COW RUNS AMOK.

Auckland Star, Volume XLIX, Issue 163, 10 July 1918, Page 6

COW RUNS AMOK.

EXCITEMENT IN SYDNEY STREETS. MAN AND WOMAN INJURED. A maddened cow descended upon Sydney city on June 19, and for upwards of an hour conducted a lonely, but boieterous, offensive against the pedestrians in Hunter, Pitt, and Market Streets. Shortly after 8 o'clock the beaet charged down Hunter Street, as though having come from the Domain. There was no warning cry to pedestrians, who ■were, fortunately, few in number in Hunter Street. But at the intersection with Pitt Street the animal, a heavilyfleshed beast, espied Mies Ethel McClure, of Premier Street, Campsie, in the act of crossing the road. Lowering its head, the cow suddenly charged the girl, who was too frightened to attempt to get away. Fortunately, the cow's home were short and blunt, but the animal tossed her a dozen feet through the air into the middle of the roadway. Just as it was again charging the prostrate girl, several passers-by succeeded in attracting its attention, and Miss McClure was quickly moved to safety. Abraham Larran, 37 years of age, who "was engaged in painting the tobacconist shop of A. A. Marks, at the corner of King and Pitt Streets, was the second victim. Larran was about eight feet from the ground, working on a ladder. The cow was seized with a violent dislike to ladders, and Larran's perch in particular, so she hurled herself against it. The ladder capsized, and Larran fell.

The cow then entered the Churchill Chambers, in Market Street, and wandered upstairs until she reached the first landing. She turned, however, and was soon on the war-path again in Market Street. A middle-aged man was walking along the footpath near Her Majesty's Theatre, when the cow declared hostilities against him. He dodged behind a telegraph pole. Not to be beaten, she delivered a Hank attack, upending him. When the man fell the cow attempted to give him, but the police rushed her. and the victim, much ruflled. but otherwise unhurt, escaped into the hotel.

Something had to be done, anil the 12 police present, under Sergeant Stanton, headed the cow oft', and "hunted her into a cul-de-sac. There was no escape for the cow, but when the police entered the lane and closed the large iron gait they found themselves in a ticklish corner. There were plenty of doorways handy, however, and the.y availed themselves of these as the cow charged up and down. One of the constables, appropriating a coil of thick rope from a brewery wagon, entered one of the stores abutting the lane and endeavoured to lassoo the animal.

The sergeant requisitioned some lettuce leaves from the cafe, and sprinkled them sbout the lane. The bait worked, and while the cow was nibbling a constable managed to hitch a rope around her hind leg. Then the fun began again. The crowd at the lane entrance cheered. By this time many hundreds .were outside, some on vehicles, watching the lassooing exhibition. The cow put up a game fight. She -was thrown a dozen times. The crowd screamed with mirth as the dozen police kept on the hop. "I s'pose this is wot all the flags 'er flyin' fer?" remarked one dry onlooker. However, numbers told, and shortly after 9 o'clock the cow was tied by neck and hoof to a stout post in lane waiting for the float to take it off to safety.