (Murray and Brucker 130). Murray and Brucker attribute their attitude to the fact that Denhardt "showed little sensitivity in dealing with their [the locals'] pride" (Murray and Brucker 130). If the Cave City natives had risen above their petty pride and cooperated with the outsiders, rather than antagonizing them at every turn, Floyd could have been rescued.Instead, Floyd was left to depend upon the zealous, but unqualified and amateurish, attempts of the locals for seven days. Outsiders arriving at the cave site found themselves in the midst of an effort lacking a sense of direction and coherence. For example, when Carmichael's original ten Kyroc volunteers arrived on Monday, circumstances were so confusing that one of the workers had to call Carmichael and ask him to come and supervise their activities personally (Murra...
