Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1903-01-06
ToPsY HARD TO KILL
Electricity Used to Execute the Fam
GUS Elephant, Which Had Become
visious-Kesper Refused to Help
Hang Her. 81

= z
New York, Jan. 6.-Topsy, the man
killing elephant, was executed by elec-
tricity yesterday afternoon at Luna
Park, West Brighton, Coney Island,
after a long and vain attempt to per-
suade her to cross frail bridge leading
to a scaffolding, from which 1t was in
tended that she should be hanged. Top
sy killed a keeper at Waco. Texas, in
1900 and another keeper in the same
year in Paris, Texas. On May 2S, in
Brooklyn, she killed j. Fielding Blount,
of Fort Wayne, Ind, for feeding her a
lighted cigaret. When her keeper,
"Whitey' Alt, left the employ OF
Thompson & Dundy, the proprietors OF
the park, last Friday,Topsy broke loose,
and for some time made things lively IN
the thcroughfares Of Coney Island. AS
nobody else could handle Topsy, and as
the animals vicious temper did not lm-
prove, it was thought best to kill her
Several hundred spectators were
present, and Mr. Grace, special agent
of the Society for the Prevention OF
Cruelty to Animals, with number OF
men, was on hand to see that the ex-
ecution was humane. While the spec
tators were watching the elephant
house, a well known local character,
Fatty" Langtry, a waiter was leu IN
chains toward the place of execution
and was greeted with uproarious ap-
plause.
Topsy was led from the elephant
house at 12:45 o'clock by Carl Goliath.
She was in chains, and numbered along
clumsily until she neared the place
where it was proposed to hang her She
tried the little bridge that led to 1t, and,
apparently thinking 1t unsafe. or scent
ing danger, refused to go any further
and slowly turned about. She was
coaxed with apples, carrots and hay for
nearly two hours, but would not cross
the bridge. 1t was said that mes
sage was sent to Whitley" Alt. her old
keeper, offering him $25 If he would
lead Topsy over the bridge, and that ne
refused to do the work.
The elephant quietly and without any
signs of viciousness accepted every
thing given to her to eat. but would not
move a step in the direction OF the
moose, and the idea of hanging her had
to be abandoned. Preparations were
then made to kill her by electricity.
Topsy seemed to realize by TINS t1He
that something was going on which
meant no good to her, and when sever
al planks were laid down on Wnlch
II was desired to put the plates to make
the proper electrical connection sn.
picked up one plank after the othef
and tossed them aside. 1t took long
time to get Topsy's feet on. the metanc
plates. as she was evidently becoming
suspicious and shifted uneasily from
one foot to the other while she watched
CLOSELY the movements of the attend
ants about her. She tugged at ner
chains uneasily, but before she had
chance to display any temper she was
ouieted with apples and carrots. Fill
ally two electrodes on the boards was
securely fastened on one of Topsy's
forefeet and to a hind foot Then she
was given 260 grains OF cyanide OF
potassium in three carrots. and IN
moment after she had swallowed them
p. ID. Sharkey, the electrician, turned
on the current and 5000 volts shot thru
her. There. was a flash of fire, an odor
oh burning flesh, and, partly enveloped
in smoke, Topsys massive figure
seemed to expand, shook violently, and
then slowly fell over on one side. There
were no trunpetings of pain or rage,