CATTLE STAMPEDE ON STEAMER.

Press, Volume LVII, Issue 17121, 16 April 1921, Page 3

CATTLE STAMPEDE ON STEAMER.

VESSEL RETUKNS TO SYDNEY. (from our own correspondent.) SYDNEY, April 5. A stampede amongst prize cattle and horses shipped on the steamer Buninyong, which left for Roc'khampton on Friday evening, necessitated the return of the vessel to port a couple of hours later. The cattle were housed on deck between the bridge and the forecastle. Canvas stalk had been arranged, and the animals appeared to have settled down for the night before the steamer left the quiet watgr of the harbour. A heavy sea was met at the Heads, but the animals were quiet while the steamer was making the passage. She had turned north, and gone a couple of miles, when she was struck by a mountainous sea, and with a. shudder the vessel was thrown practically on her 'beam ends. The shock did not seriously- affect tho steamer, but the animals —about twenty cows And horses, being returned from the Sydney Royal Show —were thrown violently to the deck. The canvas, stalls were ripped away, and the fear-maddened animals at once stampeded. The captain called out ail hands to attempt to right matters. The animals were either rushing blindly up and down, or lying on the deck, kicking and screaming, and the' work of quietening them was most difficult. _No sooner would the majority be got iinder control than a few would again Btampede, and the whole lot would be once more out of ihand. Realising that it was impossible to proceed, ,in tho circumstances, owing to the danger of losing 6ome of the stock overboard, tho captain decided to roturn to port and unship the lot. The stampede was not finally quelled evenWhen tho vessel tied up again at tho wttiarf. Some of the animals were rushing madly about, and they gave a lot of! trouble during disembarkation proceedings. The vessel then resumed' her voyage. Tho animals were considerably knocked aboijt but not seriously,.' injuredi ••