Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1912-01-22
HEROINE or MolNooNA BRIDGE
DISASTER succuMss AFTER
LONG ILLNESS.
HEROIC DEED SAVED
HUNDRED OR MORE LIVES
Miss Shelley Thirty. One Years AGO,
Walked and crawIsd MiIss Thru
Storm and Over Tottsrins Bridge 70
Warn Northwestern Passenger Train
Of Danssr-story Of Her Bravery.

SPecia1 10 ItmeS-Sepubl1can.
Boone. Jan. 22.-Kate Shelley, the
heroine Of the Monigona bridge dis
aster Of thirty-one years ago, died
Sunday morning at her home in Moin-
gona. Her death followed a long ILL
ness. 80
Miss Shelley was taken i'll several
months ago and the physicians in
charge diagnosed the ailment as APP
pendicitis. She was taken to st. An
'thony's hospital in Carroll and there
the operation was performed Her con-
dNion proved much more serious than
AZ nrst supposed and she fingered be-
tween life and death for many weeks,
word being received several times by
relatives and friends here that she
could live but a few hours. She grew
stronger after a backset and was
brought to the home of her brother
John, in this city Finally she was re-
moved to her home near Mofngona and
there she passed away. She was a
most patient sufferer, the poison from
brient,s disease finally enveloping her
entire system. She was a devoted
catholic and died in the tenets of this
Faith. the last sacrament being admin
istered several days before her passing
away. The funeral services will prob
ably be the largest in the history of
the city. for no one was better known
or more beloved than Miss Shelley.
Story Of Her Heroism.
In 1881 there was living on the east
side Of the Des Moines river In Boone
county near the track of the North
western railroad in little cabin the
widow of Mr.. Shelley who had been
killed in q railroad accident Her ED
est daughter Kate was about Is years
of age. On the night of the 9Th of July
q terrific storm OF wind and rain swept
over that region. Honey creek. ordi-
narily small stream coming from the
prairie south and west of the town of
Boone winds its way thru the forest
IN q westerly direction, emptying into
the Des Moines river not far from the
railway bridge, which was first built
across the river near the coal town Of
Moingona. The banks Of the river here
rise to great height The grade of
the railroad, down the valley of Honey
creek. descends rapidly and not far from
the Shelley cabin the track crosses
the creek on a bridge Of considerable
elevation. On this night the Shelley
FAMILY were aroused from their Sleep
ing by the roaring torrent of Honey
creek. which was rushing by the cabin
with the force and volume of q small
river. uprooting great trees along its
banks.
Bridge Goes Down With Train.
upon striking a light they saw that
1t was time for a freight train to pass.
suddenly they heard the rumblins of
a train and then fearful crash of
timbers and wild cry Tor help They
realized that the train had gone down
into the food with the wreck Of the
bridge spanning the creek near the
cabin. Lighting the lantern Kate
started in the direction of the bridge
with fierce storm bestingine her
face. The darkness was so great that
she could see nothing. but guided nv
the noise OF the roaring torrent she
reached the bridge. Where the flood
was roaring by, she soon discovered
the wreck Of the train which had gone
down with the bridge, and heard the
shout Of the engineer was was cling
ing to the limb of projecting tree
"AASA 7AA"N pSCh purity upEOOISU 10Y the
flood. He was the only survivor and
was on the opposite side of the creek,
where 1T was impossible for Kate to
cross to his aid but he assured her
that he was out of danger Both knew
that the night express. from the west
would soon be due and realized the
terrible fate that awaited it, unless
warned Of the fallen bridge. The en-.
gineer could not cross the raging
flood to go on this mission and so
brave Kate Shelley hesitated not a
but turned her face towards
the river The fierce wind and driving
rain beat in her face and nearly car
ried her or her feet. The lantern was
soon extinguished.
Long Psrilous Trip.
: It was mile thru the dense forest
to the river with long, high railroad
bridge to cross before she could reach
the Moingona telegraph office, where a
warning could be sent to the approach
ing train Hurrying on with all the
she could summon, she at last
reached the railroad bridge four hum
dred feet in length and fifty feet above
the river The tempest was now at its
worst; there were no floors on the
bridge, the rails rested on the cross
ties. it was impossible for the girl to
BREAKS COLD IN FEW HOURS.