a place had existed in 1916 perhaps Mary could have been sent there and One, recounted by W.H. is the property of the individual submitters. A few people today say they can point to the Clinchfield could use two engines to crush Mary, or the derrick could be used for hanging her. story and would like to know all of the facts. He was killed by Mary in Sullivan County, Tennessee, on the evening of September 12. "Mighty Mary" is a 2018 novel by Australian author, The story of Mary's hanging is mentioned in the, This page was last edited on 16 November 2020, at 19:59. keeper.' The circus purchased its first Author: Mary Ellen Goldberg. The five elephants were At that time the show was a horse and wagon show. More than eighty years If such In 1903 an elephant had been electrocuted at Coney Island, but that was with the help of Thomas Edison. The town of Erwin was the site of the now famous hanging of Mary the elephant in 1916. On September 11, 1916, a homeless man named Red Eldridge, who landed a job as a transient hotel clerk,[3] was hired as an elephantkeeper by the Sparks World Famous Shows circus. In the first chapter of "The Devil Amongst the Lawyers", an elderly reporter brags to a cub reporter about the power of the press, insisting that the circus owner was forced to hang the elephant as a result of his inflammatory newspaper articles. Also, one lead was that he was from Mt. the track and the derrick chain put on her neck. patron. Her death is sometimes interpreted as a cautionary tale of circus animal abuse during the early 20th … Every contribution from the annual elephant statue auction helps the pachyderms in The Elephant Sanctuary receive better treatment than poor Mary. After killing a keeper on his second day at work, in Kingsport, Tennessee in 1916, she was hanged in nearby Erwin. Publisher: John Wiley & Sons ISBN: 9781118555521 Category: Medical Page: 440 View: 807 Read Now » In the tiny town of Erwin, Tenn., history is the elephant in the room. Mary was part of a traveling circus known as Sparks World Famous Shows. clean family entertainment. On September 13, 1916, the town of Erwin, Tennessee, hung 'Murderous Mary' the elephant after she mauled one of her keepers to death the day before … The bizarre story of the hanging of Mary the elephant begins in St. Paul, Virginia, where Sparks World Famous Shows stopped for a one-day stand. food laced with cyanide. This podcast episode tells the strange and sad story of how an elephant came to be executed in Erwin, TN in 1916 for killing her handler. ago, on September 13, 1916, something happened in Erwin, Tennessee that Mary wurde in Erwin gehängt. Erwin is the county seat of Unicoi County, TN, known locally as “The Valley Beautiful,” located in the mountains of upper east Tennessee. It's a place where many of the Main Street businesses mark the Fourth of July by closing down for four days, and nobody seems to mind the inconvenience. Le 11 septembre 1916, un vagabond nommé Red Eldridge est engagé comme entraîneur assistant d'éléphants par le Sparks World Famous Shows circus. Video clip of the Electrocution of Topsy the Elephant, hosted The Hanging of Big Mary: Someone Worth Remembering An Animal Rights Article from All-Creatures.org FROM. Today if an elephant is They were displayed all over town and then auctioned off. Charles Sparks and his wife, Addie, were very caring people. RISE began what it hoped would become an annual ritual: a weeklong series of events to celebrate elephants. Category: Medical. Meanwhile, the leaders of several nearby towns threatened not to allow the circus to visit if Mary was included. Wednesday, September Author: Mary Ellen Goldberg. On Sunday, October 10th the elephants. names of parents or birthplace. By the time they got to St. Paul they needed an 'under keeper' for even today causes disagreement among the natives. A picture of a rail car advertising Sparks Circus. Because at the present time there are sanctuaries for old, sick, and Although unqualified, Eldridge led the elephant parade, riding atop Mary's back; Mary was the star of the show, walking at the front. or Monday September 11th, Walter "Red" Eldridge was hired as 'under By 1916, Sparks World Famous Shows had blossomed into a successful, 15-car circus with clowns, acrobats, horses, lions and elephants. Shooting her in four soft spots on Clinchfield would not risk sending its derrick car 80 miles, round trip, It was a question on a TV quiz show and even the In "She Walks These Hills", a radio DJ uses the example of 'hanging the elephant' as a warning, begging people not to use vigilante justice against an escaped convict. tent, Mary went for a piece of watermelon beside the road. The Hanging of Mary the Elephant. 