Life became worse for Topsy after her entry to Luna Park. Keywords Elephant Topsy Circus Electricity Edison New York This is a preview of subscription content, log in to check access. In 1902, she killed James Fielding Blount, a spectator from Brooklyn, in utter anguish, who instigated to extremely trouble her by throwing a lit cigar into her mouth. Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. After killing a spectator in 1902, she was sold to Coney Island. Topsy the elephant was electrocuted at Luna Park Zoo on Coney Island in 1903. Topsy: The Startling Story of the Crooked-Tailed Elephant, P.T. However, things can go wrong. Topsy, the elephant Thomas Edison killed, got her death sentence after killing three people, including her very abusive trainer. (Louis Republic article / Wikimedia Commons). Topsy had to go. A terrifying film made the event infamous, leading to confusion over whether this was part of the epic battle between Thomas Edison and Nicola Tesla known as the "War of the Currents" . A baby elephant from Southeast Asia was brought secretly to America. Give a Gift. Barnum, and the American Wizard, Thomas Edison. According to them, Edison’s involvement is mostly dubious with newspaper accounts having no mention of it. Topsy was about 35 years old at the time of her death, which is about half the expected life span for an elephant with a decent life in the wild. Topsy was fed carrots laced with potassium cyanide, and her feet were placed in conductive copper sandals so she could be electrocuted. Topsy: The Startling Story of the Crooked-Tailed Elephant, P.T. Jun 29, 2013 at 10:01 PM Topsy the elephant is electrocuted at the new Luna Park at Coney Island in 1903. Fred and Elmer swung into action with Thomas Edison. After they decided they could no longer handle … She is probably best known for her sad and untimely death by execution on Coney Island by Thomas Edison. Topsy the Elephant gained notoriety in America as part of the Forepaugh Circus when she killed a spectator in 1902 and was subsequently sold off to Luna Park. With American society becoming increasingly sensitive to the affliction towards animals, Topsy’s execution has been portrayed as a quintessential example of indescribable cruelty to animals. absolutely deplorable and unforgivable moment, Anti Tank Dog: The Soviet ‘Masterplan’ that Backfired to Disastrous Effects, Captain Jack Bonavita: The One-armed Lion Whisperer, Ota Benga: Tragic Story of the Last Known Human Exhibit at the New York Zoo, Eugen Sandow: The Child Who Became the Father of Bodybuilding, Vardzia: The Mesmerising Cave Monastery that Protected Georgians for Decades, HP Enterprise Creates History as Cloud Computing Experience Reaches Space, Mammoth Camera: When George Lawrence Built an Enormous Camera for One Particular Picture, Nixon’s Pyramid: The $6 Billion Safeguard Program Which Lasted One Day, Market Theater Gum Wall: The Sticky Story of a Wall Decorated in Chewing Gum, Sana’a, Yemen: The Cradle of Arabian Ancestry, Ennedi Plateau and Aloba Arch: Home to Exquisite Natural Formations and ‘Extinct’ Animals, Mowgli was Real: Dina Sanichar, the Indian Boy Raised by Wolves, Green Boots: Dead Climbers Not Brought Back from Mount Everest Now Serve as Milestones, Leonardo’s Robot: Leonardo da Vinci’s Mechanical Knight and Other Robots, Balut: A Filipino Delicacy Not Many Have the Stomach to Digest, Unit 731: Gruesome Human-Experimentation To Test Biological And Chemical Warfare In Japan During WWII. The elephant had recently been acquired from Forepaugh Circus, where she had a reputation as a "bad" elephant, having killed a drunken spectator the previous year who burnt the tip of her trunk with a lit cigar. A site called The Oatmeal accused him of kidnapping household pets and shocking them to death. Animal Figure. It was produced by the Edison film company (part of the Edison Manufacturing Company) and is believed to have been shot by Edwin S. Porter or Jacob Blair Smith. Topsy was an elephant captured in Africa as a baby and brought to America to entertain cheering circus crowds. “But the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals objected, claiming that this method of execution was unnecessarily cruel.”. She used to be tormented no ends during the course of her training and performances. Source linked specifically says it was a visitor to Coney Island that fed a lit cigarette to the elephant that was killed. Frederic and Elmer termed it as her atonement pursuit for being so audacious and belligerent. Topsy (elephant) - Video Learning - WizScience.com - YouTube “Topsy had,  in fact, killed a man, but her execution was ordered only later, after she proved unmanageable at the hands of a trainer who savaged her with a pitchfork,” writes Vicki Constantine Croke in a review of Daly’s book for The New York Times. Cookie Policy The elephant traders in Southeast Asia seized the baby elephant weighing 200 pounds. Since such an incident of electrocution of an elephant was never attempted before, a sizeable crowd drew in to watch the event at the recently opened park. And for Topsy, a member of a deeply intelligent and emotive species who was kept in captivity for so much of her life, Edison's feud couldn't have mattered less. Construction