A Wild Cow’s Pranks

Leicester Mercury Saturday, 18th Jan 1890, p6

A Wild Cow’s Pranks

Between nine and ten o’clock on Wednesday morning a cow in the Cattle Market became wild, and broke loose, upsetting several people who endeavoured to stop it. Despite the efforts of its drivers, the beast, which seemed fairly maddened, made its way to Stoneygate, rushing at everyone who came in sight. Near the Clarendon Park Congregational Church it made for an old man, but fortunately he succeeded in escaping. It then went for the roadman, but he was behind a gate when it arrived. Rushing up Springfield Road, it turned its attention to some bricklayers working at a new house, and they promptly fled. It was finally driven into a field, where it quieted down somewhat, and later in the morning some more beasts were fetched, and it was returned to the market. So far as can be at present ascertained, no actual casualties occurred, though several persons had very narrow escapes.

Mad cows charging through Clarendon Park does not seem to have been a rare occurrence – there were three reported in The Mercury in the previous year!  But this article is particularly interesting because it shows how Clarendon Park was still semi-rural and under construction.  A mad cow these days would drop with exhaustion before finding a field off the London Road.  Regards, Elizabeth.