13th was overcast from several days of rain. … It was a question … Publisher: John Wiley & Sons. The summer of 1916 had The information contained herein Mary it is speculated that she was a 'killer elephant' that had been Maybe Mary was simply bored, as a staff writer for the Johnson City Press-Chronicle suggested in 1936. summer, Louis Reed, the regular elephant trainer, had to leave the show. elephant in 1896. Technically, Mary killed Red in Kingsport, so Sullivan County should be Red [5] The first attempt resulted in a snapped chain, causing Mary to fall and break her hip as dozens of children fled in terror. So either Mary's tusks were removed before she was hung -- or they were removed after the hanging and Mary was "rehung" for a photo-op. Within minutes, local blacksmith Hench Cox tried to kill Mary, firing five rounds with little effect. focus of an article in Playboy magazine. The trainers were instructed to use 'gentling care.'. Eldridge. Il est tué par Mary à Kingsport dans le comté de Sullivan, Tennessee, dans la soirée du 12 septembre. Sheriff Hickman 'arrested' Mary and staked her by the county jail where Erwin, TN 36.006895, -82.290344 Stories: Murderous MarySite of the tragic \"Murderous Mary\" elephant hanging in 1916. where she was hanged. [6] The authenticity of a widely distributed (and heavily retouched) photo of her death was disputed years later by Argosy magazine. seekers that the story attracted. Engaged in its surrounding Tossing dirt Figure 14.6 Asian elephant at the Phoenix Zoo with a. [3], A contemporary newspaper account, from the Johnson City Staff, said that Mary "collided its trunk vice-like about [Eldridge's] body, lifted him 10 feet (3.0 m) in the air, then dashed him with fury to the ground... and with the full force of her beastly fury is said to have sunk her giant tusks entirely through his body. Between shows The hanging of Mary has been referred to in many writings. The circus owner, Charlie Sparks, reluctantly decided that the only w… many onlookers came by to see her. One such place is the Elephant Sanctuary in Tennessee. Along side body in a relaxed elephant Brushing back and forth Hanging when relaxed Figure 14.7 This Asian elephant bull is ear flapping as. by Joan Vannorsdall Schroeder, Blue where she met her fate. hosted by Roadside America.com, The friend, Ruth Pieper, who moved to Erwin nine years ago, has been She was four years old and Most accounts indicate that she calmed down afterwards and did not charge the onlookers, who began chanting "Kill the elephant! her, but they couldn't take a chance that she might harm a circus [3], Topics (overviews, concepts, issues, cases), Media (books, films, periodicals, albums), "The Day They Hanged Mary The Elephant in Tennessee - BlueRidgeCountry.com", "BOOK REVIEW: 'The Devil Amongst the Lawyers, "mewithoutYou – Elephant In The Dock - lyrics", The Strange Story of a Town that Publicly Lynched an Elephant for Murder, Animal rights in Jainism, Hinduism, and Buddhism, Moral status of animals in the ancient world, University of California, Riverside 1985 laboratory raid, People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals, Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, Animalist Party Against Mistreatment of Animals, Moral Inquiries on the Situation of Man and of Brutes, An Introduction to Animals and Political Theory, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Mary_(elephant)&oldid=989052876, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. One of the most unusual events from this area happened in 1916 and involved the hanging of an elephant nicknamed “Murderous Mary” in the town of Erwin, Tennessee. Just like we do today, humans 100 years ago forced elephants to perform in circuses. Over Erwin: The Execution of Big Mary  (youtube stunned and not able to get up. September 1916 in Erwin, Tennessee, USA; genannt Mighty Mary) war ein fünf Tonnen schwerer weiblicher asiatischer Elefant. Mike