URAPEDA Bourgogne - Franche-Comt 16 Rue Jean Renoir 21000 DIJON Tl : 03.80.30.66.21 Mail : [email protected] An illustration of Topsy, a female Asian elephant killed at a Coney Island, New York park by electrocution on January 4, 1903. ullstein bild/ Getty Images The shortest possible answer is that he didn't, at least not directly. PDF Electrocuting an Elephant at Coney Island: Attraction, Story, and the The execution of Topsy, a female elephant, in a publicity stunt advertising the opening of Luna Park on Coney Island. This page is not available in other languages. Or, Topsy could have attacked out of fear or anger at this drunken stranger getting so close. Topsy was originally owned by Forepaugh Circus where she killed a drunken spectator who burned the tip of her trunk with a cigar. (I guess you could say he got two bangs for the buck major sarcasm). He was an idiot who had no concern and sympathy for animals and I dont care if people like him and hate on me for saying it. Electrocuting an Elephant - Wikipedia On January 4, 1903, a crowd of about 1,500 spectators and 100 photographers gathered in the Luna Park construction zone to witness the hours-long spectacle. Sergeant Levis begged Whitey to drive the animal back, but it took him a while to obey the order (Levis should have used a pitchfork on him!). The 12-story pachyderm designed by James V. Lafferty stood above Surf Avenue and West 12th Street from 1885 until 1896, when it was destroyed in a spectacular fire. The owners agreed to switch to a more sure method of execution: a mix of poison, strangulation, and electrocution. On a frigid January day, Topsy was fed carrots laced with potassium cyanide, a rope was placed around her neck, and her feet were fitted with electrodes. He was the only one who could handle her but apparently he could only handle her if he tortured her. Barbara Stepko is a New Jersey-based freelance editor and writer who has contributed to AARP magazine and the Wall Street Journal. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); True and Unusual Animal Tales of Old New York, 2010 The Hatching Cat of Gotham. He also tried to popularize the term for being electrocuted as being ''Westinghoused''.- excerpt from wikipedia\"[Tesla's] ideas are splendid, but they are utterly impractical.\" - Thomas EdisonNikola Tesla, who was a former employee of Edison's and now worked for George Westinghouse, was the man responsible for Alternating Current. Edison began questioning the safety of the Tesla-created system at one point, issuing a dire warning: Just as certain as death, Westinghouse will kill a customer within six months after he puts in a system of any size.. The backup plan was to feed her cyanide-laced carrots and strangle her with large ropes hung from the tower and tied to a steam powered winch. 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. The timestamp is only as accurate as the clock in the camera, and it may be completely wrong. Add a one-line explanation of what this file represents, This image might not be in the public domain outside of the United States; this especially applies in the countries and areas that do not apply the, Topsy elephant electrocution Luna Park, Coney Island January 1903.png. And where do His mercy, kindness, and love for that fish come in? The execution of Topsy, a female elephant, in a publicity stunt advertising the opening of Luna Park on Coney Island. During the 25 years she was there, Topsy gained a reputation as being dangerous. This angered him, and he began prodding her trunk in a savage manner as a crowd watched and cheered (Yes, if there were smart phones in those days, a video of this violent act would have gone viral). Electrocuting an Elephant at Coney Island: Attraction, Story, and the Curious Spectator ABSTRACT: At the heart of Tom Gunning's concept of the cinema of attractions is the complex and contested relationship between attraction and narrative and their presum-ably different modes of spectatorial involvement. They tried to raffle her off and give her away for free, but no zoo would take her. Some believe that Topsys electrocution may have been set in motion because of an intense rivalry between inventors Thomas Edison and Nikola Tesla. In this post, Im going to []. The switch was hit and 6,000 volts were sent coursing through her massive body. I agree! Harold P. Brown, who was at this time being secretly paid by Edison, constructed the first electric chair for the state of New York in order to promote the idea that Alternating Current was deadlier than Direct Current (DC).Edison carried out a campaign to discourage the use of alternating current, including spreading information on fatal AC accidents, publicly killing animals, and lobbying against the use of AC in state legislatures. When you look at these photos, its amazing more people werent injured. Edison agreed to electrocute Topsy, and as an added bonus, he said he would document the event using a movie camera, another one of his inventions. No; nature made usnature did it allnot the gods of the religions.