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    You are at:Home»Society»Crime»January 4, 1903: Killer Elephant Topsy Executed in Filmed Spectacle!
    Crime

    January 4, 1903: Killer Elephant Topsy Executed in Filmed Spectacle!

    Major DanBy Major DanJanuary 4, 2014Updated:January 2, 2020146 Comments6 Mins Read
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    Topsy

    A Brief History

    On January 4, 1903, Thomas Edison’s company filmed the execution of Topsy the Elephant, the largest purported casualty in the “War of the Currents”!  The big argument over whether to use alternating current as championed by Nikola Tesla and George Westinghouse or direct current as championed by Thomas Edison had already been decided in favor of alternating current  a decade before Topsy became an afterthought and legend of the Current Wars.

    Digging Deeper

    Digging deeper, we find Edison, the most prolific inventor of all time (electric light, phonograph, motion pictures, etc.) had been engaged in a bitter struggle with rival inventor and entrepreneur George Westinghouse over how the United States would be serviced with electricity.

    American inventor and businessman Thomas Edison established the first investor-owned electric utility in 1882, basing its infrastructure on DC power.

    Edison favored direct current (DC) and Westinghouse favored alternating current (AC).  Each system had advantages, and Edison’s initial use of DC was the most logical choice at first, but advancements in AC transformers clearly made AC the more practical system.

    The decisive advantage of AC was the ability to transport electricity across long distances at high voltage and then use step down transformers to send lower voltage electricity into houses or factories.  The DC system required that power plants be located within 1 mile of the customer, a totally impractical proposition.

    Westinghouse early AC system 1887 (U.S. Patent 373,035).

    So why did Edison persist in pushing so hard for a DC-based electric grid?  And by pushing hard, we mean secretly being behind the development of the electric chair to “prove” how dangerous AC current is and distributing images of various animals being electrocuted by AC current.  Indeed, with good reason, Edison, although a genius, has been declared a “shockingly” horrible person!

    Edison so desperately advocated DC current for one reason: Money!  He held many patents for DC electrical devices and was heavily invested in its widespread use.  He stood to gain millions of dollars if DC was the accepted system, and conversely he stood to lose millions if AC was adopted.

    Direct Current (red line). The vertical axis shows current or voltage and the horizontal ‘t’ axis measures time and shows the zero value.  Diagram by Zureks.

    Edison even tried a smear campaign, and tried to “invent” the word “Westinghoused” to mean electrocuted.  Topsy, a circus elephant that had killed 3 people and was “condemned” to die by execution and the circumstances of her death later became an apocryphal legend of the Current Wars, though a false one.  The question of electrical transmission had long been decided, and Edison was not involved in the eventual killing of the rogue elephant, but in popular culture the legend developed that Edison had engineered the execution of Topsy as a demonstration of the dangers of alternating current.

    This sad event has been used in an incredible number of films, music videos, books and even TV cartoons!  Perhaps the most cracked thing of all about this incident was that the executioners ensured that poor Topsy was given a large dose of cyanide poison prior to the electrocution!

    Topsy, standing in the middle of press photographers and on-lookers, refusing to cross the bridge over the lagoon to the spot where she was supposed to be killed. She eventually had to be wired up where she stood.

    Did we mention Topsy was originally going to be hanged?  The plan evolved into a scheme to use an electric winch tightening a rope around  the poor creature’s neck, but this evil plan was averted by protests of the ASPCA.  Electrocution was chosen as a more “humane” alternative method of executing the pachyderm.

    The film clip of the cruel execution of a beast that had been treated poorly her whole life became a part of popular culture years after the event and the tale of poor Topsy becoming a victim of Edison’s evil maneuvering to discredit alternating current grew to accepted “fact.”  (Even this article was originally prepared using sources that perpetuated the false narrative and has been updated in July of 2018 to reflect the real story.)  Using the Topsy story as an example, it is easy to see how History can be changed and molded to fit a false narrative if we are not careful.