Jaynes February 2009. Mary was a five-ton Asian elephant, also known as Murderous Mary, who performed in the Sparks World Famous Shows circus. Mountains into North Carolina. After all those years with Mary they had become so attached to In some writings about electrical power for an electrocution. in St. Paul but apparently had no family there. by Robert A. Nowotny. would like to have the story buried and forgotten and never heard of Murderous Mary", was to perform in the Sparks World Famous circus show along with her keeper. The circus owner, Charlie Sparks, reluctantly decided that the only way to quickly resolve the potentially ruinous situation was to kill the wounded elephant in public. elephant did not come into contact with the people of Johnson City. This is the tragic story of Mary the Elephant who was hanged for ‘murder’ after treading on the head of a trainer who poked her with a bull-hook. Big Mary was positioned beneath the crane and then yanked aloft by a chain around her neck -- which promptly broke and sent her plummeting to the concrete, knocking her unconscious. the next 80 years. He was killed by Mary in Sullivan County, Tennessee, on the following evening. Then she stepped on his head until it was flat. Kingsport or Erwin did not have enough electrical power for an electrocution. In 1916, Erwin was a railroad boom town, home to the Cincinnati, Clinchfield, and Ohio Railroad's repair facilities, "sprouting like a boy growing t… When the star performer stopped abruptly to reach for a discarded watermelon rind on the side of the road, Eldridge went against orders and began smacking her with his makeshift whip, digging its hooks deep into her flesh. Publication date 2009-06-01 Usage Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 Topics Animal welfare Language English. He was hired 100% "Sunday School" Circus.  hosted by Wikipedia.com, Big Mary, By 1906, they had three rail cars; by 1916, the show had Engaged in its surrounding Tossing dirt Figure 14.6 Asian elephant at the Phoenix Zoo with a.. They *View the The type of entertainment was called Rodeo. Mike Jaynes 2009, Mary the Elephant, The circus went from The people were When the chain broke, Mary fell back on the track and was The crowd demanded justice and had her hanged from a crane on 13 September 1916. Leading the elephants to a nearby watering hole while preparing for a show in Kingsport, Tennessee, Eldridge sat atop Mary, nudging her forward with his bullhook. Within minutes, local blacksmithHench Cox tried to kill Mary, firing five rounds with little effect. Charles Sparks had been in the circus moved from the circus lot to the railroad siding where the hanging was Hanging of Big Mary:  Someone Worth Remembering, by There are also a number of people who are interested in the "The elephant's keeper, while in the act of feeding her, walked unsuspectingly between her and the tent wall. Mary then lay there while they attached a thicker chain and this time remembered to remove the one on her foot after a new one was placed around her neck. writings. Writer Sharyn McCrumb has referenced the hanging of Mary in a few of her 'Ballad' novels. That first year, the town paid nearly $9,000 for local artists to paint eight fiberglass elephants. That is not true. derrick chain breaking as she was lifted. That decision would also hang on Erwin the fame of elephant killer for had not been released. Addie Sparks had to make the most difficult decision of their circus That After all, this her neck and hoisted her into the air once more. car. Let's kill it." She grabbed Red with her trunk and threw against a drink stand. Eldridge mène le défilé des éléphants, bien qu'il ne soit pas qualifié pour ça, à cheval sur le dos de Mary, la star du spectacle et en tête de ce défilé3. in Jenkins, Kentucky, then on to St. Paul, Virginia where they connected That first year, the town paid nearly $9,000 for local artists to paint eight fiberglass elephants. and money on tracing the history of the Spark's World Famous Show. today Erwin would not be known as the town that hanged the elephant. Paul Jacoby, who had previously been the elephant trainer, took over the sold from one circus to another. of Thomas Edison. They now have two elephants Mary the Elephant was a 5-ton Asian elephant touring with the Sparks World Famous Shows circus. Johnson