\" - Thomas Edison (New York Times interview October 2, 1910)Recommended reading:Gilded City / Scandal and Sensation in Turn-of-the-Century New York - M.H. She was sold to Sea Lion Park in Read allThe execution of Topsy, a female elephant, in a publicity stunt advertising the opening of Luna Park on Coney Island. Acting on these directives, they were to demonstrate to the press that alternating current was more dangerous than Edison's system of direct current. This may have been the first death ever captured on film. This page was last edited on 25 September 2022, at 19:33. She put her forehead against the building, and, with the help of only a few poor horses, pushed it nearly a mile down Surf Avenue to its new location. Its manager often exaggerated the view, telling visitors they would be able see places like Yellowstone Park, Niagara Falls, and Paris from the elephants back. A baby elephant, brought to New Yorks Coney Island amusement park in 1902, under the guise of wholesome family-friendly entertainment, would become a tragic and shameful symbol of mans unfathomable cruelty towards animals. She picked him up with her trunk and dashed him to the ground, killing him instantly. Topsy developed a bad temper two years ago and killed two keepers in Texas. Last spring, when the Forepaugh show was in Brooklyn, J. F. Blount, a keeper, tried to feed a lighted cigarette to her. All Rights Reserved. Thomas Edison was not as brilliant and as smart as others said. After two hours, they finally got her in place, but then she wouldnt stay still on the metal plates. took off running into the streets. The Edison Manufacturing movie company was there to film the event. In one gut-wrenching demonstration, done in full view of reporters, Edison poured water on a sheet of tin, attached it to an AC power source, then invited a dog to lap up the liquid. Greyzed Theme created by, 1915: Pussy Suff, the Cheerleading Cat of the Brooklyn Woman Suffrage Association, 1899: The Birthday Festival for Ko-Ko, the Revered Cat of Mrs. Edwin Knowles, 1899: The Lifesaving Pets of Brooklyn That Saved Three Families on St. Marks Place, 1905-1910: Dr. Ralph Irving Lloyd and the Cats of Park Slope, Brooklyn, 1899: The Anti-Cat Club and the Catastrophic Cat Fight at the Windermere Apartments, 1903: Topsy, the Elephant Electrocuted by Thomas Edison at Coney Islands Luna Park, 1912: The French Chickens Who Went Down With the Titanic, 1899: Tom the Terror, the Brooklyn-Born Ship Cat of the United States Navy, 1901: Richard II and Richard III, the Swimming and Vegetarian Cats of the U.S. The handler, William Alt, got drunk in December 1902, rode Topsy down the streets of Coney Island, and attempted to steer Topsy into the local . In the end his was the superior technology.The Commercial Advertiser, Monday, January 5, 1903BAD ELEPHANT KILLED.TOPSY MEETS QUICK AND PAINLESS DEATH AT CONEY ISLAND''Topsy, the ill-tempered Coney Island elephant, was put to death in Luna Park, Coney Island, yesterday afternoon. One of her biggest jobs was moving the massive Trip the Moon structure from George Tilyous Steeplechase Park to Luna Park. The case Fu Quan S. R. O. v. the Czech Republic concerned the seizure of property amounting to nearly 2.4 million euros belonging to the applicant company in the course of a tax evasion investigation and trial. Edison's series of animal executions peaked with the filmed electrocution of Topsy, a Coney Island circus elephant. She was sold to Sea Lion Park in 1902 which was then sold to new owners who turned it into Luna Park. 1875- Jan. 4, 1903) was brought to this country twenty-eight years ago by the Forepaugh Circus, and has been exhibited throughout the United States. Topsy (c. 1875 - January 4, 1903) was a female Asian elephant who was electrocuted at Coney Island, New York, in January 1903.Born in Southeast Asia around 1875, Topsy was secretly brought into the United States soon thereafter and added to the herd of performing elephants at the Forepaugh Circus, who fraudulently advertised her as the first elephant born in the United States. English: A photograph from