The big black bull battered his way through the wooden fence and escaped into the bush. It was 1840, on the pastoral run of Sylvester John Brown at Bulleen. Brown, the owner of Hartlands, an estate at Heidelberg, grazed cattle across the river on his run at Bulleen.
Many attempts were made to recapture the bull, but it always eluded the stockmen and charged back into thick timber. The bull did not stay there but often broke his way into a compound when a cow was on heat.
Two years later Thomas, the sixteen year old son of Sylvester Brown, rode into John Kerr's cattle station in the middle of a cattle muster. Kerr asked Tom what he wanted. "I've come for our black J. B. bull" he said. "He has been running with your cattle for these two years and I thought he would most likely come in at the muster." "He is here sure enough, and in ?ne order", said Kerr "But how are you going to take him home. He always clears the yard when we begin draft, and no stockmen here can drive him single-handed." The men gathered around with great interest. They knew the bull all too well. "I'll take him home fast enough." Tom said with colonial confidence. "If he'll stay in the yard long enough for me to shoot him". " Oh, that's the idea. Go to work then. Only don't miss him or drop any of my cattle." An old family servant, who had accompanied him, handed Tom a musket already loaded with ball. He walked cautiously through the wild staring cattle to the middle of the yard, where stood the big black bull. The men watched in silent interest. The bull began to paw the ground. Tom who had done this before, made a low bovine murmur, the bull reared its head. He fired. One shot felled the animal.
1990 09 DTHS Newsletter
Two years later Thomas, the sixteen year old son of Sylvester Brown, rode into John Kerr's cattle station in the middle of a cattle muster. Kerr asked Tom what he wanted. "I've come for our black J. B. bull" he said. "He has been running with your cattle for these two years and I thought he would most likely come in at the muster." "He is here sure enough, and in ?ne order", said Kerr "But how are you going to take him home. He always clears the yard when we begin draft, and no stockmen here can drive him single-handed." The men gathered around with great interest. They knew the bull all too well. "I'll take him home fast enough." Tom said with colonial confidence. "If he'll stay in the yard long enough for me to shoot him". " Oh, that's the idea. Go to work then. Only don't miss him or drop any of my cattle." An old family servant, who had accompanied him, handed Tom a musket already loaded with ball. He walked cautiously through the wild staring cattle to the middle of the yard, where stood the big black bull. The men watched in silent interest. The bull began to paw the ground. Tom who had done this before, made a low bovine murmur, the bull reared its head. He fired. One shot felled the animal.
1990 09 DTHS Newsletter
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