lway
bridge over the Des Moines river the light in her lantern,
her only guide and protection, went out. It was then that
the heroic soul of this child of only sixteen years became
most fully apparent; facing the storm which almost took away
her breath, and enveloped in darkness that rendered every
object in nature invisible, she felt her way to the railroad
bridge. Here she must pass for a distance of four or five
hundred feet over the rushing river beneath on the naked
ties. As the wind swept the bridge she felt how unsafe it
would be to attempt walking over it, and getting down upon
her hands and knees, clutching the timbers with an almost
despairing energy, she painfully and at length successfully
made the passage. She reached the station, and having told
of the catastrophe at the bridge, and requested the stoppage
of the passenger train then about due, she fainted and fell
upon the platform. This very briefly, wanting in much that
is meritorious in it, is the story of Kate Shelly and the
6th of July. Her parents were countrymen of Sarsfield, of
Emmett, and O'Connell--of the land that has given heroes to
every other and dishonored none. It was an act well worthy
to rank her with that other heroine, who, launching her
frail craft from the long stone pier, braved the terrible
seas on that Northumberland coast to save the lives of
others at the risk of her own.

Mr. Holmes then produced a copy of the _State Register_, and
requested the clerk to read the article therein contained,
giving the details of the heroic girl's action, written at
the time of its occurrence, and after the clerk had read the
article, concluded by saying: "I hope, Mr. Speaker, that
this bill may pass, believing that it is right, and further
believing that the State of Iowa will do itself as much
honor as the young lady named in the bill, in thus
recognizing the greatest debt in our power to pay--that to
humanity." Mr. Pickler moved to amend by instructing the
gentleman from Boone (Mr. Holmes) to make the presentation.
Carried, and the bill was amended accordingly, as above. On
motion