Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1884-01-23
A HEROINE REWARDED.
Kate Shelly, the Youthful Iowa Heroine,
Presented with Medal.

Kate Shelly, the Youthful Iowa Heroine,
Presented with Medal.
Dies MONIES, IT,, January ia fea-
ture of to days session of the legis-
lature was the presentation to
Kate Shelly of handsome gold medal,
In recognition of her heroic act In pre-
venting, on the night of July 6, 1881, at
the risk of her life, disaster on the
Chicago and North Western Railroad
near Moingona, Ia, which would have
resulted In an appalling loss OF human
life. The medal represents Kate IN the
act of crossing the railroad bridge
over the Des Moiues River. Above are
the words: "Heroism, Youth, Human
Ity:" on the reverse of the medal Is the
following inscription: Presented by
the State of Iowa to Kate Shelly, with
the thanks of the General Assembly. In
recognition of the courage and devotion
of child of Is years. whom neither the
terror Of the elements nor the fear OF
death could appall in her efforts to save
human life during the terrible storm and
food in the Des Moines Valley on the
night of July 6, 1881"
The story of the heroine's daring ex-
plot is briefly told as follows:
Just before nightfall. on the 9th of July,
1881. a storm of wind and rain OF unusual Sc
verify descended upon the region around
Boone, La. In an hours time the Des MONIES
River rose six feet. So great was the velocity
OF the wind that MANY buildings were de-
stroyed. Looking from her window Kate Shell
ly saw through the darkness and storm loco
motive headlight. A second later 1t dropped
from sight, and she knew that the tram had
fallen into the abyss. There was no one at
IN.of aT1H
sister, and the girl knew that if the express
train, soon due. was warned of the dreadful
danger, she must undertake the task alone.
She hurried from the house, into the storm,
she gained the railroad track, and made her
way toward Moingona station about mile
from Honey Greek, as fast as she could struggle
against the terrible wind. To reach Molngona
it was necessary for her to cross the high treste
bridge over the Des MONIES River, which was
exposed TO the full force of the storm and about
five hundred feet in length. She dept upon
the structure; the wind, the rain, the thunder,
and the lightning were appalling. She nearly
lost her balance and just escaped falling into
the swollen stream. She could not see foot
ahead of her The darkness was intense, ex-
cept when the dazzling lightning revealed the
timberS and the surging and seethlng waters
below. Knowing that not a moment must be
lost, she crept from tie to tie, across the high
trestle. Having gained the ground on the
further side she ran to the station and told
her story in breathless haste, and fell uncon-
scous at the feet of the station-keeper. Tele-
grams were sent flying up and down the line
notifying all of the loss of the Honey Creek
bridge. The express came laundering along
with many passengers on board and was
stopped. This account was recently given to
the writer by one who was on board the train
at the time. who said he should never forget
or cease to be grateful for his life to the child
heroine, with her torn and ragged clothes and
bruised and bleeding limbs,
The exposure of that night and the
great strain on her nervous system made
her i'll and from which she is only just
recovering. Congressman Holmes, to
whose efforts this action of the Iowa leg
islature is largely due, hopes to secure,
in addition to the small sum voted by
the legislature, enough money to pay
for the education of Kate Shelly. Her
family Is poor. The father, who was a
section foreman of the Chicago and
North Western Railroad, was killed In
an accident ten years ago. The mother
has since then endured many hardships
and privations In the endeavor to bring
up her five children. An effort will be
made to relieve them as far as practical
bic, and an appeal is to be made to the
public for that purpose.