So she just started running. Soon she reached the river and the bridge. The water had never been this high before. At least Kate had never seen it this high before. (Now, prior to all of this happening, some of the planking had been removed from the Des Moines River Bridge to help discourage pedestrians from using it. The ties were placed a pace apart and had been studded with rusty spikes and nails. So, Kate would have to plan her steps just right in order to get across.) As Kate stood before the bridge planning her path, a gust of wind extinguished her light. She was now left in total darkness.

Here's the good part. Terrified and freezing, Kate dropped to her knees, and began to crawl across the wooden trestle. Sure she was scared, but she just could not stop thinking of the drowning men and the Midnight Express. Her skirt got caught on nails, her knees got scraped, she lost her balance once…twice…then a sharp pain shot into her hand. OUCH!! A spike had gouged into her. But Kate continued on and on until at last, she felt solid ground below her. Yeah! She had made it across the bridge. You'd think she'd be exhausted right? But not our little Miss Kate. With what little strength she had left, she stood up and can you believe ran the final quarter mile to the station at Moingona.

After telling her story to the station workers, they sounded an engine whistle, which alerted the town, and the red light at the signal was illuminated, which stopped the Midnight Express. Kate had done her job. The message had arrived in time. But she didn't stop there…she continued on by leading the workers back to the Honey Creek Bridge, where they were able to save 2 of the men.

Kate was an instant hero. People came from miles to see the scene of the great rescue and tragedy. There were press and poems, articles and photos, and the Chicago Tribune helped to raise a fund to get the Shelley Family out of debt. Kate was one of the most famous women of her time. A new bridge has since been built and is now called the Kate Shelley Bridge.

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