On January 12, 1888, a legendary blizzard across the northern Plains resulted in a great loss of livestock and human life. Minnie Freeman was teaching school in a sod house near Ord when the blizzard struck. After the roof of the school was blown off, Minnie tied the hands of her thirteen pupils together and led them through the blinding storm to safety. News of her heroism spread far and wide, resulting in national newspaper accounts and even a song about the event.

Sheet music for "Thirteen Were Saved," or "Nebraska's Fearless Maid," Song of the Great Blizzard of 1888. Nebr. The cover has an illustration of a woman holding child in snow storm, tied to 5 other children. Published by Lyon and Healy, Chicago, Illinois.