The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1903-01-07

other men, but for more han siA
months have been respecta tas hard
working elephant"
Four attempts were made to DIT TOpsy
across the bridge. Each time she went
as far as the brink and then abruptly
turned and strolled down the road
In despair. the owners weAt after
Whitley Ait Topsy's old kesber for
whom the elephant had a genui IL love
Until he was discharged recentIsl by the
amusement company, Whites" Ased to
sleep in the same stall with Topksy and
he was was credited with being sfble to
make the beast do anything he Filled-
Whitley was found outside th4 gate
weeping.
Lead her to her DEATH" he walled.
No, sir. Ill die myself FIRST Shea
go with me fast enough If I asked her.
But say, if I should trick her tnat way
I'd never forgive myself"
An offer of S25 didrst-7nove Whitley
SO the elephant slayers returned TO
Topsy. She was calmly munchtnS hay
on the off side of the bridge.
Goliath scratched his head, and the
owners, who hadn't bargained for de-
lay, looked annoyed One more effcrt
was made to induce Topsy to cross the
bridge. They brought barrel of APP
pies Then they arranged a string Of
them along the pathway to the bridge,
but Topsy ate until her trunk couldn't
gather in any more. and then turned
back once more.
Wei said Goliath. IF we can't lead
her to death. then we Shall have 70
bring death to her"
Electricians strung out the wir2s to
the feet of the waiting Topsy, electrodes
were brought and chained to the feet of
the beast, and the big haWser was tied
about her neck. In case of accident
man with an elephant gun stood near.
If Topsy understood this new move
she didn't betray it. Once or twice she
objected to the fit of the electrodes. but
finally they satisfied her in this respect
and then she stood perfectly still.
Not until all was in readiness did she
seem to grasp that her enemies had dug
a pit for Eer. Then she glanced nerv-
ously around, tiled to shake of the cleo
trodes and failed, tugged at her chains
and sawed the air with her trunk
She was swinging her trunk from side
to side in impotent anger when Goliath
approached with the poisoned carrots.
Topsy greedily snapped up the carrots,
and with q satisfied MUNICH swallowed
them down.
At that instant the current was turn
ed an. An employee at the telephone
cried. "All right" the electrician at the
power house swung the switch key and
Topsy gave a great iurch upward.
Life must have departed at that in
slant. simultaneously the elephants
tail shot out straight and her trunk
wriggled violently like snake. blue
fame shot up from the two feet of the
elephant and the air was filled with
the odor of burning flesh.
Ten seconds later the current was
turned off. The tail and trunk fell limp.
and with a gentle, swaying motion
! TOpSy's carcass sank to the ground.
1t was the first time on record that an
elephant had been killed by electricity,
and in every way the execution was a
success. To make sure, the strangula-
/ ton process was resorted to- and then
fifteen minutes after the current had
/ been turned on representatives of H. H.
/ VogeIsang, who will tan the hide, began
-rrf inc lin ff7ur 20 -r1-a-E
The stomach of the animal will bo
taken by Prof. Mcclure of the Princeton
Biological department. Drs. H. J. Broth
eridge of this city John Smith of En-
glewood, N J., and Baker of Union s.
c., all veterinary surgeons, supervised
the execution.
Topsy was thirty-four years old. She
weighed six tons, her extreme heighe
was ten feet, her length from tip Of tail
to tip of trunk was ten feet eleven
inches, and she had q waist measure
ment of fourteen feet two inches.
Topsy was the original baby ele-
phant,~ and was brought to this country
by Adam Forepaugh twenty-eight years
ago. In 1900 she killed a keeper at
Waco, Tex. and later in the same year
killed another atzF'aris, Tex. Last May
Topsy killed keeper who fed her
lighted cigar.
Since then her activity has been con-
fined to occasional outbreaks. in which
she scared hundreds of people without
4 doing any actual harm.
During one OF her outbreaks she went
abroad at COney island with a drunken
keeper and was arrested with him. in
sisting on following the keeper, and be-
/ ing finally instrumental in securing her
! friends release, because the police could
get rid Of her by no other means.
OPINIONS OF WITNESSES TO THE
ELECTROCUTION.
/ Lead her to death: no, sir. I'll die
myself first. If / should trick her thar
way, I'd never forgive myself.-The
| KeeGer.
1t was one Of the most scientifically
exact electrocutions ever saw Topsy
died at the first shock.4The Electrician
She ate the poisoned carrots eagerly
and I don't think she had any suspiciors
they contained enough cyanide to kill
I her.-The POisoner.
ToDsy's hide when stuffed win make
| a valuable acquisition to natural his
tory museun.-The Tanner.
It was one Of the most dramatic sights
ever witnessed here.-Coney Island.