    Question for students (and subscribers): What other egregious examples of “true” historical stories that are actually false can you think of?  Please share your thoughts about those incorrect narratives you find most annoying in the comments section below this article.

    If you liked this article and would like to receive notification of new articles, please feel welcome to subscribe to History and Headlines by liking us on Facebook and becoming one of our patrons!

    Your readership is much appreciated!

    Historical Evidence

    Daly, Michael. Topsy: The Startling Story of the Crooked Tailed Elephant, P.T. Barnum, and the American Wizard, Thomas Edison. Atlantic Monthly Press, 2013.

    Marriott, Emma. They Got It Wrong: History: All the Facts that Turned Out to be Myths. Reader’s Digest, 2013.

    Winchell, Mike. The Electric War: Edison, Tesla, Westinghouse, and the Race to Light the World. Henry Holt and Co, 2019.

    The featured image in this article, a press photograph from a January 4, 1903 electrocution of Topsy the elephant in an event to raise publicity about the opening of the new Conney Island amusement park “Luna Park” (at this point still under construction), is in the public domain in the United States.  This applies to U.S. works where the copyright has expired, often because its first publication occurred prior to January 1, 1924. See this page for further explanation.  The photograph was taken just when 6600 volts of electricity was turned on. Behind Topsy is the bridge over the lagoon of the “Shoot the Chutes” ride to an island in the middle. On the island is the unfinished “Electric Tower” with a sign advertising “OPENING MAY 2ND 1903 LUNA PARK $1,000,000 EXPOSITION, THE HEART OF CONEY ISLAND”, and “FOUNDATION OF 200FT ELECTRIC TOWER” in the background.

    You can also watch a video version of this article on YouTube:

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    Major Dan
    Major Dan

      Major Dan is a retired veteran of the United States Marine Corps. He served during the Cold War and has traveled to many countries around the world. Prior to his military service, he graduated from Cleveland State University, having majored in sociology. Following his military service, he worked as a police officer eventually earning the rank of captain prior to his retirement.

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      <span class="dsq-postid" data-dsqidentifier="962 http://www.crackedhistory.com/?p=962">146 Comments

      1. Avatar
        Madeline Bowen on January 26, 2016 9:34 pm

        I found it sad that Edison would use his campaign to push DC to be more prominent than AC by electrocuting an elephant. Animal cruelty is no way to obtain money.

        Reply
      2. Avatar
        Danielle on January 28, 2016 4:08 pm

        I believe it was cruel of Edison to electrocute an elephant just to show that DC current was, in his opinion, the better option.

        Reply
      3. Avatar
        Meghan R on January 28, 2016 4:50 pm

        I find this so sad. No animal should have to endure this just to prove Edison’s point that DC current was better than AC.

        Reply
      4. Avatar
        Emmaline K on January 30, 2016 5:43 pm

        Although Edison was definitely a genius and a legacy in American history, I found it ‘shocking’ that he was so cruel. It is disturbing that he would do such barbaric things to animals in order to prove a point.

        Reply
      5. Avatar
        Amber Moore on February 1, 2016 2:29 pm

        It’s cruel what people will do for money, to keep business or smear a competitor. How shameful of Edison to turn to such cruel tactics to discredit Westinghouse and it didn’t even work in his favor.

        Reply
      6. Avatar
        Ahmed Alnassar on February 10, 2016 1:57 am

        i never knew this but i think he was not a good person and i feel bad for the animals.

        Reply
      7. Avatar
        KC on February 11, 2016 2:48 pm

        No animal should have gone through this. You shouldn’t kill an animal to prove a point.

        Reply
      8. Avatar
        Raquel F on February 22, 2016 1:52 pm

        I think that is crazy that 1,500 people witnessed the circus elephant being electrocuted. I don’t think that I could have watched it.

