The Russellville Democrat., 1893-11-16
SAVED A RAILROAD TRAIN.
Kate shslley. iAe H.rosns of Honey
 Greek, Is~s,
sEeaesasy Becovnts the story ef How She saved she Train JaIy 2. Iss1-
 Teksns af Grasitods.

The story Of Kate Shelley has recently been recalled. The young woman made herself famous twelve years ago, by fighting her way through terrible storm one night to stop a passenger train whicz was rushing toward 3 wrecked bridge over Honey Creek, la Wien she crawled across the long trestle alone she was only l6 years old. Now she is a very modest, quiet woman. She does nor pose as heroine, but she is proud Of her achievement
 At her throat she wears the gold medal given her by the school chia, dreu at Dubuque. The gold watch she carries was presented by the conductors of the Northwestern road. sI have other medals at home,' she said, "but ] did not wish to carry very many vaiuatles while l was travelling. It has been twelve years since I saved that train, but l still receive letters and an occasional visit from persons who remember it.
 'It was II o'clock on the night of July 6, 1s81,n said Miss Shelley, when asked to recall the story. ''Our little house stood near the Horey Creek bridge, and this was half mile east of Moingona, Ia. That night there had been an awful storm, eloudbUrss, in fact. The bridge across Honey Greek washed ont. The northwestern passenger train from the west sent push en zine ahead to see if the track was clear. This engine and the crew went into the creek, which was swollen to freshet. I looked out of the window and saw it go dowr. My father, who was dead, had worked on the road and l knew all about the trains. l knew the pas senger train was coming and that some one must stop 1t.
 Il found an old miners lamp, put in a piece of felt for a wick, lighted 1t and put it inside a common lantern. With this light I went out into the storm. l had to go through the woods by a nd-about way to reach the track, as most of the ground was under water. l fell down several times and my light went out. It was nearly time for the train. l started to run for the station. Then I thought of the long bridge ahead. The night was pitch dark, the rain fell in a sheet and the wind blew a hurricane When I came to the open ties of the bridge l had to lie down and crawl 500 feet to get across.
 "When I reached the station l fell through the doorway and said ; Stop the passenger train; the Honey Creek bridge has gone down The agent did not know me at first, l was so wet and dirty. said: Quick, the engine has gone down He said: Why, it's Kate Shelley. : He jumped to the telegraph instru- ment and sent a message 10 the next stop west: Hold the passenger train the Honey Greek bridge is out. After l reached the station l gave way, and for three months l was sick from the shock and exposure.
 "Then 1 found myself a heroine. That night l did not think of hero ism or anything else except the fate of the people on the passenger train. Fortunately the train was late that night and 1 had time to reach the telegraph office after the lantern went out. In the moment that 1 was left in total darkness I thought the train was doomed. 1 knew that l was the only one who could save t. The trainmen had gone down with the engine. With this thought burning in my mind, I fought my way toward tie station and reached it in sime. The story went all over the country. Correspondents came to interview me. l received presents and letters of reorganization, and when it was published that our home was mortgaged people sent in money to lift the mortgage.
 I found it very pleasant to be a heroine, except that l have had to tell the story every day for twelve years. My two sisters are now teaching school, but we are living at the old home, the one which was saved by the subscriptions sent us. Enough money was sent to us to keep and to build an addition. The Woman's Christian Temperance Union sent me 10 school at Indian apolis for two years. l do not care to teach school and expect to get some other kind of work. No, l am not married. l received any nun. Der of proposals by mail, but they were all very silly.
 
 AN UNREASONABLE MERMAID.