Excitement In Several Streets

  Much excitement and alarm was caused in Rushden on Tuesday morning by a bullock which ran amok and did considerable damage in High-street, afterwards careering along several other streets.

  The animal, the property of the Rushden Industrial Co-operative Society, was being driven to the slaughterhouse, and at the corner of Rectory-road and Queen-street it bolted down the hill to High-street. At the bottom it almost collided with a pony and trap, and then in the traffic, which was fairly busy at the time, it seemed to become enraged.

  Curiously enough, it vented its wrath on the property of its owners further along High-street.  When it got to the Co-operative Society’s premises it made as if to go into the confectionery department.  Next it turned actually into the doorway of the outfitting department.

  Unable to get far, the bullock made a right turn and broke the huge curved plate-glass show window, inside which were spring garments.  The bullock stepped in, knocked over the stands, and burst through the front window, completely smashing the plate glass.

  The poor beast was cut about the head and was then unmanageable.  It careered along through High-street, apparently a little calmer, leaving a trail of blood.  It travelled by fits and starts into Park-road, York-road, and Denmark-road, and then into Oswald-road, causing alarm to people all along the route.  A group of men less timid that the rest attempted to corner the beast near the garden of Mr. Walter Knight, Oswald-road, but it dashed through the group, still bleeding profusely, and got away.  Later it found its way to a field near the Co-operative Society’s premises in Oval-road, where it was cornered and slaughtered.

  When the animal entered the Co-operative Stores in High-street much alarm was caused among the assistants, -  mostly females – but no one was hurt.

  At the usual monthly meeting of Rushden Urban Council on Wednesday, all the members being present, Mr. C. Claridge asked whether the Council could prevent people from driving cattle through High-street.  A bullock had been visiting one of the shops and doing damage.  Also, they made considerable dirt wherever they went.  Could they not be diverted along Rectory-road, which would be very much better than them using High-street?

  Mr. T. Swindall, J.P. : We have spoken to Mr. R. Marriott.

  Mr. Claridge : Yes, years ago!

  Mr. Swindall : Mr. Marriott has his cows taken up Station-approach.

  Mr. Claridge : This bullock belongs to the Co-operative Society.

  Mr. Tom Wilmott said he understood that the bullock was being driven along Rectory-road, when it bolted into High-street.

  Mr. Swindall said the Council had no power to prevent people driving cattle through High-street.