The New Orleans bulletin. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1874-1876, 1875-01-26
EXTRAORDINARY FANATICISM.
young lady burns herself to death to obtain Tor
giveness for having committed the nnpard0n.
able SIM

A young lady burns herself to death to obtain for
giveness for having committed ''the nnpardon
able SIM
Crissey Hacker, an intelligent and beautl
full yonng lady, living at Whites Valley, SIX
teen miles west of Honesdale, Pa, deliberately
burned herself to death on the 18th inst ,
while under the influence of extraordinary
religious fanaticism She was the daughter
of William Hacker, wealthy and prominent
farmer. For some five or six years past she
has at times been subject to temporary insan-
ity, during which lapses she imagined that
she had committed sins against "her Imman-
uel, which could be only absolved by the
making of burnt offerings.
| While laboring under this delusion she
would erect affairs in the fields of her father
farm and sacrifice lambs, and also burn cloth
ing and household articles of different kinds.
Her father cher mother being dead. fearful
| that she might, during one OF these intervals,
do herself bodily harm, kept strict watch on
Der movements. On the 18th instant Mr..
Hacker had occasion to go to a neighboring
village, and as his daughter manifested signs
of the recurrence of one of her insane inter-
walls, 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
kitchen reading the Bible.
For some reason he did not return to the
house until MIR. Hacker came back, which was
about o'clock. When the latter entered his
kitchen he was paralyzed 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 crisp. Both legs and the
left arm were entirely consumed, and the alb
domen was reduced to ashes. The hair was
all burned off her head, but her tace was not
burned. Notwithstanding the intense agony
she must have endured her face Was not dis
torted In the least but wore All expression of
calmness and peace, her lips being parted in
smile, as if she died believing that through
that fiery ordeal she was to pass into joyful
eternity.
While the hired man was absent Miss
Hacker had formed out of set of quilting
frames pyre or altar. On this she had
spread some carpet and made herself pillow.
At one side OF the altar she had piled up a |
quantity of combustible wood, and, when |
was in 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 handwriting of the deceased
Dear Edher-My Emmanuel appeared to me
to-day. He reveals to me the fact that have
committed the objectionable Sin; which l
can only obtain forgiveness for by passing
through tne cleansing OF Fire. Will inter-
cede for you, my dear Father. You will find
my purified body in the northeast corner of
the house. I wish to have my ashes buried
in my Immanuel's ground at the northwest
corner OF the house. Good-by. Meet me on
the Eternal Ground. CR1ssEy.
Nlr Hacker went to the corner of the house
indicated In the note as the spot where the
remains were to buried, and found that his
daughter had staked out there space for her
grave. Martin Prentiss summoned a Jury
md held an inquest on the remains. A
verdict in accordance with the above facts
vas rendered. Mem YoyL. D0u RooL.