Weekly expositor. (Brockway Centre, Mich.) 1882-1894, 1888-03-15
A HEROINE OF THE STORM.
The Fearful Blizzard Experience of
Miss Louise Royce, OF Pierce
InnntN- NnhInaIrn

NouhtNs NcDIushu.
Complete details Of the experience OF Miss
Louise Royce, the young teacher OF Pierce
county during the storm of Jan. IL are
given by The Omaha Bee as follows:
Miss Royce was teaching in the school OF
1hompson's settlement, in the vicinity OF
PlainVlew, Pierce county, Neb. Thursday
morning, Jan. IL, the young teacher was at
her post with an attendance of nine scholars.
At noon six Of the children went TO their
homes, none of them far from the school.
house. for dinner. During the absence OF
.hese pupils the storm came up, consequently
they did not return for the afternoon session
Tue teacher with the three pupils remained
until O'Clock In the afternoon. IL was then
Miss Royce realized that there was not sufii.
cient fuel to last during the afternoon, aud In
company with the three children she started
out into the storm, intending to take then
TO her boarding house, situated about fifteen
rods from the schOo-hOuse, and the outl inc
of which could occasionally be discerned
through the blasts. The boarding house was
located u little east of north from the school
house. In attempting TO reach il the four
were compelled to travel against the
storm. After the little party had travele d
for some distance the teacher endeavored to
to discern the boarding house, but the fury of
the storm blinded her vision. Continuing
In their travels they soon came in sight OF
;he stock-yards located a short distance
southeast OF the clearinghouse. Knowing
where she was Miss Royce thought that wi III
little effort she could reach her destination,
aud started with her little charges I'm what
she supposed was the direction of her home.
This she found no small task. The storm
blinded the vision, and the strong wind
blew the little party hther and thither
and 1t Fas only by the greatest ex-
erton that the teacher kept her little brood
together. The party kept on their course
for some time, when they realized the fact
that they was getting further and further
from shelter and we're indeed lost I'm the bliz-
Yard. knowing that any further attempt to
gain shelter would be Ruthless and believing
that the storm would soon spend its fury,
the teacher gathered her children in her arms
and sat down TO await the pleasure OF the
storm king
The hope that the blasts would soon subside
was destined TO be shattered. With each mo
ment the fury of the storm became greater
the winds more cutting, and the suffering OF
the little party more painful Darkness came
on but brought with 1t no lesscning in the
terrible blasts. Weary and fOotsore and
chilled, the three little ones gave ycut To tears
and, unmindful of their surroundings, laid
down TO secure a much-nceded rest. Ii was
in vain that their teacher tried to arouse them:
the rest afforded the three in her tired arms
WIS not sufficient, and, sinking to the snow.
covered ground, the little ones sobbcd them
selves into q restless sleep. The brave Young
girl realized that this exposure would result la
death TO her little flock, and stretching herself
at full length upon the snow, and to the north
she hudd,ed the three little ones TO her breast,
covered them with her own cloak, and thus
shielded them from the chilling winds with
her own form. In this position the four pre-.
pared for the worst and ii came sooner than
expected. A few hours after dark the Young
est Of the bows, Peter Poggansee. awoke,
placed his cold hand on the teachers face,
ard with the words ppm so coldl' sank into
"a silence the teacher knew was death The
feelings oi the young guardian, herself suffer-
ing from the cod, can not BE- described, and
are difficult TO imagine. She felt then that
she herself would follow but determined 20
bear up in order to soothe as best she could
the las moments of the remaining ones Ii
was perhaps midn ght when the teacher dis.
covered that Otto ROsbeTg, the oldest boT, had
d ed without a word Of warning aud with an
effort the brave woman gathered little Hat.
tie Rosberg aged Z in her arms ami endcav-
ored 10 give her all the comfort i'm her power.
The poor child became dcriOus, aud her
mind wandered away To the home, where even
at that moment mothers heart was aching
for her little ones, and between her sobs
came the plaintive appeal: "Oh, Pm so cold
mammal; please cover me uD;n an appeal
which rent the heart of her faithful teacher
and opened the food-gates of her tears Be.
tween the sohs Of the little girl might have
been heard the duplication of her suffering
teacher that this the last of her little flock
might not be taken.
Thus the hours of the night were passed.
and when daylight broke the little arms
pressed the teacher closer; a shudder passed
over the little FORM and I'm the arms OF her
faithful guardian the spirit of little Hattie
Rosberg took its flight With the conscious
ness OF a duty we'll performed the Young
teacher arose and covering the little form, as
best she could started in search Of shelter
Her hair and clothing were frozen, and il was
with eXcruciating pain that the brave girl
attempted to reach a home. At 6 O'Clock this
morning, after fifteen hours in the blast spent
among the saddest of surroundings Louise
Royce reached shelter. A party was sent for
the little ones, and they were tendeI4y taken
to their respective homes. A physician was
called and the best OF care was given to the
young teacher who was badly frozen
The parents of the little ones called upon
Miss Rovce in her sick chamber, aud received
an account for ner Stewardship the narration
OF which was frequently interrupted By the
sobs OF all present. Those whose homes had
been bercft, and whose heartstrings were torn
and bleeding, knelt at the bedside of her whose
gentle hands hal performed mothers task
aud sOoihed the death damn brows Of loved
ones, and offered mid tears a prayer that she
might be spared.
Though unsuccessful in her efforts to save
the lives of her little charges Louise Royce
did the best her circumstances allowed-an-
gels could do no more
WHO MISS ROYCE 10.
Miss Louise Royce is stopping at the house
Of a friend In Plainview, where she Is recciy.
ing every possible attention. The injuries
sustained during tho storm will confine her to
her room for many DAYS Her PHYSICIANS, how
ever, has given her the hope that her limbs
win be saved and that in a few months she
will be entirely recovered.
Miss Louise Royce was born IN Alleghany
county, New York, April % 1869 In Decem.
Der, 1885, Miss Royce moved with her par
ents TO the vicinity of Plainvlew, Npb where
she has resided ever since Mr.. Royce the
father, is, by occupation railroad man. AT
a time when the family resources were not
what thew might be, owing 10 the fathers i'll
ness. Miss Royce sought a nOsition in the
public schools, and was teaching her third
term in the Thompson district school Miss
Royce is described as n decidedly pretty girl,
with all the characteristics which make women
admired by all with whom they come in con.
tact. Her education secured great