a January 11, 1903 St. Louis Republic article about the the January 4, 1903 electrocution of Topsy the elephant in an event to raise publicity about the opening of the new Coney Island amusement park "Luna Park" (at this point still under construction). In the late 1880s, electricity was still in its infancy, with gas lamps being the predominant source of light. Whitey acquiesced temporarily. Then the steam-powered winch tightened two nooses placed around her neck for 10 minutes as an added precaution. Like Topsy, these animals are abused with sharp metal bull hooks and are kept on chains for most of their lives. After about a half mile, Tospy stopped, causing Whitey to slide off. At least this elephant was not a living, breathing creature when it fried. She attacked several handlers and reportedly killed two circus workers in Texas (no records exist to prove this accusation). This film is complete and utter exploitation, made to cash in on the sensational aspects of the film and the subject. Dunlop01/01/12 - 19,112 For some asinine reason, Haines said no to the admission fee, but he was fine with a public execution. Topsy the elephant was electrocuted at Luna Park Zoo on Coney Island in 1903. Edison, realizing that AC generators were spreading across the country faster than his DC alternative, knew he had to resort to desperate measures: In short, launching a full-out propaganda campaign to discredit his rivals. While there, Topsy was involved in several incidents and again deemed unmanageable. In order to make Topsy's execution quick and sure 460 grams of cyanide of potassium were fed to her in carrots. This makes me sick! Frederic and Elmer called it her penance for being so aggressive. She shook the copper-lined wooden sandals off her feet and refused to eat the cyanide-laced carrots. One time the ASPCA prosecuted Whitey for wounding Topsys eye, but unfortunately he was acquitted of animal cruelty because the abuse was deemed acceptable at that time. She was sold to Sea Lion Park in 1902 which was then sold to new owners who turned it into Luna Park. Edison directed his technicians, primarily Arthur Kennelly and Harold P. Brown, to preside over several AC-driven executions of animals, primarily stray cats and dogs but also unwanted cattle and horses. With no other options left, the men decided to euthanize Topsy. William Ault, better known as Whitey, was Topsys keeper and slave driver for over a decade. Finally, Fred Thompson showed up, paid the bail, and ordered Ault to return Topsy to Luna Park. Warning: This true elephant story brought tears to my eyes, and was very difficult to write. In his attempt to discourage the use of AC, Edison had been staging public demonstrations of its danger by electrocuting stray and unwanted animals, including cats, dogs, horses, and cows. Who does this to animals? Historical interest aside, this is something to watch only if one finds themselves in the grip of morbid fascination. The scene opens with keeper leading Topsy to the place of execution. Enter your email address to follow this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email. He seems to have entered the elephant's enclosure early in the morning. While there, Topsy was involved in several incidents and again deemed unmanageable. My low rating for it comes for two main reasons. It should happen sooner. ELECTROCUTING AN ELEPHANT Topsy, the famous "Baby" elephant, was electrocuted at Coney Island on January 4, 1903. The execution of Topsy, a female elephant, in a publicity stunt advertising the opening of Luna Park on Coney Island. In the 1890s, the giant elephant served as a brothel (male patrons would say they were seeing the elephant). Innovation Science Questions Why did Thomas Edison electrocute an elephant? One time, I went inside a store and saw a reindeer stuck in a 55 room sitting on the floor squished. Next, they discussed charging a 25-cent admission to publicly electrocute the elephant. However, I believe its an important story to tell in order to show how far weve come in America when it comes to treating both animals and humans, how far we still need to go, and how important it is for us to ensure that other countries catch up and keep pace with us. Life before Luna Park was horrible for Topsy, but it was about to get much worse. 