The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1888-03-22
BRAVING A STORM.
The True Story Of a School
Teachers Heroism.

The 3lst OF December, 1Sb Is re-
membered by many persons AS the date
Of the beginning of one of the widest
and most fatally destructive Writer
storms that ever swept across. the
vide, unprotected prairies of the West.
The inhabitants of Illinois. Iowa, Wis
eonsin and Minnesota, and of the West
generally, suffered severely.
In Middle Illinois the storm broke
with almost the suddenaess of a tor
nsdo. resulting not onav in great de-.
struction of domestic animals, bu. in
the loss Of many human lives. The
season until then had been uncommonly
mild. and even on this las.e day Of the
ysarthe roads were deco with mud.
The morning dawn,ed with a deceitful
brightness; agentlca sprlng-like breeze
came from the south, the sky was
cl'udiess' ane, the old-fashioned rail
fence east a distinct zigzag shadow
along the, south side of the road, as
mary II Ass girlish school-teacher, and
sever al Of her small pupils, all in high
zee over the approaching New Years
holiday, picked their way carefully to-
ward the school-house. This building
stood out by itself on the prairie. and
the only dwelling within half a mile
was that Of Mr.. Kent, in whose family
Miss Rast boarded.
The attendance on that day was un-
usually small: only twelve scholars re-
ported themselves; and these were
mostly from the nearest families; for
the older settlers, accustomed to the
eapricious weather of the West, had
viewed the brightness of the morning
with suspicion, and kept their children
at home. By noorf a slight haze over
east the sun, but the air was still quiet
and mild. Three boys, who lived about
amile distant, and a cousin staying
with them, ran home across the fields
to dinner, and, somewhat to the teach
er's surprise, did not return.
She, was thus left with a flock of
eight Four of these were children of
alt. Kent; two of the others lived mile
and half away. while the remaining
Two, Willie and Mary Wood, who were
only ten and eight years old, respect
Eely, came from house fully three
quarters of a mile west of the school
house.
At about two o'clock the day sud-
aenly began to darken, and there came
aiew short, but fierce puffs of wind
nom thesouthwest. The young teacher
looked out anxiously, wondering at the
eaange, and saying to herself that she
must hold short session and send the
children home in good season. For
naiian hour all was quiet again, but a
,nick, lnurky gloom came creeping over
.'e landscape, and q few flakes of snow
ieil slowly and silently. melting as fast
As they touched the muddy ground.
An older and more experienced per-
soa would have known what to expect
ifoal such signs. anil would have fled
win the scholars to the nearest place
Oh safety; but Miss Rast, as we have
sald' was only a girl, and. moreover.
haa never wintered in the West before,
y that she knew little about the fierce
ness OF winter storm on the prairie.
;, Again the wind blew in angry gusts.
'ais nme longer, louder and more di-
,es'is from the west, and again followed
sshort interval of strange silence. The
emperature fell with great rapidity.
aaub IN q few minutes. the air was
Aeezing cold; then all at once. with a
rlld, thunderous roar. the storm burst.
from west to north stretched asblack,
aeasing sea of cloud, tossed and torn
y the wind, that now shrieked and
STRAINED like a storm demon. In
aehnilng haste the teacher set about
neparing the children for their terri
" We Journey. There was no staying at
.ae . sehool-house, with neither food nor
y aaei Sor the long. bitter night, and she
se'efmlaed to take the whole company
= hes own bosrding-place. knowing
! a0W welcome they would be-if only
@ey could get there.
0s this time the frightened children