The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1875-01-22
Extraordinary F,anattcis,..
A YOUND LADY BURNS HERSELF TO DEArH
TO OBTAIN FORGIVENESS FOR HAVING
COMMITTED THE UNPARDOHABLE SIM

A Honesdale pa correspondent of the
N. 7. World, writing under date of Jan. Ia.
says that Crissey Hacker, an intelligent
and beautiful young lady, living at White s
Valley, sixteen miles west of thatpiace, de-
iberately burned herself to death Wedues-
day while under the influence of extraor-
dinary religious fanaticism. She was the
daughter Of William: FL acker, a wealthy and
prominent farmer of that county. For
some five or six years past she has at times
been subject to temporary insanity, during
which lapses she imac ined that she had
committed sins against ''her Immanuel'
which could be only absolved by the max
ing Of burnt offerings. While laboring
under this delusion she would erect affairs
IN the fields of her father and sacrifice
lambs, and also burn clothing and house.
hold articles of different kinds He: faith
er, her mother being dead, fearful that she
might during one of these intervals do her.
sell bodily harm, kept a strict watch of her
movements.
Wednesday Mr.. Hacker had occasion 20
60 to neighboring village, and as his
daughter manifested signs of the recurrence
OF one OF her insane intervals, he charged
his hired man to watch her during his
absence. At noon the man went TO his
dinner, leaving the young lady in the kitch-
en- reading the Bible. For some reason
he did not return to the house until Mr.
Hacker came back, which was about 2 o.
clock. When the latter entered his kitchen
he was paralyzcd with horror at the sight
that confronted him. On the ashes and
Goals OF what had evidently been one of
Miss Hackers affairs lay the body of his
daughter literally burned to a crisp. Both
legs and the left arm we're entiIely con-
sumed, and the abdomen was reduced to
ashes. The hair was all burned off her
/ head, but her face not burned. Not
withstanding the Intense agony she must
have endured her face was not distorted in
the least but wore an expression Of calm,
ness and peace, her lips being parted in n
smile, as if she died believing that through
that fiery ordeal she was to pass into joy
full eternity.
While the hired man was absent Miss
Hacker had formed out of set of quilting
/. frames pyre OF altar. On this she had
spread some carpet and made herself a
pillow. At one side of the altar she had
piled up a quantity of combustible wood,
and, when all was i'll readiness had fired
it, from which the flames soon spread and
enveloped the altar.
In the family Bible, which was found
open at the Book of Job, the following note
was found in the hand WI iting of the de-
ceased
DEAR FATHER: My Emmanuel appeared
to me to-day. He reveals to me the Fact
that | have committed tho objectionable
Sin which / can only obtain forgiveness
for by passing through the cleansing of Fire
l Will intercede for you, my dear Father.
You will find my purified body in the north
east corner of the house. l wish to have my
ashes buried in my Immauuel's ground at
the northwest corner of the house. Good
bye. Meet me on the Eternal Ground.
Mr.. Hacker went to the corner Of the
house Indicated in the note as the spot
where the remains were to be buried, and
found that his daughter had staked out
there a space for Eer grave.
Martin Prentss s immoned jury and
held an in quest on The remains. A verdict
in accordance with the above facts was rem
dercd.