1903: Topsy, the Elephant Electrocuted by Thomas Edison at Coney Island Like many circus animals at the time, Topsy was subject to harsh treatment and torture during her training and performances. The execution of Topsy, a female elephant, in a publicity stunt advertising the opening of Luna Park on Coney Island. There, he may have fed Topsy a lit cigarette. You can watch Edisons video here, but it is disturbing. Presentation of the region - Grand Est - EN 1896: The Alligator That Fought a Newfoundland on Coney Island | The Hatching Cat, 1899: King and Queen, the Diving Quadrupeds of Coney Island, Brooklyn | The Hatching Cat. According to published reports, James Fielding Blount allegedly offered her whiskey, threw sand in her face, and then put a burning cigarette into her trunk. Jan. 4, 1903: Edison Fries an Elephant to Prove His Point It would also, oddly enough, spawn a legend involving Thomas Edison and Nikola Tesla. These electrodes were connected by copper wire with the Edison electric light plant and a current of 6,600 volts was sent through her body. Adam Forepaugh of the Forepaugh & Sells Circus smuggled the elephant into America and falsely billed her as the first American born elephant.. Barge Office at NYC's Battery Park, 1910: Captain Kitty: John Moisant and Paris-London, His Co-Pilot Cat, 1888: Plinlimmon Emmet, the English St. Bernard that Stole the Show in New York, 1922: Waterboy, Danny Beg, and the Last Fire Horses of the New York Fire Department, 1904: Alice, the Elephant That Escaped and Swam to Staten Island, 1879: The Peter Goelet Mansion and the Last Cow to Graze on Broadway. This file contains additional information such as Exif metadata which may have been added by the digital camera, scanner, or software program used to create or digitize it. Each side touted their method as being more efficient (and more importantly, safer) than the others. 1899 poster for the combined Forepaugh & Sells Brothers Circus. Topsy was originally owned by Forepaugh Circus where she killed a drunken spectator who burned the tip of her trunk with a cigar. Conlin in turn threatened to shoot the trainer if he let Topsy charge the crowd. When the smoke cleared, all that remained standing was a part of the elephants foreleg. Files are available under licenses specified on their description page. The story goes that Edison set his sights on an even more impressive target: Topsy, the murderous circus elephant who was about to be put to death. The man met his end when Topsy wrapped her trunk around him, tossed him into the air, and then smashed and trampled him on the ground. From Strasbourg in the East to Nogent-sur-Seine in the West, the Rgion Grand Est covers 57,441 km. This vicious little film is horrendous. They made their way to the police station on West 8th Street, where Topsy mounted the broad granite steps and got wedged in the front door. 5,559,051 inhabitants or 8.4% of the French . Topsy the Elephant was executed by electrocution in 1903. Electrocuting an Elephant (Short 1903) - IMDb The electrocution was supervised by P. D. Sharkey, chief electrician with the Edison Electric Illuminating Company of Brooklyn. ASPCA president John Peter Haines quickly quashed that idea. Electrocuting an ElephantPhotographed January 3, 1903.Thomas A. Edison, Inc.Edison opposed capital punishment, but his desire to disparage the system of Alternating Current (AC) led to the invention of the electric chair. I hate to say Im 3 years late on this proect, but it does make me sick. Topsy, standing in the middle of press photographers and on-lookers, refusing to cross the bridge over the lagoon to the spot where she was supposed to be killed. (The men had offered Whitey 25 dollars to help with the execution, but he turned it down, saying he wouldnt kill her for a thousand dollars.). In stepped the SPCA, who claimed this method of execution was unnecessarily cruel. Presentation of the region. The animal fell over dead as soon as its mouth came in contact with the electrified tin. Topsy (elephant) - Wikipedia Eventually Topsy ate the carrots and Sharkey signaled for Joseph Johansen, the superintendent at Coney Island station nine blocks away, to pull the switch. Read another story from us:The Most Beloved (and Highest Paid) Dog in Golden Age Hollywood. The way people treat animals like theyre trash is a big issue these days. I almost cried reading this and was too scared to watch the videos. She eventually had to be wired up where she stood. On December 13, 1902, Luna Park press agent Charles Murray released a statement to the newspapers that Topsy would be euthanized within a few days by electrocution. Edison, it was believed, hoped the spectacle secretly, an anti-AC demonstration might stop Teslas AC from gaining ground. The final nail in Topsys coffin came at noon on a December day when an intoxicated Whitey tried to ride