        Reply
      9. Avatar
        Austin Miko on March 10, 2016 8:50 pm

        I can not believe an animal had to go through this, no animal should have to live through that pain.

        Reply
      10. Avatar
        Amber Pope on March 20, 2016 11:06 pm

        If Edison was so sure the AC current would kill Topsy, then why would he give the elephant cyanide as well? That seems like overkill and definitely supports the idea that Edison only cared about money. That being said, Edison’s use of AC to prove how dangerous it was seems to have backfired. AC was more effective and more efficient than DC. It was only dangerous because Edison made it so.

        Reply
      11. Avatar
        Diana N on March 27, 2016 4:59 pm

        That’s horrible that Edison resulted in using animals in such a horrible way to prove something, and all to his own greed…

        Reply
      12. Avatar
        Sarah G on March 28, 2016 9:40 pm

        No animal should be treated like that, I had no idea that Edison was apart of it.

        Reply
      13. Avatar
        Nicole Z on April 13, 2016 3:33 pm

        I knew Edison was such a genius but never knew he was so cruel. I don’t think he should have used elephants to prove his point that DC current was better than AC. No animal should have been treated like that.

        Reply
      14. Avatar
        Brett Nagy on April 26, 2016 12:19 am

        I have never heard of this event. Interesting to learn more about Edison other than his glorified moments.

        Reply
      15. Avatar
        Erika Grumbach on April 27, 2016 9:56 am

        That poor elephant should have been in the wild in the first place. It wouldn’t have killed those people if it was. I can’t believe they would do that to an animal. Completely inhumane.

        Reply
      16. Avatar
        Sabrina Peelman on May 3, 2016 12:58 pm

        I kinda think its nice to hear that Edison had bad days too

        Reply
      17. Avatar
        Colton M on May 4, 2016 1:31 pm

        It’s sad to see great people blinded by greed. Edison was a great inventor, but a stubborn man.

        Reply
      18. Avatar
        Casey Holtmann on May 4, 2016 5:11 pm

        So sad to see an animal killed for something it didnt know was wrong

        Reply
      19. Avatar
        JW on May 7, 2016 9:18 pm

        I’m glad Edison electrocuted the elephant that sounds more humane and reasonable than trying to hang it.

        Reply
      20. Avatar
        Melody Ortiz on May 9, 2016 11:03 am

        i cannot believe that edision was a part of such animal cruelty. it is also sad that how many people were there to watch. they did not have to kill that elephant in that way

        Reply
      21. Avatar
        Mikayla Hutchings on August 8, 2016 11:19 am

        I did not realize how cruel Edison was. Students are always taught how much of a genius he was and how he changed the world with his inventions. It was disturbing to read about the elephant and how he only wanted DC to be pursued because of money.

        Reply
      22. Avatar
        Claire Fraser on August 8, 2016 7:41 pm

        It is easy to oversee the bad that famous people have done, when they were alive. I wonder if this elephant actually posed a danger to the public or if when he acted out it was a situational event that any other animal would have acted the same in. It is really sad to see the execution of an animal to be used for entertainment.

        Reply
      23. Avatar
        Ellen Liebenguth on August 8, 2016 10:50 pm

        Elephants are my favorite animals, so this did not sit well with me. Despite what he did for us with his contributions to science, this was just wrong. I also think that I agree with everyone here that we tend to idolize Edison for what he did for us scientifically and overlook things such as this that showed us that he had the capacity to be self centered (in particular with insisting on DC currents) and cruel (in the case of Topsy).

        Reply
      24. Avatar
        Daniel Cora on August 10, 2016 1:13 pm

        When thinking of Edison, we think about a man who invented a lot. We do not see him as someone who stood to make a lot of money, but the reality is behind all his work he was money hungry. What does not seem right is the extent to which he went to try to prove DC was better than AC when it does not seem like it was.

