The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1876-05-13 00:00:00

A MORTAL COMBAT.

About three years ago, a leopard toJk it into his
head to try the beefsteaks of a very savage and sharp-
horned cow, who, with her calf, was the property
of a blacksmith. It was a dark, rainy night, the
blacksmith and his wife were in bed, and the cow and
her calf were nestled in the warm straw of the cattle
shed. The door was locked, and all was 'apparently
secure when the hungry leopard prowled stealthily
round the cow-house, sniffing the prey within. The
strong smell of the leopard at once, alarmed the keen
senses of the cow, made doubly acute by her anxiety
for her ltttle charge, and she stood ready ter the danger,
as the leopard, having mounted on the roof,
commenced scratching his way through the thatch.
Down he sprang, but with a splendid charge the
cow pinned him against the wall, and a battle ensued,
which can easily be imagined. A coolie slept in the
cornez of the shed, whose wandering senses were corn.
pletely scattered when he found himself, the unwilling
umpire of the fight. He rushed out and shut the door
In a few minutes he succeeded in awakening the black
smith, who struck a light, and proceeded to load a
pistol, the only weapon he possessed. During the
whole of this time the bellowing of the cow, the roars of
the leopard, and the thumping, shuffling, and tramp.
ing which proceeded from the cattle shed explained the
savage nature of the fight. The blacksmith, who was
no sportsman shortly found himself with alantern iii
one hand and a pistol in the other, and no idea what
he meant to do. He waited, therefore, at the cattle
shed door, and, holding the light so as to shine
throuJa the numerous small apertures in the shed, he
looked in. The leopard was no longer growling, but
the cow was mad with fury. She alternately threw a
large dark mass above her head, then quickly pinned
it-to the ground -on its descent, then bored it against
the wall as it crawled helplessly towards a corner of
the shed. This was the beef eater in reduced circum.
stances! This gallant cow had nearly killed him, and
was giving him the finishing strokes. The black,mith
perceived the leopard's helpless state and boldly
opened the door, he discharged the pistol, and the next
moment was bolting as hard as he could with the cove.
after him! She was regularly "up," and was ready
for anything or anybo3y. However, she was at lengt
pacified, and the eying leopard put out of his misery
—"Eight Years in Ceylon," by Si y• S. Baker.

THE BOARD OF TRADE RETURNS.
. Tkei BOiid Wrrad L. reining lor ihe m0th..0f...A pri
have been issued, and show that the total value of the
expirts was £15,430,177, against £20,221,83.) for th(
corresponding month of 1875, being a decrease 01
£4;791,653, or 23 per cent. The total imports wen
valued at £35.050,490, against £30,327,214 for the same
month in 1875, showing an increase-of 15? - per cent. It
the exports, cotton yarn has decreased 14/ per cent,
in quantity and 16/ per cent, in value; cotton piece
goods decreased I.Bi per cent, in quantity auC
20 per cent. in value; linen yarn decreased 4E
per e.la,!': in qtiantity'Jand 42 per cent. 'in value
linen piece goods decreased 29 per cent. in quart
tity , and 37 per cent. .in _ \value ; wooller
yarn' ihcreasel 1. per cent: iff quantity, but
:decreased 10 per cent, in value ; woollen cloth
decreased 19 per cent, in quantity and 20/ per cent, it
value ; worsted stuffs decreased 25/ per cent, in quan.
tity and 36 per cent, in value ; iron and steel decrease
21i per cent, in quantity and 31 per cent. in value
and coal fuel, &c., manufactured increased 20.3, per cent
in quantity, but decreased 4 per cent, in value. In the
imports, corn wasValied at 21,813,213 against £1,892,7£0
for the corresponding month of last year, being a de,
crease of 4 per cent. Raw cotton increased 71i pei
cent, in quantity and 58 per ceat. in value; fla
showed no change in the quantity, but increased 21 pe
sent, in the value ; raw silk increased 17 per cent. i
quantity and 141 per cent, in value ; and wool increase
9 per cent, in quantity and 21i per cent, in value
The total value if tea decreased 161 per cent., and ila
amount entered for home consumption 13 per cent
Coffee increased 12 per cent, in the total value.
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