Jeanne, the femme Jouve, wife of tenant farmer Pierre Jouve, was in the garden beside their house with three of her six children, when the Beast suddenly appeared and attacked, first her daughter, who was holding her baby brother, then her six-year-old son. Incredibly, Jeanne fought back, punching and pushing at the creature. The Beast growled and clawed at Jeanne’s arms and head, ripping out tufts of hair. It then seized the six-year-old boy in its jaws and carried him away. Jeanne somehow picked herself up and went after them. The Beast was strong, but the weight of the boy slowed its progress. Jeanne caught up, and grabbed the creature’s tail. [Some accounts said she grabbed a foot, some that she “seized La Bête in the place she judged to be the most sensitive” (Pourcher).] The Beast dropped the boy and howled, spinning toward the mother, clawing her once more. Retrieving its prey, the creature made for a hole in a hedge before them, evidently striving for the open country beyond. Jeanne cried for help. Two older sons appeared with the family dog. Jeanne pointed to the departing Beast. The dog gave chase, dashed up to the creature, and threw La Bête to the ground. The six-year-old fell to one side. Enraged, the Beast wheeled and body-slammed the dog, throwing it head over heels. Jeanne’s older son rushed to aid his blood-soaked mother. The younger, brandishing a spear, joined the dog in combat and stabbed the Beast in its haunches. And at last, the Beast had had enough. It streaked away without its prize.
Despite
Jeanne’s efforts, the little boy died of massive wounds three days later. But
the mother’s courage was lauded throughout France. King Louis XV would award
her 300 livres, or pounds, for her
bravery. Trophime Lafont, brother of Étienne, would deliver the reward to the
grieving Jeanne on April 2.
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