Please do not think this a sensationalist macabre fish for views.
I was writing a blog titled the ‘Circus Leaves Town’ about my local football club, Lewes FC. For a relevant image for the blog I happened upon this awful story about Mary the Elephant and just how low people can stoop.
I researched the event and won’t go through the gory details and tittle tattle surrounding the incredibly sad and disgusting story and the varying accounts.
The facts are Mary was born in 1894 and died suspended from a crane in a callous execution in 1916. For being an animal and having animal instincts.
A homeless man called Red Eldridge was hired by Smarts Circus be in charge of Mary and lead the circus procession. Red had no experience and it was only his second day when he prodded Mary as she bent over to eat. Presumably to chivvy her along. She went ballistic and basically killed Red. After she was hanged it turns out Mary had a severely infected tooth where Red prodded her which sent her into an uncontrollable rage.
Obviously, an experienced hand with elephants would have known of any problems that could escalate into such a fury.
An accident from inexperience and cheap recruitment? But no, it was the fault of Mary and she was to pay the price.
Apparently, the circus were reluctant to destroy the animal but it was indicated from the surrounding sites the circus was to visit that the elephant should be destroyed.
As you can see in the image, despite the reluctance of the circus to destroy Mary, when it was deemed they had no choice it was decided she had to die. I guess it is because they were show persons and a circus that they made a show of the execution of Mary and hanged her from a crane in front of an audience of 2500, including many children.
I mean how awful.
The evils of war aside, one always was of the view humanity could not sink much further than shooting such an amazing creature for their ivory. I mean it is one thing the billions of us on earth can agree on surely? But Smarts Circus managed to top such pointless brutality by not only prolonging the slaughter but saw fit to make a show of it to children. I was unable to source whether or not they charged for the spectacle. I’ll leave that to your imagination.
There was something just so disheartening about the story. We all love animals and the killing of big beasts is just a miserable thing that happens, but I was just so choked to see this photo and the despicable brutality and just how low mankind can stoop.
The Rights of Fans. 