The bee., 1883-12-01
a BRAVE GIRLS DARING DEED.
Making a PeriI0as journey in n How'll
ing Storm 20 Save Many Lives.

Making a Peril0Us IouIn in n How'll
ing storm 90 Save Many Lives.
A committee of the Iowa legislature
Recently presented to Miss Kate Shelley a
medal voted her by that body in rccogni-
fion Of her bravery. When the presen-
tation was made the little town indulpcd
IN a celebration which eclipsed any pub
lie demonstration ever held in that re-
g1on. There was a procession, music.
speeches, and banquet Kate Shelley
is now a comely girl of eighteen, but
she achieved her present fame bv an act
of the greatest bravery when she was but
sixteen.
AT about dark on the 9th of July, 1881.
storm of wind and rain of unparalleled
severity broke over Boone. in an hours
time every creek was out of its banks
and the Des MOines river had risen six
feet. So sudden was the flood and such
was the velocity of the wind that houses,
barns, lumber, and all portable objects
within reach of the waters were carried
away. Looking from her window. which
IN daylight commanded a view of the
Honey Greek railroad bridge, Kate Shell
ley saw through the darkness and storm
q locomotive headlight. A second later
1t dropped, and though the crash which
IT must have made was not perceptiblc
above the roar of the wind. she knew
that the bridge had gone and that a
train of cars had fallen into the abvss.
There was no one at home but her mother
and Eer little brother and sister, and the
girl understood that if help was TO be
given to the sufferers and the express
train, then nearly due, warned, she would
have to undertake the task alone.
Hastily filling and lighting an old Ian
tern and wrapping herself in water
proof, 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 and road
ways, and realizing that she could do
nothing in or near that mad torrent. she
climbed painfully up the steep bluff 10
the track. tearing her clothing to rags on
the thick underground and decorating the
flesh most painfully. A part Of the
bridge still remained, and crawling out
on this to the last lie. she swung her
lantern over the abyss and called out at
the top Of her voice 1t was pitchv dark
below, but she was answered family by
the engineer, who had crawled uD on
some of the broken timbers, and though
injured, was safe for the time being.
From him the girl learned that it was a
freight train that had gone into The
chaom. and that he alone Of the train
hands had escaped. He urged her. how
ever, 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 rctraced her steps. gained
the track, and made her way, with all
the speed that the gale would Kermit.
toward MoingOna, a small station about
one mile from Honey Creek In making
this perilous journey it was necessary for
her TO cross the high trcstle bridge over
the Des Moines river, about 800 feet IN
length. Just as she tremblingly put her
foot on this structure the wind, rain,
thunder, and lightning were so appalling
that she nearly lost her balance, and. in
the endeavor to save herself, her sole
companion, the old lantern, went out
She had no matches, but if she
had had thousands of them they
would have been of no service
in such place and in such storm. De
prived of her light, she could not see
foot ahead save when the dazzling flashes
OF lightning revealed the grim outlines of
the bridge and the seething waters be-
meath. Knowing that she had no time to
lose, the brave girl threw away the use
less lamp, and, dropping on her hands
and knees, crawlcd from tie to tie across
the high trestle. Having gained the
ground again, she ran the short distance
remaining to the station. told her story in
breathless haste, and fell unconscious at
the feet Of the gaping rustics, who, in
their cagernesS to know her adventure.
forgot the terror and suspense which She
had endured
Men were then sent to the rescue of the
engineer, and kilograms were ilying up
and down the line notifying officials and
Others of the loss Of the bridge The cX-
press train came laundering i'm and was
stopped, and the passengers, learning the
story of the child hero, looked. few at
q time, upon her wan face and ragged
clothes. The purse that was made up for
her was Of a very substantial kind.
When the story of her behavior spread
throughout the State several funds for her
benefit were started, and, SO far rs money
can pay for such devotion, she has been
well rewarded for her nights work. At
the session Of the Legislature last winter
it was ordered that medal commcmora-
tive of the girls bravery be struck, and
committee was appointed 10 present it 10
her. Her heroism was made the theme of
many eloquent speeches.