The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-10-31

lied under government auspices. His de-

lied under government auspices. His de-
struction cost $1,000 Ivres.
There is but one wolf in the annals Of
France more famous than that of Gevau-
dan." says Mr.. Thompson, land this was
Courtaut, who terrorized the valley OF the
upper Siene in the early part OF the fif-
teenth century. Courtaut lived chiefly In
the wooded environs of Paris, and, assNSted
at times by a band Of his own kind. he
lived and throve by tribute levied on tNe
fiocks and herds that were being driven TO
the city markets.
resisted the onslaught OF the great wolf.
Whereupon he left the frightened. flying
cattle and fell upon their follhardy drivers
Then as he tore their bodies in spirit OF
savage destruction. he made the discovery
that man meat was very good--rrally bet
ter than beef This was the circumstance
that first determined his bent. Thence
forth Courtaut was man eater.
THE history of the times is full OF his ex-
ploits. His cunning. his strength. his cour-
ege and his ferocity We're all set forth and
made the subject OF daily gossip and
Jesse James or Antonio Maceo in our own
day. He seemed TO bear a charmed life.
and was afraid OF nothing short OF an
army Exaggerated tales were told OF Ms
wholesale slaughter of men. women and
children, as though the simple truth were
not bad enough. At least fourteen persons
were devoured in what Is now the heart oc
Paris, and this, We are told, was not In the
depths of winter, but in the last week OF
September, among the vineyards and
Marshes and wherever he went I'm the
surrounding region his progress was
marked with human blood. He was be-
lieyed TO be a loup-garou OF the most
fendish type, and strong men. who had
no fear of death in battle, preferred TO
remain indoors when the terrible Cour-
taut was about
but the browning exploit Of his life was
the siege Of Paris. The city was prac-
tically shut up For q time In the winter
hfca arrf nd hfa l.u.
held possession OF all the approaches. In
the early part OF the winter-fhat u.s. prob
ably the beginning of the siege-we are
succeeded in entering the city by way
OF the river gate: that they killed number
OF dogs and devoured a child In the Place
aux Chats.
.'On Dec. 16 they appeared suddenly IN an
unexpected quarter outside the walls and
killed four women. The Friday following
they were active all about Paris. tearing
seine seventeen persons of whom eleven
died from the wounds.
but In all Of these accounts OF wolf
ravages we told journal dun Bour-
geo.s de Paris, 140S-49D that Courtaut WAS
credited with more destruction than All
the rest OF the wolves put together. But az
length the citizens became thorOughlv
aroused. On eve of ST. Martins. 1882 all
the best and bravest OF their hunters
united In a grand hunt. after the fashion
that Clamorgan describes and pictures. And
COurtaut. surrounded by host OF dogs
and armed men, dled as ne nau lived. IN
hold. unyielding, desperate fight with man.
His downfall was the occasion for public
rejoicing
''The body OF the great wolf. with his
throat cut wide open, was paraded on
fandcart throughout the city. and all the
world went 20 see with its own eyes that
Courtaut the terrible and hor-Ible-Court-
taut, the scourge OF Paris. really al last
was dead. IL was generations before men
ceased 10 speak with hate and fear OF this
dreaded animal. He was a monster. 1end.
a loup-garou: but IL we had been on his
side of the open war with mankind We
should have seen I'm him a tremendous hero.