School Girl's Terribla Death.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVII, Issue 7929, 19 September 1905, Page 4

School Girl's Terribla Death.

At Pantzig a girl named Anna Hoertvr was bund alive at tin- stake while act ing the part of .loan of Arc. I'ln- .story of the French hero* in>- hail recently forim (I the subject oi a study at a J oca I -girls' school and hat! mail** a deep impression on (he girls. During' thH school holi<lays they di-cidrj to give a tvpresentation among- themselves of tin? principal episodes in Joan's career, ami Anna was to play the part ot tin- h-.Toiinv She was bound to a stake. at the foot of which were placml sum.- coloured shavings tvpretire. il bving arranged that a bonlire should In* made of the slake and shavings after certain lines hail hii-n spoken by the characters ami Anna had been released. At tho crit ieal m omen I, howe\er. a not her girl, who is said to haw nursed a grudge against Anna for inn ing a Initiated from her affections ot'a young blacksmith's apprentice, ran forward and quickly set lire to the mass of shavings. Instantly the flames leaj>««d up towards the girl bound to the stake, who shrieked with terror. The oihvr girls rushi-l towards her and, at the risk of their own lives attempts! to extinguish the flanu-s. I hut only succeeded in getting- burnt themselves. Their shrieks brought a number of peasants on J hi- scene, and these the g'irl with water and 'pleached the (lames. Anna, who was terribly burned, was release! and conveyed lo the hospital, where she died the same night.