Introduction.
From 1764 to 1767 terrible animal terrorized the province Gevaudan located on the site of the modern Department of Lozère, high in the Margeride mountains, extending to South-Central France. It was like a huge wolf that devoured local citizens. During this terrible period was officially registered 210 attacks, 113 of which were fatal. For this he was called "Zavodinsky beast", but then what was this creature, it is still not known.
Based on the descriptions of the beast of Gevaudan was as big as a large calf or even a young cow. The body was covered in reddish fur, and only a wolf head cast a brownish tint. Jaws has always been in a slightly open position, thereby exposing long white teeth. Small round ears are always pressed to the head. The neck seemed very long and powerful, his chest massive and covered with light wool. His tail was like a Panther, but thicker and stronger, as the beast used it as a weapon, down from the legs of adult men. Opinion at the expense of his paws apart. Some say that he had a cloven hoof. Others believe that the nails were so thick and heavy that just resembled hooves. Once the creature was spotted while crossing rivers. It rose on its hind legs and with extraordinary ease and agility jumped over the obstacle. According to the locals, only the werewolf is able at the right moment to betray his own physical capabilities. Beast always moved silently, almost fully pressing his body to the ground. Only dogs can smell its pungent smell immediately fled in panic, like most other animals. It should also be noted an interesting fact. Measure the distance between the traces of gevaudan revealed that the creature could jump 8.5 metres on flat terrain.
The first attack.
The first attack took place on 1 June 1764, when the beast attacked a woman near the forest. Fortunately, cattle that grazed at the edge, managed to repel the attack and even hurt a couple of times with his big horns. Later, the animal recovered and was again tracked down the woman, trying this time to attack from behind. But here he failed, the bulls immediately jumped on the animal, the winning time to the woman was able to escape.
Twenty-nine days later there was another attack. This time the victim wasn't around animals to protect her, so Jin Bulet was mortally wounded and partially eaten by the beast.
The Intervention Of The King.
The attacks continued throughout the year. The animal chose the most easy victims – women and children and only occasionally attack the men. Dozens of citizens trembled in fear at the mere mention of zhevodanskom beast. Children and women were lost and only sometimes found their partially eaten body. It went so far that the human remains were scattered across the countryside. The citizens are not just trying to hunt down the creature, but in vain. Due to the high number of attacks, people began to suspect that perhaps this animal pair. Indeed, in some reports, it was noted that animals were seen with other similar creatures, while others have suggested that it was young. In other cases it was said that the beast is accompanied by a person who is specially trained to commit bloody crimes. Hearing about the brutal attacks came to the King, who immediately sent professional hunters into the province Gevaudan. Hundreds of wolves were exterminated, but the killing continued. One day, two unnamed hunter is reportedly still tracked down the beast and shot it from a distance of only 10 steps. After being hit, the creature fell to the ground, and then sprang to her paws. Was made the second shot and again the beast lies on the ground. This time he slowly stood up and quickly ran to the nearby forest. The next day a trail of blood from his wounds led the hunters to the village. Everyone was just confident that his injuries were fatal, but to their dismay, instead of finding the body of the animal, they found the bodies of several recently torn victims.
The following month, captain Duhamel collected 57 of the best soldiers to capture the beast. 40 of them were on foot and 17 on the horses. There were lots of people and now, it seemed, they were able to corner an animal. Soldiers even dressed up in dresses to lure him out of the dense forest into the open. But the trap was useless, and the animal was able to escape. Then the enraged king sends his personal hunter Antoine de Baterna and offers a large reward for the head of gevaudan. In the province immediately gathered many hunters and ordinary citizens who wanted to beat the killer and get the money.
Botern was restrained. He toured the area, traced the routes of the animal and thought through all options of retreat. Finally, on 21 September Botern organized a hunting party of 40 local hunters and a dozen dogs. Driven only by intuition, he ordered to surround the gorge in a forest near the village of Pommier. Once the dogs were released, they immediately began to bark furiously. The roar of the beast came out of the bushes, desperately trying to find an escape route. De Botern shot into a Bush and hit the beast in the right shoulder, his example was followed by other hunters whose bullets hit in the eye and skull. The beast was defeated and the whole village heard the sound of horns as a sign of triumph. Suddenly, to General surprise and confusion, the animal got up and lunged at De Poterna. Men fired again and the creature was amazed. This time the beast tried to escape, but then collapsed dead.
The beast died?
After careful examination, the animal, as it turned out, was a huge six-foot wolf that weighed nearly 70 pounds, with a huge head and fangs. In the report, for the king, Boern wrote that never before seen such a large wolf and not surprised that he was a fearsome beast that caused so much damage to the village.
In the province was a real treat. "The animal is dead! The animal is dead!". The awards were handed out and the citizens breathed a sigh of relief. But on 2 December the attack was renewed and became much more and more ruthless. Dozens of citizens were killed or wounded. The quest beings again were resumed. People were confused as to what animal they are dealing with. In release 6 June 1765 periodical "Chronicle of St. James" it was noted that the beast was neither a wolf nor a tiger, a hyena or hybrid, produced between these animals and new species.
During the summer of 1765 the massacre of children was particularly horrible. By this time the history of the indomitable animal has reached every corner of Europe.
The beast of gevaudan died.
19 June 1767, after four years of brutal attacks, a local hunter named Jean Chastel hunted during the day and sat down to rest, to read the Bible and pray. During his prayers the creature came out of his hiding place and glared at Castile. Hunter calmly finished his prayer, and then took out his gun. He believed that the beast was a werewolf, so loaded custom silver bullet, shot, killed him the first time.
Based on the testimony of witnesses, the animal matched the description. His corpse was eviscerated and the stomach cleared of the little girl. The body was sent to the King, who proudly showed gevaudan public.