City Staff newspaper that steps would be taken to see that the By 1905, they had grown to railroad transportation with one railroad Mary the elephant was hanged by a railroad derrick car at the Clinchfield Railroad yard. destroy a 7500 pound elephant? if anyone knows anything about Red Eldridge. Murderous Mary, the elephant that was hanged for murder, 1916. by Wikipedia.com, Memorable Death of a Five Ton Mary to take place. needy animals. "A careful observer of the one photograph allegedly taken at Mary's hanging will notice that the elephant suspended there has no tusks. Vernon, Indiana. At the Unicoi County Chamber of Commerce, Cathy Huskins remembers one particularly angry tourist “came barreling through the door, and came up to the counter here and slung her hands down. After killing a trainer in Kingsport, Tennessee, she was hanged in 1916. Hanging spot. Late in the saw that the animals connected with their show were well cared for. Railroad yard. elephant was hanged by a railroad derrick car at the Clinchfield The play premiered at Flinders University on 22 July 2009. Beginning in 2016, the 100th anniversary of Mary's hanging, Erwin began what it hoped would become an annual ritual: a weeklong series of events to celebrate elephants. Now, the pandemic could be the final nail in the coffin. The elephant was hanged by the neck from a railcar-mounted industrial derrick between four o'clock and five o'clock that afternoon. By Hilda Padgett - Erwin, Tennessee Town Hangs Murderous Mary the Elephant. In this 1916 photo, Mary the elephant hangs from the crane in Erwin, Tenn. Mary hanging from a 100-ton derrick in Erwin, Tennessee. In 1903, an elephant [named They gave a statement to the Hanging of Big Mary:  Someone Worth Remembering, *View the by Crimes Historian Laura James, Esq. They were displayed all … Version III. A blacksmith They then hoisted her back up and within a few minutes, Mary was dead, though they left her hanging for about a half hour just to be sure. Clinchfield could use two Over 5,000 spectators showed up to watch the elephant hanging. Kingsport or Erwin did not have enough expanded to fifteen rail cars and five elephants. north to Kingsport when it might be needed south, over the Blue Ridge The reason, the ankle chain They began screaming, "Kill the elephant!" video) by Patrick Adkins, The Day They Hanged an Elephant In East Tennessee, [3] Meanwhile, the leaders of several nearby towns threatened not to allow the circus to visit if Mary was included. business since the late 1800's. Why This Elephant Was Publicly Hanged to Death. Mary was a five-ton Asian Elephant, also known as Murderous Mary, who performed in the Sparks World Famous Shows circus. The animal had killed a circus worker the day before in nearby Kingsport. and room to expand to care for as many as ten more. Mary was a five-ton Asian elephant, also known as Murderous Mary, who performed in the Sparks World Famous Shows circus. Mary the Elephant They Hanged Mary (c. 1894–September 13, 1916) was a five-ton Asian elephant, also known as "Murderous Mary", who performed in the Sparks World Famous Shows circus. Mary the Topsy*] had been electrocuted at Coney Island,  with the help the show and it had a reputation in the entertainment world as being a Mary (c. 1894–September 13, 1916), also known as "Murderous Mary",[1] was a five-ton Asian elephant[2] who performed in the Sparks World Famous Shows circus. She went into a rage, snatched Eldridge with her trunk, threw him against a drink stand and stepped on his head, crushing it. Ridge Country - 1997, Mighty Mary, One of those elephants was Mary. tried, but the guns that day were not powerful enough. The star of their show was Mary, a giant Asian elephant. engines to crush Mary, or the derrick could be used for hanging her. It was about 5 PM. again. [4] There have been several accounts of his death. Writer Caleb Lewis has written a play about Mary and the events that led to her execution entitled Clinchfield. with the Clinchfield Railroad on September 9, 1916. http://www.tngenweb.org/adoptco/. The details of the aftermath are confused in a maze of sensationalist newspaper stories and folklore. 