The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1827-12-20


street the Sieur Declare, and gave himself
several wounds. Having left the village,
he rushed furiously upon woman Of the
name Of Maury who was gathering pota.
toes in field, and cruelty mangled her.
AT four o'clock in the afternoon, the
wolf found, upon the ban Of Erncourt, at
some distance from the woods of that vii
lage, an infant whom he iacerated in o
shocking manner. The skin of the unfor
tunate victims head is torn off down to the
very neck its nose is broken in twain !;
the face and body arc covered with bites.
Had not shepherd hastencd with dog 10
hs assistance, the infant would have per.
ished on the spot. The dog conrageously
attacked the enemy, but the combat proved
fatal 10 him. M it terminated IN his dos-
truction. The wolf gained the forest, from
which he issued three quarters Of an hour
after on another side, and killed another
dog which made but slight resistance.
"Tbe fcrocious beast entered about eight
o'clock in the evening Of the same day, in.
TO the village Of Grlmecourt a woman
named Vannet was spinning by the light
of the moon before her house, which is al
the end Of the street, and near to some
meadows. The wolf rushodupo her, tore
the skin from her forehead, prostrated her,
and covered her with wounds. The
shrleks OF the poor woman reached the
ears OF her sister in law, who ran 10 her,
struck the animal, and drove him of. AT
a short distance from that place, the wolf
seized little girl Of eight years Of age,
by the head, and dragged her for the space
OF from ten to fifteen metres. Several
persons hastened to the place whence the
cries of the infant proceeded. Barbc Van
net, the courageous girl who had already
attacked the animal, arrived the first, and
armed with all iron shovel rescued from
hun his prey. The wolfhayng rapidly fed,
it was thought that all danger was over
but the shep herd of the village and his
daughter, having both heavy clubs in their
hands and accompanied by avigorons dog,
who had stationed themselves III order to
watch him, had soon to defend their lives
The wolf returning, in the hope doubtless
OF finding again the infant, attacked the
shepherd, but could not injurc him on ac.
count of the deXterity aud skill with which
he used his club. The combat lasted for
four or five minutes, aud it was only when
he saw number Of pers ons arrived on the
spot, that the animal took TO flight. The
shepherds stick was covered with linden.
turcs made by his teeth.
Thursday, Oct. 4, the wolf, after hay.
ing traversed during the night the space Of
five leagues without finding, 1t appears
any now OCCASION To slgnlIlzc his terocity
errivcd at Dlvontoros, about 4 O'clock ~
the morning. Ifhe did not pass the Meusc
b. the brid !es Of ilaun, Saint Miner, Mai
ger or bnnnoncourt, he must nave crossed
IT in swimming. Having entered into sev
eral stables by means of windows which
hal been left open, he bit four horses, three
asses, three sheep, a COW, goat, two little
piT', dog, chickens, &c. in all sixty two
animals. What is still moro dpplorablc.
he mutiatcd, in greater or less degree
seven persons, three men and four woNcn,
both in the places to which the people had
been attracted by the cries OF tho animal
and IN the pursuit after him which was
madc. At length, young man, con
script Of tho last levy, the seur Thomas
lad tho good fortune 70 disable him with
pistol ball. and finally the seur Francis
Morchal killed him in pig styc in which
he had taken refuge.
In each Of the places in which persons
had been bitten by the wolf, the respec
tive Mayors exhibited Il zeal AMI activity
worthy Of the highest praise. They eau
sed Immediately medical gentlemen to at.
tenl to the wounded, who all supported
scarifcation- and cautcrizations, with the
greatest patience and courage. On his
side, from the first information received of
these frigh,ful events, the sub perfect of
Commercy hastcned to make every ar.
raugement suitable To such an emergency,
and TO issue orders for the welfare of the
sufferers and the safety of the public.
at appears that the infant who was so
dreadfully lacerated by the wolf at En-.
court is dead. The two individuals of
Chonvillc, those of Grimccourt, and two of
the Savoniers. are at the last extremity.
Five Of the wounded of the last mentioned
village have been transferred tn Saint Mi.
hier; they have been there carefully at.
tended IN the hospital by the surgeons of
the city and garrison. These gentlemen
afterwards repaired to Savonlers TO pre-.
scribe for the two, whom, on account Of
their miserable condition, it was impossible |
TO convey to them.
"The animal having been carried to
Saint Mihicr, his body was opened. lie |
was of the ordnar. size, with head dis !
proportiona;ely large he was considered !
a being about two or three years of age. /,
Thc duodcnum was found lndamed the /.
stomach contained not more than hand I.
iul of the plant called dogs tooth scarce.
" maccrated several parts o. the intes. |
tines were infected with different diSor. !
ders, &c. 1t is not thought that these
symptoms announce hydrophobia, never.
thclcss, every method is employed to pre-.
vent the occurrence ofthe fearful disease"
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