of Mr. Holmes, the rules were suspended, and the bill
passed by a vote of 90 to 1. The governor of the State, Hon.
A. J. Holmes, and Hon. J. D. Gillett were authorized to
procure a medal of design and inscription to be approved by
them, and present the same to the donee with the thanks of
the General Assembly of the State of Iowa.

The medal, which is of elegant design and workmanship, was
executed by Messrs Tiffany & Co., of New York, and was
presented to Miss Shelly during the holidays of 1883. It is
round in form, about three inches in diameter and weighs
four ounces five and a half pennyweights. On both sides it
is sunken below the circular edges and the figures and
decorations are then displayed in bold relief. On the face
is a figure emblematic of Kate Shelly's daring exploit. It
represents a young girl with a lantern in her left hand and
her right thrown far out in warning, her hair streaming in
the wind and her wet drapery clinging to her form, making
her way over the ties of a high railroad bridge, in storm
and tempest, with the lightning playing about her. In a
semi-circle over the figure are the words: "Heroism, Youth,
Humanity." On the reverse 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 a child of fifteen years, whom
neither the terror of the elements nor the fear of death
could appal in her efforts to save human life during the
terrible storm and flood in the Des Moines valley on the
night of July 6, 1881."

Surrounding the inscription is a wreath of leaves and
beneath it the great seal of Iowa.

The presentation was made at Ogden in the presence of 3,000
people. It was given in the name of the State of Iowa by Mr.
Welker Given, secretary to Governor Sherman, July 4, 1884,
who represented the governor in his necessary absence. Hon.
J. A. T. Hull, Secretary of State, introduced Miss Shelly
and recounted her heroic deed of that fearful night, after
which Mr. Given made the presentation speech. The response
on behalf of Mi