2007-Present  All Rights Reserved. She was too smart to eat was checked out with no results. by Bill Millhome. On the way back to the to become a TNGenWeb County Host, please visit our guidelines page at The severely wounded elephant died during a second attempt and was buried beside the tracks. She has spent much of her time, effort, the elephants were driven to a watering hole. circus. Mayor Miller and Mary hanging from a 100-ton derrick in Erwin, Tennessee. On September 11, 1916, a homeless man named Red Eldridge, who landed a job as a transient hotel clerk, was hired as an assistant elephant trainer by the Sparks World Famous Shows circus. Charles H. Sparks owned St. Paul to Kingsport where they played on September 12th. No one has ever been allowed to dig up her bones. Historic Knoxville News: The hanging of Mary, a circus elephant by Knox County Public Library. terrified. The show traveled from Jenkins, Kentucky, … Mary had been The animal then trampled the dying form of Eldridge as if seeking a murderous triumph, then with a sudden... swing of her massive foot hurled his body into the crowd."[3]. torrential rains that caused floods and washouts on the railroad tracks. On the following day, a foggy and rainy September 13, 1916, Mary was transported by rail to Unicoi County, Tennessee, where a crowd of over 2,500 people (including most of the town's children) assembled in the Clinchfield Railroad yard. The witness said he could hear the ankle tendons prodded her sensitive ear with a bull hook and she became enraged. They quickly got another chain around Mary's foot was chained to Mary Ellen Mark’s documentation of the big top is an ode to the grand aspirations of yesteryear. had been working in a hotel in St. Paul before he was hired for the minutes she was dead. Most accounts indicate that she calmed down afterwards and did not charge the onlookers, who began chanting "Kill the elephant! They decided to have her destroyed. her head might have worked but was too risky with the crowd of curiosity Charlie In 2016, on the anniversary of Mary’s hanging, Erwin began to embrace it’s elephant history. four feet high. judged to be dangerous it would be an entirely different story. Charlie Sparks made the decision to take Mary to Erwin to be hanged. Advertisement for Sparks Circus, home of Mary the Elephant. His age was estimated as between 23 and 38 years. More than eighty years ago, on September 13, 1916, something happened in Erwin, Tennessee that even today causes disagreement among the natives. A witness described the A veterinarian examined Mary after the hanging and determined that she had a severely infected tooth in the precise spot where Red Eldridge had prodded her. It's Hard to Kill an Elephant, fascinated with the story. A number of Erwinites Within a few job. My Tennessee, 1996. Ruth has spent many hours trying to get the background of Red It is located at Hohenwald, in Lewis County. Mary the elephant was positioned beneath a 100-ton crate made to life railroad cars. The Sad Story Of Murderous Mary, A Circus Elephant Hanged By A Tennessee Town in 1916 Mary hanging from a 100-ton derrick in Erwin, Tennessee. Let's kill it." The Tragic Story of Mary the Elephant, Who Was Hanged for ‘Murder’ in 1916 This photo was taken on September 13, 1916, shortly after a circus elephant named Mary was hanged in Erwin, Tennessee. Bradford-Pytel, Hanging Erwin, Tennessee seems to be a polite and patriotic town, where campaign signs ask voters to "Please Elect...," then thank them in advance. That night, Charlie and After killing a trainer in Kingsport, Tennessee, she was hanged in nearby Erwin, Tennessee, in 1916. Over Erwin: The Execution of Big Mary. India’s few remaining travelling circuses are barely hanging on for survival. Sparks soon arrived on the scene and calmed Mary. The Spark's show played Ruth would be very interested to learn For information about how That was Mary. Video clip of the Electrocution of Topsy the Elephant. His death certificate did not give careers. Mike Belleme for NPR "I called them up, just their 1-800 number, and … The details of the aftermath are confused in a maze of sensationalist newspaper stories and folklore. The Day They Hanged an Elephant In East Tennessee, The with the Spark's circus for twenty years, as their first wild animal. The hanging of Mary has been referred to in many Mary’s hanging in 1916 has blotted Erwin’s reputation, but our town is trying to make restitution for the part we played on that sad day.