Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1893-10-28

CHICAGO, October 27.-Kate Shelley
% paving her FIRST visit 90 Chicago. The
Young woman made herself famous
twelve years ago By fighting her way
through a storm one night 20 stop
passenger train which was rushing 30
ward a wrecked bridge over Honey
creek, Iowa. When she craWled across
the long trestle alone, she was only 10
years old. Now she is a very modest,
quiet woman. She does not pose as a
heroine, but she is proud Of her achiev-
ment
She is'the guest Of Mrs. John Gail, at
1929 Walnut street Az her throat she
wears the gold medal given her by the
school children OF Dubuque. The
gold watch she carries was presented by
the conductors OF the Northwestern
road. az have other medals az home,
said she, "but did not wish 70 carry
many valuables while I was travelling.
To has been twelve years since / saved
that train, but I still receive letters and
an occasional visit from persons who
remember To-
TIE HEROINE's MODEST STORY.
at was II o'clock on the night Of July
6. ISL, " said Miss Shelley, when asked
20 recall the story. "Uur little home
stood near the Honey creek bridge, aud
this was a half mile east Of Moingona,
Iowa. That night there had been an
awful storm, q cloudburSt In fact. The
bridge across Honey creek washed out
The Northwestern passenger train from
4.
see If the track was clear, This engine
and the crew went into the creek, which
was swollen 10 a freshet. / looked out
Of the window and saw Il 90 down. My
father, who was dead, had worked on
the road and I knew all about the trains.
] knew the passenger train was coming
and that some one must stop IL.
ST found an old miners lamp, put IN
a piece of felt for a wick, lighted 10 and
put 10 inside a common lantern. With
this light I went out into the storm.
had to go through the woods by round
about way % reach the track, as most
OF the gOund was under water: 1 fell
down several times and my light went
out i reached the tracks, but l had no
light. 10 was nearly time for the train.
] started to run for the station. Theu
I thought Of the long bridge ahead
The night was pitch dark, the ram fell
in a sheet and the wind blew hurri-
cane. When I came 70 the open ties OF
the bridge I had to lie down aud crawl
600 feet to get across.
"srOP THE PASSENGER TRAM
"When l reached the station l fell
through the doorway and said: stop
the passenger train; the Honey creek
bridge has fallen. The agent did not
know me at first, ] was so wet and dirty.
/ said: Quick, the engine has gone
down He said: Why it's Kate Shell
ley He jumped TO the telegraph in
strument and sent message TO the next
stop west: Hold the passenger train;
Honey creek bridge is out After
reached the station 1 gave way and for
three months / was sick from the shock
aud exposure.
s'Then 1 found myself a heroine.
nat aight I II yT0t think OF herOism
Anvtbing else except the fate Of the
ople on the passenger train. For
tnatalv she train was late that night
nd had time 70 reach the telegraph
ofice after the laRteruwent out. In the
moment that was left in total dark
ness I thought the train was doomed.
knew that 1 was the only one that
could save it. The trainmen had gone
down With the engine. With this
thought burning 10 my mind, 1 fought
NV way toward the station and reached
II in time. The story went all over the
country. Correspondents came 70 in
tervieW me. I received presents and
letters Of congratulatiOn, and when it
was published that our home was mort
gagged people sent In money TO lit the
mortgage.
PLEASANT PENALTIES OF HERoISM'
81 found IL rather pleasant 20 be 4
live heroine, except that l have been
compelled 20 tell the story every day
Tor twelve years. My two sisters are
now teaching school, but we are all
living In the old home, the one which
was saved by the subscriptions sent 70
Us. Enough money was sent to US TO
keep lt and TO sbuild an addition. The
Woman's Christian Temperance union
sent me 10 school at Indianola for two
years. do not care 70 teach school
and expect to get some other kind Oh
work. No, am not married. recel-
we'd any number Of proposals by mail,
but they were all very silly. 1 had
never been 20 Chicago, but / knew /
could not afford 70 miss the Fair mat
is how happen TO be here"