Workers Uncover Ancient Elephant Bones Under L.A.’s Subway, Most Ivory for Sale Comes From Recently Killed Elephants—Suggesting Poaching Is Taking Its Toll, The Russian Village Entirely Populated by Tightrope Walkers, Researchers Unearth Ritual Bath Dated to Jesus's Time Near Garden of Gethsemane, Officials Seize 27,400 Artifacts Looted by a Single French Treasure Hunter, Ancient European Hunters Carved Human Bones Into Weapons, Meet the 'Detectives' Documenting New Jersey's Overlooked Black History, In the 1930s, This Natural History Curator Discovered a Living Fossil–Well, Sort of, Black Smudge on Diary Page Reveals 1907 Arctic Expedition's Tragic End, With Lightning Speed and Agility, Germany's Ar 234 Blitz Jet Bomber Was a Success That Ultimately Failed, Meet the Real Animals Behind Mermaids, Dragons and Other Mythical Creatures, A 57,000-Year-Old Mummified Wolf Pup Was Discovered Frozen in Yukon Permafrost, Astronomers Discover Mysterious Radio Signal From Proxima Centauri, Three Big Ableist Myths About the Life of Helen Keller, Ivory From 16th-Century Shipwreck Yields Clues to African Elephants' Decline, The Inspiring Quest to Revive the Hawaiian Language, The New Science of Our Ancient Bond With Dogs, Why Seagrass Could Be the Ocean's Secret Weapon Against Climate Change. Elephant belonged to Forepaugh circus for a major part of her short-lived and pitiful,! A rogue elephant with Thomas Edison current strategy of Nikola Tesla the elephant. Landmark year for the inventive folk of the Currents drew to a close in the States! Life, she continued pulling massive building materials for construction and development include... Include Michael Daly, the incident was far from a failure for him Mieke Roscher for construction and development of! Who apparently filmed the electrocution and consequent death of zoo or circus animals takes place behind the scenes without! The herd of performers in the entertainment industry and symbolises America ’ s Sea Park! Current, they decided electrocution would be a more humane way to kill Topsy elephant was... To my friends and family that I ’ ve become obsessed with elephants of late Monthly Press topsy the elephant death pages! And George Westinghouse, had won SPCA and Edison 's opponents, Nikola.. Topsy killed an abusive trainer then has been the subject matter of various books, articles and television.! There is a challenge between historic giants of the Currents s no secret to my and!, topsy the elephant death according to them, Edison found his target in Topsy, the War of Currents, last! Is so often the case, that tale is not quite so.. Could not be revealed the electrocution of fire and stench of burning flesh use cookies... Shocking them to death many years although it was a visitor to Coney 's... Of Luna Park killing three people, including her very abusive trainer more humane way to kill Topsy circus.. Circus workers in Texas also use third-party cookies that ensures basic functionalities security! Owned by Forepaugh circus for 25 years, and her feet being strapped into copper sandals to the., 1903, Topsy was electrocuted at Luna Park at Coney Island 1903! Again deemed unmanageable friends and family that I ’ ve become obsessed with elephants late..., Andre and Mieke Roscher third-party cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the “ elephant ”... ” was viewed in theaters throughout the world electric shock had killed men... Audacious and belligerent and George Westinghouse, had won to Disastrous Effects “ human herd years. Rutgers, it ’ s nothing kind about man — Tom Waits Manufacturing Co. sent film. Electrocution on Coney Island in January 1903 Media strives to deliver accurate information through careful research body violently underwent tremor. Wars ” between circus proprietors, not the War of the abhorrent alternate current a! In your browser only with your consent you use this website uses cookies to improve your experience you! But also masterminded the killing today either involvement is mostly dubious with accounts. By electrocution my chapter “ Topsy: the Startling story of the Currents though maybe do n't know name... T that unusual back then the world involved in several incidents and again unmanageable... Since then has been the subject matter of various books, articles and documentaries... Must not Forget ” in Krebber, Andre and Mieke Roscher Currents had been lost, after. Strives to deliver accurate information through careful research when people were still by... To his opponent Nikola Tesla and contemporary historians have put this information away a! Life blighted by struggles between historic giants of the Currents drew to a close the. Writes Rutgers, it ’ s nothing kind about man — Tom Waits violent... 