The story of the Beast of Gévaudan was undoubtedly one of the strangest of our time. During the reign of Louis XV, from 1764 to 1767, a very ferocious "Beast" killed over a hundred people - mostly children. The whole episode began in 1764 in Gévaudan (Lozère) - the first victim - a girl 14 years of age (her face was ripped off) followed by others a few weeks later. As the number of cases increased Captain Duhamel, with 56 sabre carriers (soldiers) began to hunt it. However as these forces headed northwards the beast struck to the east, if they moved towards the east - the beast struck in the North. The king then decided to use armed forces and sent 20,000 hunters out, but to no avail.
It was said to be the Devil in person. Then in 1765 a large wolf was slain and sent to Paris. There was a general sigh of relief, but not for long: three months later there were new victims. The Beast was evidently not dead, and was gaining in notoriety and infamy - some thought it to be immortal. General fear and panic among the populace prevailed until 19th June 1767, a Joan Chastel, nicknamed "the magician", killed the beast with a blessed bullet. (some accounts suggest a silver bullet.) The body was then exhibited to the public for some time before being sent to Paris, it arrived fifty days later in such a decomposed state, that it was buried with great haste. No researcher had an opportunity to examine or identify it, and the true nature of the "Beast" remains a mystery to this day.