Democratic Sentinel, Volume 12, Number 2, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 3 February 1888 — A NEBRASKA HEROINE. [ARTICLE]

A NEBRASKA HEROINE.

The Plucky Little School - Teacher Who “Merely Did Her Duty.” [Omaha special.] Miss Minnie Freeman, the plucky little school-teacher at Mina Y r alley, whose heroism, care, and presence of mind savedfrom death her thirteen little pupils during the terrible storm, was in this city recently. “I have had newspaper notoriety enough,” she said, when approached by the reporter; “I merely did my duty.’’ Yvhen pressed, however, she told the following story: “The storm came up very suddenly and struck the school house just about the time for closing. I knew from indications that it was going to be a regular ‘blizzard,’ and told the children to all wrap up well. YVhile I was attending to them the door blew in, and then the windows. I put my cloak on and was wondering what I was going to do. I had made up my mind that the building would not last long. Then I happened to think of a ball of twine I had taken away from a little fellow named Frank Gibben, who was playing wish it during school hours. I began tying the children together, and when I had completed this task I fastened one end of the string to my arm and awaited developments. Very soon the roof of the building blew off, and I said, ‘Come on children,’ and we started. The nearest house was three-quarters of a mile away, and, in order to reach it, we had to face the storm for about one-third of the distance. I thought at one time we should be lost, and I came near losing hope, for I was nearly exhausted. You see I was carrying the smallest child—a little girl—and my talking to the children and urging them to keep up their spirits tried me veiy much. YVhen we were about half-way to the house one of the boys, about 6 years old, said: ‘ Teacher, I can’t go any further,’ but I told him if he did not come along I would whip him, and it was remarkable to see how that child exerted himself afterward. Now, you need not smile, I do not whip my scholars very hard. YVcll, we got to the house, and beyond a few frost-bitten fingers, noses, and ears, we were all in as good condition as when we started.” Miss Feeeman then spoke of the large number of letters she had received since the story of her bravery got into print. Most of them were naturally of a complimentary nature, but nine contained offers of marriage. One eccentric individual inclosed a $lO note with the following: “Miss Freeman, you are a daisy, and can have the keys of my trunk at any time. Yours truly, .” A committee is at work in this city collecting funds with which to purchase a handsome gold medal to be presented to her at an early date. They are meeting with marked success. Every person approached almost invariably responds with a handsome sum.