EXCITING SCENE

Gisborne Times, Volume LXVI, Issue 10473, 31 December 1927, Page 4 (Supplement)

EXCITING SCENE

BULLOCK RUNS AMOK IN MAIN STREET IN ’B6.

MOTHERS AND- CHILDREN TOSSED.

INFURIATED BEAST JHSEAIBGIVERS HORSE.

One of the most exciting street scenes ever witnessed in Gisborne occurred on the evening of Monday, December Db 1886. The “Standard” grapliicu ly described the occurrence as under—- “ Some five cattle had been yarded for shipment by the Kahn when one of them forced itself between the rails and charged anything and everybody with which it came in contact. A number of persons, armed w : th whips, sticks and stones were soon in clmse. The infuriated animal then charged a little child of Air. D. Johnston who had a narrow escape.

"After some time the beast was driven towards the AYaiknnae, but refused to lie forced across, and. turning at bay, charged a soil of Air. Kennedy, taking him off his horse and badly, goring his hand. It next made its way up Reel Street, into Gladstone Road, where it charged and tossed a child standing outside Mr. CTaig’s baker’s: shop. Airs. Craig

at once rail to the little one’s rescue, when the beast rushed her and lifted her high in the air. “The beast now directed its attention to a little child of Airs Armour’s, which stood by, and tossed it. Airs. Armour, with true motherly instinct, and regardless of all danger, rushed to save her child when the infuriated beast immediately attacked her, taking her on its horns and, twirling her once or twice, tossed her up. She fell on the footpath when the bull again picked her up ami threw her' against' the rails. Fortunately, at this moment, a limn on horseback rode up and diverted the animal’s attention from Mrs. Armour, affording her time to escape inside the gate of the fence. “The bullock, now balked of its prey, went for the horse and rider (Air. Murpliy) striking the former in the flank and opening the poor horse so that its bowels gushed loitli. It then again struck the noise (which seemed paralysed) on the shoulder, inflicting another terrible wound front which the blood guslied forth. ■‘Set oral other horsemen then having arrived on the scene, the beast seemed undecided which to attack, and stood at bay in the middle of the road, lunging at all whom it thought within range of its horns. After a short time it made for the fircbell section and went down to the Wesleyan Church fence. “Cries of ‘Shoot it! Shoot it!' were how raised and Air. Simeon having procured a rifle two shots were fired at the maddened animal without any other effect than to cause it to stamp and lunge at the air. The next shot took it somewhere in the flank and made it swing round and lunge at its imaginary foe. The. fourth shot seemed to stagger the beast slightly, as this struck it somewhere on the head, but it needed little time to recover and went for n dog wliic-li had tackled it. A fifth shot had the same effect as the third. “Air Alurrel! now essayed a trial and. simultaneously with the report, the huge beast licked the dust and all danger was past.

“Ms Cra'-g and Airs Armour showed the greatest courage and truewomanly instinct. The greatest- sympathy is felt for Airs Craig, who is in a very del'cate styite of health, and the• gravest fears are felt- as to the results. Airs. 'Armour Sind the children cs'-aped with severe shocks and marsr bruises.”