Vwegba Blogging World

Mary the elephant was a five-ton Asian elephant who was part of the Sparks World Famous Shows circus that traveled across the United States in the early 1900s. On September 11, 1916, the circus was in Kingsport, Tennessee, where a man named Red Eldridge was hired as a temporary elephant trainer for the show. Eldridge had a reputation for being rough with animals, and he reportedly mistreated Mary with a sharp tool called a bullhook. During a parade through town, Mary became agitated and attacked Eldridge, crushing his head with her trunk and throwing him to the ground. Eldridge died from his injuries the next day. The circus owners, fearing for their reputation and the safety of the other elephants, decided to publicly execute Mary. They arranged for a large crane to hoist Mary by a chain around her neck and hang her from a railroad derrick in nearby Erwin, Tennessee. The hanging of Mary was witnessed by a large crowd of onlookers, including many children. The event sparked controversy