Press and daily Dakotaian. (Yankton, Dakota Territory [S.D.]) 1880-1889, 1888-02-03
SCHOOL IN A BLIZZARD.

n story OF Miss Freeman AdVer-
lures AS Told by Herself and Her
Pupils.
John +. Hates, ex-schoo! superinten.
dent OF Ord county Nebraska, after q
visit to the school of Miss Minnie Free
man, writes as follows TO the North Loup
Farmers Advocate:
As I promised yea I would do, I have
to-day visited Miss May freeman at her
school IN Mira Valley, and have learned
from che school the facts connected with
their adventure IN the late blizzard.
While / find that the reports as given IN
papers distort the facts in regard TO
particulars l have learned nothing that
datracts in the least from the credit that
is due her. The storm in its violence
at the very first burst the latch and one
hinge off the door. The door was closed
as quickly as possible and fastened by
means OF q button ~impsovised OF q piece
of wood and O nail. Through the cre-.
vices in the roof and openings around
the windows the snow siftei in to such
an extent that it was necessary for the
teacher and children to cover their heads,
and even made it impossible to keep the
stove dry. 1t may be easily under
stood that under these conditions
to keep warm was an impossible
ity. To assist in keeping warm
Miss Freeman put the children to march
i~ng-singing as they marched. Snow had
already accumulated on the floor be-
meath the windows to q depth of eight
inches. In o violent gust a portion of
the sod roof at the comb, was removed,
aud between the loose boards the snow
drifted in torrents. Any one who has
taught school kno.s that the school was
then 1 n a panic. There was nc telling at
what moment the entire roof must go.
To remain there would be at great rick,
and with reasonable assurance of further
severity of cold and storm with nightfall.
Miss freeman decided quickly to at
tempt to take her charge of sixteen mot
t%hirteen) precious children, the Joy of
almost as many homes, TO her boarding
place just one-half mile distant, almost
directly IN the storm. Before leaving the
house she took the %precaution to se-
curely nail the door, that it might not
be blown open and the roof lifted en-.
tirely off or fire scattered from the
stove and the house burned. Care
fully wrapping the children, and assur,
ing them that they would get safely
bao aOa phCul iIO" tu6 .EOOn
through q south window. With clasped
hands they started on their way to shell
ter, the teacher leading the way.
Miss Freeman was soon Obliged to trust
the lead to her oldest pupils and give
her attention to the smaller. ones, who
In the binding storm and driits were
continually falling, and must have her
closest attention lest some one blunder
a step or two to one side and be lost.
All agreed that they could see but three
or four steps st any time in front of
them. Who can tell the anguish suF.
fsred hy that keanhar AZ she thought of
the responsibility resting upon her as
she %iourneyed that half mile? Prayer
fully hopefully, resolutely, she toiied
and struggled oa lifting and assisting
one little feiloS here and encouraging
another there, until the haYen was
reaehed-safely reached by ell. Glorious
victory Pity the man who has not soul
to appreciate such herolsml The teacher
and five of the children were some
what frozen, but not seriously. In re-
sponse to my inquiry Were you ex-
hausted p" Miss Freeman said: ITO
tell yon the truth [ could not heve gone
much farther" She depIores The fact
that the incident has been given such an
extended publicity with unwaranted
sensational coloring. Letters OF ap.
probation reach her by every mail as do
also letters. soliciting her biography.
These she ~courteously acknowledges but
modesty withholds all information that
would likely be used for sensational
purposes.
During the evening one parent only
ventured to look after the welfare of his
children. He accompanied by two
other men who we're stopping with him
at the time, attempted to make his way
to the children, because bewildered, and
Was only successful with the aid of a
compass. Another started out seYeral
times, but gave the attempt.
Heroic Minnie Freemanl God will
surely bless you.
L y