Forest City press. (Forest City, Potter County, D.T. [S.D.]) 1883-19??, 1913-05-09

: WAS JOAN BURNED AT
THE STAKE?


There is no character in history
about whose life there is more mys-
terry han that of Joan OF Arc. 1t
would appear that this is equally true
of her death. The origin n much
of the private history of this person.
! are involved in mystery and AVE
furnished abundant subjects of dis
cussion for historians. There is even
some doubt as to her~'real name, but
the French antiquarians seem now TO
be agreed that it was Dare and not
Dare. and that it had no relation
whatever to the village Of Arc, from
which 1t was formerly supposed to be
derived.
In France during her lifetime she
or The Maid; or at most, she was
called Jeanne Ia Pucelle-Jeanne, the
Maid.
But it is not of the mysteries OF her
life thai are to be especially noted
here, but of her death. History tells
us that she was captured by the Eng
fish. having been betrayed to Them,
and that they burned her to the stake.
Prior to her execution, on account of
the sympathy expressed by so many
Engtishmen 1T is said that she was
offered her life OF condition that she
would confess that it was satan and
not God who had inspired her victories.
In the terror of death 1t is affirmed
tfat she made such a shameful con-
iess,on. But this did not save her,
Tor the bishop of Beauvais decreed
that she should be burned ut the stake
and this torturous death was inflicted
on May 81. 1431.
is this story true? Many ancient
records throw a different light on. the
subject. 1t is said that more than
eight years after her execution. or
supposed execution. there appeared in
orleans a woman h claimed to be
Joan of Arc. She was able to present
much evidence to s~ubstantiata this
claim. ~
According to an old chronicle of the
city OF Metz. Jehan and Pierre de Yys.
Joans w brothers, met the Claim
ant and recognized her as their sup
posedlv dead sister. In this same CITY
she was also recognized by thousands
as the missing Joan of Arc. An an
nual memorial service for the repose
of her soul had been held in that city
Tor a number of years, but when abe
came back to them as IL arisen frNn
continued.
The archives of Orleans for July.
1899, sho items in the official treass
ufy accounts to the effect that IA
llvrss had been presented to Joa1
curing that month The city of her
CSS lJ WOllI0 tkANT(l0f
Iore appear. Toasted and IGNORED tor
Years after her death. II the
new Joan was an ilnpostor it would
seem strange that she was able tn
nave deceived the vest throngs who
Nn nv ne. re- as Wei as her own brothers.
me Claimant" in 1886 married Rob
ert des Armoises, a country gentleman.
a letter to the Duke of Orleans writ
ten ny Joan's elder brother is extant.
-. n. wnIcn ne speaks as though his sis,
, ,e1 were stlil living. Court records OF
l4lo Dear out the testimony Of q
parish priest to the effect that in 1As9
ne mes a woman calling herself loan
-, ARG ana who at that time was the
lionored guest of Joan's family.
a French antiquarian by the ma, M
OF CASTOR Save made a profo,,nd s n1 !,
u the case. ransack;ng all possible
and came to the cnnclns
SION that not Joan. hui another wom
IN substituted in. her place. was burned,
tsa oa aHas IN 1881. II soldiery kept
.he populace at too great u dist nre
TOT the deception to be noted. n n
known that the English had no desire
~ pufn Joan. and that the f,Irin,,o
plgolry OF the powerful Bishon az
legged death. "er ate
Here Is the great mystarv, w.
Joan spirited away and anothe,. w,
IN supstltuted In her placer uistor-
MS nave often wondered why tho
VII rt..sM kIns and the French peorie,
VINO owed so very much to her ~
parently made no effort tn rs.n,.. "
girl rescue Inc
Probably the deception mr..
. .ns English explains the neglect Al Al
u.a manuscript on the topic. which -
now preserved in the British mo,Sa,,m !"
hn'a TN the sentence: They burned
this nc;s auu.iaer woman. like her" C~
Deen OF different opinions. - Two
West Loads Country. Th...