Mrs. Andrew Whitehead
Encyclopedia
Mrs. Andrew Whitehead (? - March 1920), died saving her young son during a spring blizzard
in North Dakota
that also killed 33 other people. She is a lesser known victim of the three-day blizzard
, which also killed Hazel Miner
in the western part of the state.
Mrs. Whitehead was driving a horse and buggy
between Devils Lake
and Fort Totten
with her 3-year-old son when the blizzard hit. When her horses became too tired to continue, she stopped the wagon, unhitched the horses and set them free. She hoped someone would come along and render assistance. The rescue party arrived too late. They found Mrs. Whitehead frozen to death in a snowbank, clutching her son in her arms. The little boy's hands and feet were severely frostbitten, but he survived.
Blizzard
A blizzard is a severe snowstorm characterized by strong winds. By definition, the difference between blizzard and a snowstorm is the strength of the wind. To be a blizzard, a snow storm must have winds in excess of with blowing or drifting snow which reduces visibility to 400 meters or ¼ mile or...
in North Dakota
North Dakota
North Dakota is a state located in the Midwestern region of the United States of America, along the Canadian border. The state is bordered by Canada to the north, Minnesota to the east, South Dakota to the south and Montana to the west. North Dakota is the 19th-largest state by area in the U.S....
that also killed 33 other people. She is a lesser known victim of the three-day blizzard
1920 North Dakota blizzard
The 1920 North Dakota blizzard was a severe blizzard that killed 34 people from March 15 – March 18, 1920 in the state of North Dakota. High winds and an eight-inch snowfall stopped rail service in Bismarck, North Dakota and only one telephone line functioned between Fargo, North Dakota. and...
, which also killed Hazel Miner
Hazel Miner
Hazel Dulcie Miner , the daughter of a North Dakota farmer and a student at a one-room school, died saving her 10-year-old brother, Emmet, and 8-year-old sister, Myrdith, during a spring blizzard in Center, Oliver County, North Dakota.After her death, she became a national heroine...
in the western part of the state.
Mrs. Whitehead was driving a horse and buggy
Horse and buggy
A horse and buggy or horse and carriage refers to a light, simple, two-person carriage of the late 18th, 19th and early 20th centuries, drawn usually by one or sometimes by two horses...
between Devils Lake
Devils Lake, North Dakota
As of the 2000 Census, there were 7,222 people, 3,127 households, and 1,773 families residing in the city. The population density was . There were 3,508 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the city was 89.23% White, 0.22% African American, 7.84% Native American, 0.28%...
and Fort Totten
Fort Totten, North Dakota
As of the census of 2000, there were 952 people, 230 households, and 200 families residing in the CDP. The population density was 124.2 people per square mile . There were 255 housing units at an average density of 33.3/sq mi . The racial makeup of the CDP was 0.84% White, 0.11% African...
with her 3-year-old son when the blizzard hit. When her horses became too tired to continue, she stopped the wagon, unhitched the horses and set them free. She hoped someone would come along and render assistance. The rescue party arrived too late. They found Mrs. Whitehead frozen to death in a snowbank, clutching her son in her arms. The little boy's hands and feet were severely frostbitten, but he survived.