AN ENRAGED BULL

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 53, Issue 256, 10 August 1933, Page 8

AN ENRAGED BULL

EXCITEMENT IN AUCKLAND. WATERSIDERS AS COWBOYS. to the "Guardian.") AUCKLAND, August 8. An enraged bull, with tail erect and head down, provided the thrills of a rodeo in a number of city streets late this afternoon before he was captured by one of his many pursuers after a chase of nearly three miles. The animal, a half-grown Red Polled-Angus, escaped shortly before 5 o'clock, when about to be put aboard the motorvessel Waka at Northern Wharf, and ran wildly through the busy streets for about an hour and a quarter before being lassooed in Ponsonby. The bull, one of a small mob of cattle being sent to the farm of Mr W Si McLea, at Mangonui, North Auckland, was being transferred from the float in which he had been brought to the wharf to a loose-box, when the rope holding his head slipped off, allowing him his freedom. For a moment he stood undecided, and before the waterside workers, who had been about to put him aboard the vessel, realised the position the bull snorted angrily, jumped from the float, and was olf down the wharf. Scattering in front of the angry beast the few people on the wharf rapidly cleaied a passage for him, and he ran without interruption to the head of the wharf and out of the gates into Quay Street, Perceiving such unusual traffic careering along from one side of the road to the other, motorists made all haste out of the bull's way, some swerving wildly and others stamping on their brakes to pull up short. The bull bellowed and continued his run.

As they realised that pursuit on foot was out of the question, the waterside workers ' who had been dealing with the beast enlisted the services of a lorry driver and armed with odds and ends of rope set. out to follow. The bull was setting a smart pace and appeared entirely oblivious of its surroundings running across the foot of Queen Street and through a crowd of people near the ferry building without interference. A little further on one or two of the more courageous spectators attempted to bar his path, but the beast, enjoying his freedom to the full, turned ferociously toward them. Although the truck overtook the animal quickly, the amateur cowboys, wielding their unaccustomed ropes as lariats, were unable to get near enough to catch the bull, which eventually entered Victoria Park, to the vast surprise of young footballers. He eluded the men from the wharf and dodged -a number of cyclists leaving the park. As hurriedly as he had entered the animal next made a bee-line for the open eate of the gasworks, and careered round the yard among the tar drums. He again escaped capture and dashed through the gate, followed by waterside workers and about 50 small boys. The men again boarded their lorry, but could not rope the bull, which ran up College Hill and through into Franklin Road, where one of the men dropped a noose over his head. After a further struggle the beast was tied firmly and was eventually taken back to the wharf.