Petit Jean State Park, Arkansas

Lil Dude Troll at Petit Jean State Park in Arkansas

On Petit Jean Mountain

 Many years ago when the French were still exploring the New World, a young man, a relative of the king, asked his permission to explore part of the Louisiana Territory and for a grant to whatever part of the new lands he might find desirable. The King agreed to this request and with his blessings, sent him on his way.

The young man's name was Chavet and he was engaged to a beautiful young lady named Jean. When he told her of his plan, she told him she wanted to be married before he left on his quest. Chavet, knowing of the dangers he would face and not knowing if he would return alive, declined. He told her that if he returned and if he found the country good, they would be married and return to the New World to make their home and have a family.

The young lady, also knowing of the dangers her love would face, was heart-broken at the prospect of never seeing him again. She disguised herself as a young orphan boy and, while Chavet's ship was being outfitted and supplied for the long trip across the ocean, talked the captain of the ship into hiring her as a cabin boy. Her disguise was so good that not even Chavet recognized her. Due to her small stature, the sailors on the ship called her Petit Jean.

Petit Jean Mountain overlooking the Arkansas River

The ship made it safely across the ocean and then up the Mississippi River and into the Arkansas River to the foot of what is now called Petit Jean Mountain. The local Indians were friendly and in the spring, invited the sailors to camp with them on the mountain top.  All of the men, including the cabin boy, accepted the invitation. They lived there peacefully with the Indians the whole summer. The young cabin boy fished the streams and hunted in the woods with Chavet until that fall when the ship's captain and Chavet announced it was time to go back to France. Chavet had found the land he desired and he wanted to get back to France to marry his beloved Jean and bring her back.

After the ship was outfitted and ready for the return trip home, the sailors spent the night on board ready to sail early the next morning. During the night though, the cabin boy they called Petit Jean became very ill. First came a high fever, then convulsions and delirium. Before daylight, Petit Jean kept slipping into and out of a coma and the ship's doctor indicated death was near. The captain decided to postpone their departure.

While she was being administered to, her deception was discovered and the crew found out their cabin boy was actually a girl. In one of her lucid moments, Jean requested to speak to Chavet and confessed her deception to him. She begged his forgiveness and said she knew she would never make it back to France before dying. She asked to be carried back to the mountain top, the place where she had happily spent her last summer by the side of her one true love.

The next morning, the Indians made a sling of soft deer skin and with Chavet by her side, they carried her up to the mountain top and their camp on a point which overlooked the river and valley below. Jean died that same day at sundown.

The grave of Petit Jean

Many years later, a grave mound was discovered at this spot with stones that perfectly covered the grave. Experts all agreed the grave was very old and must be the grave of Petit Jean.  It is said her spirit remains on the mountain bringing a sense of quiet peace to all who visit.