The Greenville times. [volume] (Greenville, Miss.) 1868-1917, 1883-12-01
BRAVE KATE SHELLEY.
Her PeriIou, Journey in a HowlIng
STERN, and the Reward She Is 10
Have for II.

s'oiM, anu the reward She Is 10
Have for II.
New York Sun.
Boone, Ia, Nov. l3.-Next week. |
when the committee of the Legis.
lature will formerly present to
Miss Kate. Shelly the medal vo.
ted her by that body in rscogni.
tion OF her bravery, this little
town will indulge in a celebration
which, it is expected, will eclipse
any public demonstration ever
held in this region. There will be
a procession, music, speeches and
a banquet, and many distinguish.
cd people from abroad will he
present. SO worthily bestowed
is the Legislatures medal for he.
rolsm that no one here will faii to
do everything in his power to
make the demonstration a sue.
cess. Kate Shelley is now a
comcly girl of eighteen, but she
achieved her present fame by an
act Of the greatcst bravery when
she was but sixteen.
At about dark on the 9th of Ju-
~, 1881, Il storm of wind and rain
OF unparalleled severity broke
over this region. In an hours
time every creek was out of its
banks, and the Dts Moines River
had risen six feet. So sudden
was the Hood and such was the
velocity ofthc wind that houses,
barns, lumber and all portable oh
iects within reach of the waters
were carried away. Iooking from
her window, which IN daylight
commanded n view Of the Honey
Creek railroad bridge, Kate Shel.
ley saw through tho darkness and
storm u locomotive headlight. A
second later it dropped, and
though the crash which il must
have made was lot perccptihle
above the roar Of the wind, she
knew that the bridge had gone,
and that a train of ears had fallen
into the sbyss. There was no one
at home but her mother and her
little brother aud sister, aud the
girl understood that ii help was
to be given TO tho RI Q 'e;s
and the express train, then near.
ly due, warned, she would have to
undertake the task alone.
IIustlly filling and lighting an
old lantern aud wrapping herself
in waterproof, she sailed out
in the storm. She first made an
effort to reach the waters edge,
but finding that the flood was al.
ready far above all the paths aud
roadways, and realizing that she
could do nothing in or near that
mad torrent, she climbed painful.
| ly up the steep bluff to the track,
tearing her clothing to rags on
. the thick undcrgrowth and laccr.
suing the flesh most painfully. a
part OF the bridge still remained,
and crawling out on this to the
last tie, she swung her lantern
over the abyss and called out at
the top of her voice. 1t was
pitchy dark below, but she was
answered family by the engineer,
who had crawled up on somc of
the broken timbers, and, though
injured, was safe for the time be.
ing. From him tho girl learned
| that Il was freight train that had
gone into tie cliasm, and that he
alone of the train hands had cs.
capped. IIo urged her, however,
to proceed at once to the nearest
station to secure help for him and
to warn the approaching express
| train Of the fall of the bridge.
The girl then retraced her steps,
gained the track and made her
way. with all the speed that the
gale would permit, toward Moin-
gOna, a small station ABOUT one
mile from Honey Greek. In max
ing this perilous journey it was
necessary for her to cross the
high trestle bridge over the Dcs-
+, Moines River, about 500 feet IN
length. just as she tremhlingly
put her foot on this structure the
wind, rain, thunder and light
ming were 50 appalling that she
nearly lost her balance. and, in
| tho eudeavor to save herself, her
sole companion, the old lantern,
went out. She had no matches,
| but II she had had thousands Uf
! them they would hare been Of ne
/ service IN such q place and IN
such storm. Deprived Of her
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