The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1884-07-17
LOYAL W0MANFS WORK
Brave Kate Sheiley---ConVerSaiion
Club---Some Household Hints.


an this Department should be forwarded direct 70 TIE
NATIONAL TRIBUNE. Washington, ID CT
The Iowa Legislature have done well in
honoring the girl heroine, Kate Shelley, of
Boone Iowa. She has just been presented
with gold medal Of exquisite design and work
manship, for her heroic conduct three years
AGO in saving an express train on the Chicago
Northwestern Railroad. filed with passen-
gers from an instant and terrible death. The
medal has been prepared by Tiffany & Co., of
New York and represents Kate in the act of
crossing the railroad bird &c over the Dies Monies
River. Above ore the words: Heroism, youth,
humanity" On The reverse OF the mccall is the
following inscIS p: ion: Presented 10y the State
OF Iowa 10 Kate Shelley, with tho thanks OF the
General Assembly. In recognition of the cour-
age and devotion of a child OF - years whom
neither the terror of the elements nor the fear
of death could aprall in her efforts TO save
human life during the terrible storm and food
in the Dcs Moines Valley on the night of July
6, ISL"
We let Eugene J. Hail, of Chicago tell the
story in the graphic sketch and poem which
follow:
Just before nighifall, on the 9th of July, 1881,
storm Of wiGd and rain OF unusual severity de-
seconded upon The region around Boone, Iowa. In
an hours time the Hcs aIoines River rose SIX feet
50 great the velocity of the wind that many
dow Kate Shelley saw through the dGFkness and
storm q locomotive headlight second later it
dropped from sight, and she knew that the Honey
Greek bridge gone and that the train had fallen
into the abyss There was no one at home except
her mother her little brother and sister, and the
girl knew taa; il the express Train, soon due. was
warned of the dreadful danger she must under
take the task alone
She hurried from the house into the storm, she
gained the railroad track. and made her way TO-
ward Aieincofa a station about q mile from Honey
Creek. fast she could struggle agsinst the
terrible wind. To reach Moiagona is was ncces-
saTy Tor her 10 cross the high trestie brIcSe over
the Des Gones River, which was exposed TO
the full force OF the storm and about 800 feet IN
length. She crept upon the structure; the wind,
the rain the thunder and the lightning were APP
palling. she nearly lost her balance and just es-
capped failing into the swollen stream She could
not see & foot ahead OF her. The darkness was
Intense. except when the dazzling lightning re-
veaicd the tinlbers and the srrging and seething
waters below. Knowing that NOT @ moment must
be lost she crept from tic TO lie across the high
frestle. Having gained the ground on the further
side she 10 t.se station and told her story IN
breathiess haste and fell unconscious ~ the feet OF
the staton-kceper- Tele.rnnls Were sent flying up
Gnd down the line notifying all Of the loss OF the
Honey Greek bridge. The express came thunder
ing along v It'll MANY passengers on board and was
stopped This account was recently given 10 tie
writer by one who was on board the train ct the
time who said he should never FORGET or cease 20
be grateful for his life 10 the child heroine, with
her torn and ragged clothes and bruised and bleed
ing limbs. have underworld, perhaps fecbly, TO
fashion into song this incident. that every woman
of the West should regard with pride and adnlira-
ton. and every man should remember with q
stronger love ano respect Tor %onankind
KATE SHELLEY.
Eave you heard how girl saved the lightning
OF Kate shelley, whose father was killed on the
ROAD
We're he living to-day he'd be proud to possess
such daughter Kate. Ali twas courage
she showed
On thai terrible evening when Donahue's train
Jumped ibe bridge and went down In the darkness
alll
She was only fifteen. but women ia size.
With 5igzre gFscefgl 2nd 1.-THE as dee;
With peacA-biossOin cheeks. and with violet eyes,
with teeth and complexion Like new-failen
With a nature unspoiIed and unbIeulished by art,
With a generous soul and warm. noble heart.
IT'S evening" the darkness l. dense and profound.
Men finger AT home by their bright. blazing fires
The vino wildly bowls with horrible sound.
And shraeks through the vibrating telegraph
The fe-ce lightning flashes along the black sky;
The rain fails In torrents, the river rolls by.
The scream Of a whistle. the rush Of a train
The sound OF a bell, mysterious light,
That flashes and nares Through the Installing
rumble, roar. shrieks of human alright;
The falling Of tinbers, the space of BREATH
splash IN the river, then darkness and death.
Kate Shelley recoils at the terrible crash,
The sounds OF destruction she happens to hear:
She springs 20 the window. she throws up the
sash
She listens and looks with feeling of fear;
Ths tall tree-tcps groan and she hears the faint
efs drowning man down in the river near by.
Eer heart feebly iufters. her features grow wan,
And then through her soul In @ moment there
A fcrethoughi that gives her the strength Of .
She turns 20 her trembling old mother and cries
II must save the express. twill be here In ar
hour
rhen out through the door disappears In the
shower
ehe 1ies down the track through The pitiIess rain;
She reaches the river. the water below
whirls and seethcs through the tiInbers-she shud
ders again.
"The brideeI 10 MoingonAi God help me Il
Then closely about her she gathers her gown,
And on the wet ties with shiver sinks down.
Then carefully over the timbers she creeps
On her hands and her knees. almost holding hel
breath;
The loud thunder peAls. and the wind Wild,
And struggles 10 hurry her downward 10 death;
but the thought of the train TO destruction nea
Removes from der soul every feeling OF fear.
with the blood dripping down from each torn
bleeding limb,
Slowly the timbers her dark way she feels
Eer fingers grow numb. and her head seems ID
Her strength is fast falling. abe staggers. sb
shs fsIIsI Ali the danger is over at last
Fer feel touch the earth and the long bridge 4
passed
In an instant new life seems 20 come 20 her FORM
She springs 10 her feet and forgets her despair
On onI TO Moingona. She faces the storm;
She reaches the station. the keeper IL there.
"saye the lightning express Hoi hang out tn
red light,
There's death the bridge at the river tonight
Out flashes the signai-lishf. rosy and red
Then sounds the loud Of the swin-cominl
train
The Missing Of steam, and then brightly ahead
The CLEAN OF a headlight illunlines the rain.
down brakesi" shrleks the whistle, defiant an
shriil
She heeds the red signal she saciens. she's still
An, noble Kate Shelley, your mission is done.
Your deed that dark night viii not fade from on
gaze;
An endless renown you have worfhily won
Lei the Nation be Just, and accord you it's praise
Lat your nane. let your fame, and your courag
declare
What woman can do and q woman can dare
THE HOUSEHOLD.
C5Tx Onnelet-ESofi and CRATE the corn from fh
cob: season with salt. To dozen ears aIlo-
and whites separately; stir the beaten yollcs unt
thick; add the cream slowly with the ccrn. The
sir in the stiff whites and turn into pan la whc
she batter has been made very hot; fry ligl
brown and turn. Watch the batter carefully whe
heating. that il does not burn
Fried CstcUsabevs.-Psre and quarter lenzthwis,
dip IA beaten egg milk then roll in Indian
or -four. Fry light brown In lard or butter,
part OF each. Season with salt and pepper. Erie