New-York tribune., 1903-01-05
TOPSY H4RD TO KILL.
Electricity Puts Vicious Elephant to
Death-Poison Used. Too.
KEEPER WOULDN'T HELP HANG HER

Topsy the man killing elephant was executed
by electricity yesterday afternoon at Luna
Park West Brighton, Coney Island, after
long and vain attempt to persuade her to cross
a frail bridge leading to a scaffolding, from
which it was intended that she should be hanged.
Topsy killed a keeper at Waco, Tex, in lSoo'
and another keeper in the same year in Paris
Tex On May 2S in Brooklyn, she killed J.
Fielding Blount, of Fort Wayne, Ind, for feed
ing her a lighted cigarette. When her keeper,
Whitley" Alt left the employ of Thompson q
Dundy, the proprietors of the park, last FRI
cay Topsy broke loose, and for some time
made things lively in the thoroughtares OF
Coney Island AS nobody else could handle
Topsy and as the an,nars vicious temper did
not improve 1t was thought best to kill her
Several hundred spectators were present, ana
Mr.. Grace, special agent of the Society for the
Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. with num-
ber of men. was on hand to see that the execu-
tion was humane. While the spectators were
watching the elephant house, well known local
character. Fatty Langtry a waiter. was lea
in chains toward the place of execution ana
was greeted with uproarious applause
Topsy was led from the elephant house at
12:45 O'Clock b. Carl Goliath She was IN
chains. and numbered along clumsily until she
neared the place where it was proposed to hang
her. She tried theSai+tle bridge that led to it,
2NSi'NA-Ao
danger refused to go any further and slowly
turned about She coaxed with apples.
carrots and hay for nearly two hours. but would
not cross the bridge It said that mes
sage was sent TO Whitley Alt, her old Keeper
whom the elephant would always obey, offerins
him $50 if he would lead Topsy over the
bridge and that he refused to dc the work
The elephant quietly and without any signs
of viciousness accepted everything given TO her
to eat but would not move step in the olrec-
ton of the moose and the idea of hanging her
had 10 be abandoned. Preparations were theh
made to kill her by electricity.
Topsy seemed to realize by this time 'hat
something was going on which meant no good
to her and when several planks were iaid do"ll
on which IL was desired 70 put the plates 10
| make the proper electrical connection she
| picked up one plank after the other and tossed
| them aside 1t took a long time to get Topsy s
feet on the metallic plates. as she was
| evidently becoming suspicious and shifted uh-
| easily from one foot to the other Whlle she
watched closely the movements of the attend
! ants about her She tugged at her chains IN
! easily. but before she had chance to dis
| nIav any temper she was quieted with apples
! and carrots Finally two electrodes on the
! boards were securely fastened to one of Top
| sv,s forefeet and to a hind foot. Then she was
! given 2j0 grains Of cyanide of potassium IL
| three carrots and in moment after she mac
| swallowed them P D. Sharkey, the electrician
turned on the current and 6,6eo volts sho
tbrough her There was a fash Of fire. an odol
of burning flesh. and, partly enveoped in smoke
| Topsy's massive figure seemed to eXpano
| shook violently, and then slowly feii over u
one side There were no trumpetings of pain o
rage and Topsy seemed to the average spec
| tator to have been killed outright, The curreh
| was turned on for ten seconds. and then. u
| make assurance doubly sure. rope around ne
neck was drawn tight by windlass TO strahsr
her if she was not already dead
The carcass was cut open by DIR. Brotheridge
DIR. Tredwin. of snglewood, " j.. and DIR. Ba
ker of Union. < G. It vas said that the stoill
ach would be sent TO the department OF b1oios'
Of Princeton University. aud that the hide woul'
be tanned by Hubert H. Vogeistein. of No 81
East Fifty-ninth-st.
Topsy was thrty-fve years old, welghe'
five and half tons. was ten feet tall, am
measured nineteen feet and eleven inches il
length.