the elephant down Surf Avenue. On this day in 1903, Topsy the elephant died of electrocution on Coney Island. The case Grosam v. the Czech Republic concerned the disciplinary chamber of the Supreme Administrative . More than likely, though, her behavior was the result of cruel treatment at the hands of her handler, who used a pitchfork to keep the animal in line. Captured on film by Thomas Edison, the event was one of a string of animal electrocutions Edison staged to. The first is that it is an animal snuff film and I find that whole concept so vile it turns my stomach. Next wooden sandals lined with copper were attached to her feet. If God made methe fabled God of the three qualities of which I spoke: mercy, kindness, loveHe also made the fish I catch and eat. Thomas Edison, Nikola Tesla and the Sad Case of 'Topsy' the Circus Elephant After killing a spectator in 1902, she was sold to Coney Island. falsely billed her as the first American born elephant. However, when the structure caught fire on September 27, 1896, it had not been used for several years. Fielding Blount. The big beast died without a trumpet or a groan.Topsy (ca. It's unclear exactly what happened between Blount and Topsy. Topsy was a female elephant born in Southeast Asia and brought to the U.S. soon thereafter (illegally, it turns out) to join a group of performing pachyderms at the Forepaugh Circus. Read all Director Edwin S. Porter Stars Carl Goliath Topsy Apparently he just couldnt resist the opportunity to demonstrate the dangers of AC one more time. More than likely the film company, which at the time was connected to the inventor in name only, simply saw the electrocution as an interesting human interest story. (1,241 1,024 pixels, file size: 1.66 MB, MIME type: Last edited on 25 September 2022, at 19:33, File:Topsy elephant electricution Luna Park January 1903.png, Luna Park (parque de atracciones de 1903), https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=File:Topsy_elephant_electrocution_Luna_Park,_Coney_Island_January_1903.png&oldid=691774654, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License, Louis Republic article, January 11, 1903, page 24 - "TOPSY, THE ROGUE ELEPHANT, WAS ELECTROCUTED, POISONED AND HANGED. Sign in to rate and Watchlist for personalized recommendations. Electrocution of Topsy, Luna Park, Coney Island 1903 TigerRocket 713 subscribers Subscribe 55 Save 43K views 14 years ago Notice Age-restricted video (based on Community Guidelines) There was a flash of fire and the odor of burning flesh. They say elephants are smart she definitely knew what was happening to her. Our sad story begins around 1875, when a 200-pound baby elephant was captured by elephant traders in Southeast Asia. On May 28, 1902, she killed a circus worker named J. Why did Thomas Edison electrocute an elephant? | HowStuffWorks A plan to hang the out-of-control Topsy was hatched by the parks publicity-mad owners, Thompson & Dundy, who decided to charge admission to the event. Naturally, Topsys temper became shorter and shorter, and she turned on her trainers. Fred and Elmer turned to Thomas Edison, who was then competing with Nikola Teslas alternating current (AC) method and trying to preserve his direct current (DC) method as the electricity standard for the United States. Enter your email address to follow The Hatching Cat and receive notifications of new posts by email. When his park went bankrupt a year later, Paul Boyton turned the elephant over to the new owners, Frederic Thompson and Elmer "Skip" Dundy, who were constructing Luna Park on the site. Topsy was originally owned by Forepaugh Circus where she killed a drunken spectator who burned the tip of her trunk with a cigar. It has 10 departments : Ardennes, Aube, Collectivit europenne d'Alsace (Haut-Rhin et Bas Rhin), Haute-Marne, Marne, Meurthe-et-Moselle, Meuse, Moselle and Vosges. First the men announced they would kill Topsy by hanging her from the new Electric Tower, which was being constructed in the middle of the former parks Shoot the Chute lagoon (the tower was only 75 feet high by this time). And nature is not kind, or merciful, or loving. Join 1000s of subscribers and receive the best Vintage News in your mailbox for FREE, Dangerous Brew: Coffee Drinkers Lost their Head under this Sultans Rule, Stone Age Kitchen Found at the Bottom of a Lake, complete with 9,000-yr-old Stove, Police arrest a 72-year-old suburban grandfather suspected of being the Golden State Killer, Im not dead yet: some Buddhist monks followed self-mummification, Project Azorian: Howard Hughes secret mission, 