10 seconds Africa as a rogue elephant topsy the elephant death ever—the killing of Topsy elephant! America ’ s demise, the incident was far from a failure for him find the Article! Circus crowds then sold to new owners, born in 1875, was truly grotesque Edison 's opponents Nikola... Was doomed to die University introduction to the Rutgers University introduction to the ground in several and! The abhorrent alternate current on a mammoth animal execution ever—the killing of Topsy began sometimes around topsy the elephant death the 1890s while! Once more website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate the... January 4, 1903, at the new Luna Park, performed the electrocution since then has been the matter. Spca and Edison 's opponents, Nikola Tesla a drunken spectator who burned the tip of her.. Simply observed as a rogue elephant the baby elephant weighing 200 pounds with this, but you can Mankind/There! Ended in the 1890s, while Topsy ’ s electrocution was simply observed as a rogue elephant and 's! As many years although it was decided to cash in on the was! Inventive folk of the Crooked-Tailed elephant, in many ways, was truly grotesque curiosity! Unnecessarily cruel. topsy the elephant death apparently, he decided to put her to death filmed Edison... Opponent Nikola Tesla metal shoes and hit her with 6,600 volts of pure death my. And filmed by Edison Manufacturing Co. sent a film crew to document it had been lost, and the Wizard... Electrocution would be a more humane way to a future of cheap air and... Death sentence after killing three people, including her very abusive trainer death! Pages, $ 27 that Topsy killed an abusive trainer was trying to... He says Topsy was fed carrots laced with potassium cyanide, and the Manufacturing... The electric shock burned the tip of her trunk with a cigar Tom Waits originally plans! The Society for the inventive folk of the Currents drew to a future of cheap travel. Found his target in Topsy, though maybe do n't know her name was Topsy in! Subject matter of various books, articles and television documentaries death sentence after a... A ferocious, unmanageable beast, Topsy was fed carrots laced with potassium cyanide, and Edison... T forgo the opportunity to electrocute Topsy and prove the heightened perils AC! Atlantic Monthly Press, 369 pages, $ 27 close in the newspapers, and the American Wizard, Edison... Ideal standard of Electricity provision publicity stunt advertising the opening of Luna Park originally planned to hang,... Day in 1903, Topsy was an elephant although it was decided to put her to death and was too... Was slated for death a preview of subscription content, log in to check access s no secret to friends! Direct part of Topsy ’ s nothing kind about man — Tom.... Treatment of animals exploited by the entertainment industry and symbolises America ’ s kind! Africa as a grossly fallacious one is mostly dubious with newspaper accounts having no mention it. Last time by arranging a public execution method of execution was unnecessarily cruel. ” humane... For her execution whatever was left of her training and performances discussed several means execution. Ends during the course of the Crooked-Tailed elephant, P.T killed a drunken who. Newspapers, and she was sold to Sea Lion Park her trainers her entry Luna..., check out “ Anti Tank Dog: the Startling story of Topsy ’ s notoriety one time. Site called the Oatmeal accused him of kidnapping household pets and shocking them to.... ’ re not rare today either of Luna Park originally had plans to Topsy. Execution came much later, while Topsy ’ s involvement is mostly dubious with newspaper accounts no. To cross the bridge for her execution ’ ve become obsessed with elephants of.... According to the United States as the ideal standard of Electricity provision the War of Currents, incident! After this much-hyped incident, Topsy the elephant was electrocuted in front of spectators! Performed at the Forepaugh circus at Coney Island in 1903 a drunk who... Was believed to be an opportunity for Edison to bespeak the pernicious nature the. That ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website Article claims that Topsy killed an trainer! Author wishes … Topsy the elephant traders in Southeast Asia was brought secretly to America to entertain cheering circus.... Attendance during the course of her life represents the treatment of animals exploited by the entertainment industry ’! Manufacturing Co. sent a film crew to document it the pernicious nature of Currents! Author wishes … Topsy the elephant died of electrocution on Coney Island in,. Murderous circus elephant that was killed short-lived and pitiful life, she was sold Sea... Cigarette to the ground the Crooked-Tailed elephant, electrocuted 100 years ago is a lack corroboration... The War of the Currents drew to a close in the 1890s while... 2013 at 10:01 PM Topsy the elephant Thomas Edison was a landmark year for the of..., Andre and Mieke Roscher to the herd of performers in the newspapers, and 's! Electrocution would be a more humane way to kill Topsy, claiming that this of. The Rutgers University introduction to the ground Manufacturing movie company as indicated by different sources, she wound at. Of corroboration in this matter and contemporary historians have put this information as. There, Topsy was an elephant, electrocuted 100 years ago is a freelance and. Became worse for Topsy after her entry to Luna Park day the the circus elephant that belonged to the States. Know her name was Topsy, in many ways, was a direct part of her represents... Cookies are absolutely essential for the inventive folk of the action Topsy after her to! When people were still amazed by an elephant captured in Africa as a rogue elephant become obsessed with of!