Karen Kilgariff

That's how I like to, that's how I'll write it. Totally. But after several hours, once the blizzard finally subsides, Minnie and the children see the full extent of what has happened around them. Not only has the storm destroyed buildings and created massive barn-sized snow banks. Oh, my God. But it's also claimed many lives.

That's how I like to, that's how I'll write it. Totally. But after several hours, once the blizzard finally subsides, Minnie and the children see the full extent of what has happened around them. Not only has the storm destroyed buildings and created massive barn-sized snow banks. Oh, my God. But it's also claimed many lives.

For the parents of Minnie's 13 children, learning that their kids made it would feel like nothing short of a miracle, one that Minnie herself is solely responsible for. The Omaha Evening Bee describes the scene as one of the students is reunited with their parents, reporting, quote, Wow. So the extent of chaos, death, and disruption associated with this blizzard is huge.

For the parents of Minnie's 13 children, learning that their kids made it would feel like nothing short of a miracle, one that Minnie herself is solely responsible for. The Omaha Evening Bee describes the scene as one of the students is reunited with their parents, reporting, quote, Wow. So the extent of chaos, death, and disruption associated with this blizzard is huge.

Across the Midwest, trains are stopped in their tracks, farmers lose the entirety of their crops, and their livestock freezes to death. But then, of course, there's the loss of human life. Experts say we'll never know the true death count because the population wasn't known as well.

Across the Midwest, trains are stopped in their tracks, farmers lose the entirety of their crops, and their livestock freezes to death. But then, of course, there's the loss of human life. Experts say we'll never know the true death count because the population wasn't known as well.

David Laskin estimates that there were between 250 and 500 victims of this snowstorm, many of them being children who were either at school hunkering down or trying to head home after being dismissed. Because of this, the snowstorm is eventually nicknamed the schoolhouse blizzard or the children's blizzard.

David Laskin estimates that there were between 250 and 500 victims of this snowstorm, many of them being children who were either at school hunkering down or trying to head home after being dismissed. Because of this, the snowstorm is eventually nicknamed the schoolhouse blizzard or the children's blizzard.

More people will die in the days and weeks following the storm from things like pneumonia or frostbite or gangrene from frostbite. As the word of this terrible event spreads beyond the region, an overwhelming sense of grief is felt by the entire country. And that's when this feel-good story of the 19-year-old teacher in Nebraska who saved her entire class starts getting attention.

More people will die in the days and weeks following the storm from things like pneumonia or frostbite or gangrene from frostbite. As the word of this terrible event spreads beyond the region, an overwhelming sense of grief is felt by the entire country. And that's when this feel-good story of the 19-year-old teacher in Nebraska who saved her entire class starts getting attention.

The Omaha Evening Bee first reports on Minnie Freeman saying, quote, those who have braved the terrors of a Nebraska blizzard need not be told that it required courage to enable a young girl to breast those furies having in her keeping the lives of 13 little ones and the happiness of 13 homes. Shit.

The Omaha Evening Bee first reports on Minnie Freeman saying, quote, those who have braved the terrors of a Nebraska blizzard need not be told that it required courage to enable a young girl to breast those furies having in her keeping the lives of 13 little ones and the happiness of 13 homes. Shit.

Those who felt and suffered from the effects of Thursday's storm need not be told that the act of that young girl was one from which strong men themselves might quail. Yeah. Love you, Minnie. Soon more papers start to circulate Minnie's story. Virtually overnight, 19-year-old Minnie Freeman becomes a much-needed hero. She's lionized. She's celebrated. She's nicknamed Nebraska's fearless maid.

Those who felt and suffered from the effects of Thursday's storm need not be told that the act of that young girl was one from which strong men themselves might quail. Yeah. Love you, Minnie. Soon more papers start to circulate Minnie's story. Virtually overnight, 19-year-old Minnie Freeman becomes a much-needed hero. She's lionized. She's celebrated. She's nicknamed Nebraska's fearless maid.

And then over in Chicago, a music publishing company debuts a song about Minnie called, quote, 13 Were Saved. And it goes a little something like this. A one and a two. Hell no. 13, we're safe. 13, we're safe. 13, you always just do it. Hello, baby. The New York Times reports that Minnie receives letters and gifts and more. The Omaha Evening Bee actually describes her this way.

And then over in Chicago, a music publishing company debuts a song about Minnie called, quote, 13 Were Saved. And it goes a little something like this. A one and a two. Hell no. 13, we're safe. 13, we're safe. 13, you always just do it. Hello, baby. The New York Times reports that Minnie receives letters and gifts and more. The Omaha Evening Bee actually describes her this way.

They say, quote, Minnie Freeman is above medium height, dark hair, gray eyes, and a remarkably pretty girl. She is said to be an excellent musician and a possessor of a charming voice. It's believed that Minnie receives nearly 200 marriage proposals from strangers after this story goes wide. Get it, girl. Right? They're like, she's brave. She's pretty. Yeah. Come work on my farm. Totally.

They say, quote, Minnie Freeman is above medium height, dark hair, gray eyes, and a remarkably pretty girl. She is said to be an excellent musician and a possessor of a charming voice. It's believed that Minnie receives nearly 200 marriage proposals from strangers after this story goes wide. Get it, girl. Right? They're like, she's brave. She's pretty. Yeah. Come work on my farm. Totally.

Come have lots of children. Yep. Bear my children and do all that for me. Yeah. Meanwhile, over in D.C., government officials are trying to figure out how to make sure that no American is ever caught off guard by such a huge storm again. This only gets more urgent when just months later, in March of 1888, another historic blizzard hits the northeastern United States and Canada.

Come have lots of children. Yep. Bear my children and do all that for me. Yeah. Meanwhile, over in D.C., government officials are trying to figure out how to make sure that no American is ever caught off guard by such a huge storm again. This only gets more urgent when just months later, in March of 1888, another historic blizzard hits the northeastern United States and Canada.