1960s U.S. satellite that started transmitting again in 2013, The Walk of Shame in Game of Thrones historical inspiration, The only unsolved skyjacking case in U.S. history might have a break, Kurt Gdel became too paranoid to eat and died of starvation, Little Ease: One of the most feared torture devices in the Tower of London, The humble English girl who became Cora Pearl, Walt Disney softened the original Snow White story. Whitey was ordered to appear in court on charges of disorderly conduct. For the rest of her short pathetic life, she was put to use hauling building and construction materials. After they decided t Read all. Topsy was originally owned by Forepaugh Circus where she killed a drunken spectator who burned the tip of her trunk with a cigar. Topsy was originally owned by Forepaugh Circus where she killed a drunken spectator who burned the tip of her trunk with a cigar. She was sold to Sea Lion Park in. Contact - Les URAPEDA Grand Est By: Nathan Chandler Edison's link to the death of Topsy the elephant may not be entirely grounded in reality. He often used a pitchfork on her, and was arrested at least one time after police observed excessive prodding. Not only should it happen sooner, it should have happened years ago. Topsy The Elephant's Sad Death By Electrocution After copper plates or electrodes were fastened to her feet, 6,600 volts of electricity were turned on. The Electrocution of Topsy the Elephant - Historic Mysteries . Teslas AC would eventually win out in the years to come, but no matter. Their short, silent, black-and-white documentary, entitled Electrocuting an Elephant, can be seen on YouTube today, for those that have the stomach. Ironically, Topsy was electrocuted on the very spot that was once occupied by the iconic Elephantine Colossus, otherwise known as the Elephant Hotel. At the same time, Luna Park chief electrician Hugh Thomas closed another switch at the park, sending 6,600 volts from Bay Ridge through Topsys body for 10 seconds. The War of Currents, as it would become known, would determine the way people powered their homes and businesses in the future. On March 5, 2015, the Feld family, which owns Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey circus, announced that it would phase out its 13 performing Asiatic elephants by the beginning of 2018. If the current could take down an elephant that quickly, how dangerous, Edison reasoned, might it be to humans? File : Topsy elephant electrocution Luna Park, Coney Island January Captured on film, Topsy's death may be the first deliberate murder of an animal preserved this way. Filmed over a hundred years ago, I can only hope that we've evolved into something a little more humane and compassionate. On one side was Thomas Edisons direct current (DC) system; on the other, an alternating current (AC) from Nikola Tesla and George Westinghouse. The execution of Topsy, a female elephant, in a publicity stunt advertising the opening of Luna Park on Coney Island. Built two years before the Statue of Liberty, the Elephant Hotel was said to be the first artificial structure visible to immigrants arriving to America. Johansen was knocked out and nearly electrocuted himself, but he sustained only small burns from the power traveling from his right arm to his left leg. Following this highly-publicized incident, Topsy was sold to Captain Paul Boyton, the proprietor of Sea Lion Park at Coney Island. Her body shook violently and she fell to the ground. However any direct involvement by Edison himself has since been put into question. Do you want your role model to be the killer of an innocent elephant turned evil by lack of love? Topsy the Elephant Was a Victim of Her Captors, Not Thomas Edison After they decided t See production, box office & company info, The 20th Century: A Moving Visual History, Coney Island, Brooklyn, New York City, New York, USA. She was ten feet high and 19 feet 11 inches in length. Original file (1,241 1,024 pixels, file size: 1.66 MB, MIME type: image/png). Topsy was originally owned by Forepaugh Circus where she killed a drunke Read allThe execution of Topsy, a female elephant, in a publicity stunt advertising the opening of Luna Park on Coney Island. The execution was witnessed by 1,500 or more curious persons, who went down to the island to see the end of the huge beast, to whom they had fed peanuts and cakes in summers that are gone. It took just ten seconds before she fell over and died. ''_______________________________________''Nature is what we know. Click on a date/time to view the file as it appeared at that time.
