A bull buffalo is a seriously large beast and very strong; when one escaped in the middle of London, chaos ensued.
“On Tuesday three buffaloes – a grown bull and two calves – one of them about the size of a small donkey, and the other of a sheep, landed at the London docks, were being driven along Holborn to Euston-square terminus, for transit to Birmingham, when, frightened by the strange noise and clamour at the foot of Holborn-hill, the bull darted away, followed by the calves. The animals proceeded at a very rapid rate along Fleet-street and the Strand, to Charing-cross. Here the bull dashed across Trafalgar-square, St. James’ square, along Jermyn-street, up Bond-street, through Grosvenor-square, into Park-lane, and upsetting Captain English and his horse, at that moment coming out of the Park. Having accomplished this, he fell in behind a load of hay being driven up Park-lane. The keepers, who had followed in a chaise-cart, attended by an immense crowd, now came up, and ropes being passed over his horns, he was secured to the tail of the cart. He kicked and plunged furiously, and from his great strength threatened to upset both horse and cart, and broke one of his horns, which bled profusely. He was at length drawn to a neighbouring stable, and depositied there for safety. The bull and calves are very handsome animals, of a greyish slate colour. No serious accident occurred in this long chase, though numbers of persons were excessively frightened.”
The Stamford Mercury, 3rd August, 1849.