        Reply
      25. Avatar
        Maria Ndini on August 10, 2016 9:05 pm

        It is kind of upsetting to read about the dark sides of people. I always thought of Edison as a genius and never thought anything could be wrong with him. He did indeed change the world we live in today, but so did many other people who were humbler than he was. The fact that all he did was in order to gain more money for himself is sad.

        Reply
      26. Avatar
        Alexander Correa on August 11, 2016 11:11 am

        We are always taught of the all the good someone like Edison does but never this kind of stuff where he kills an animal in this dark way. Seems a little far just to prove DC current was better than AC.

        Reply
      27. Avatar
        Amanda Lopuchovsky on August 11, 2016 11:41 am

        In the light of this article, Edison seems like a money hungry mad scientist! Maybe that is what he truly was. To go around tortuously electrocuting animals in the hopes of a big payday is disgusting! I never knew this about Edison and I hope that karma had a lot to do with AC being the preferred method of electrical transmitting.

        Reply
      28. Avatar
        Morgan price on August 11, 2016 12:30 pm

        Poor topsy the elephant! What a horrible thing to do to a poor animal. History seems to sugarcoat the true character of many American heroes and Edison does not seem to be exempt from this! Power and money hungry, Edison even went so far as to electrocute animals to try and defeat the competition! Just awful!

        Reply
      29. Avatar
        Frank F. on August 11, 2016 3:20 pm

        Edison was manipulative to get his way of DC power to be at the front. Topsy the elephant was going to die anyways but Edison wanted to make it look bad killing the elephant with AC power. Even the most brilliant inventories of all time are selfish and will do anything to get money. It is a dog eat dog world and it always has been and will be.

        Reply
      30. Avatar
        Mike Andelbradt on August 11, 2016 8:31 pm

        It always seems to come down to money! I never knew Edison was sort of evil, but that is a good thing to know when looking at some of our American heroes.

        Reply
      31. Avatar
        Alexandra on August 11, 2016 9:04 pm

        Can you imagine what our country would look like had we chosen DC electricity? Every one mile there would have to be a power plant, which would take up so much space and leave our communities looking messy and industrial. A lot of jobs would have been created though!

        Reply
      32. Avatar
        Mark Baniewicz on August 11, 2016 9:51 pm

        The money was surely the motive for Edison. It makes sense that he would support a DC system because he had patents and investments associated with DC electricity. Since he was responsible for inventing so many unique things, it is likely that he had great power in swaying people to support the DC system over the AC system, despite clear advantages of the AC system.

        Reply
      33. Avatar
        Christina Hickey on August 12, 2016 12:26 pm

        The motivation behind Edison wanting to prove a point that AC transformers are dangerous is fine but proving it by showing cats and dogs getting electrocuted is not fine. Even after years of people finding execution interesting they still enjoy it since 1,500 went to see Topsy get electrocuted.

        Reply
      34. Avatar
        Peyton Elliott on August 12, 2016 2:28 pm

        Sad to know that Edison was only in it for the money and was willing to do anything to get it. Yes, Edison was a very smart man, but he used it in ways that should never had happened. The killing of dogs and cats for experiments is unacceptable.

        Reply
      35. Avatar
        Matt Grazia on August 12, 2016 4:08 pm

        I never knew what type of person Edison was. I would have thought that he was a great guy based on his inventions, but man I was wrong! He is evil for electrocuting animals all so he could make more money!

        Reply
      36. Avatar
        Nicholas Mog on August 12, 2016 4:16 pm

        I have always heard about the numerous inventions that Edison made in his lifetime. I never knew how how this man treated animals in order for his inventions to be used in the country. Edison seemed to care more about money than the fair treatment of animals.

        Reply
      37. Avatar
        Joshua Dzurko on August 12, 2016 7:56 pm

        Thomas Edison is still recognized today as a genius and brilliant inventor, but reading about the dark side of him definitely changes your perspective of him. I knew he was an advocate for DC electricity and about the poor elephant, but I did not know his main reason behind it was money. It always comes down to money. But good thing it did not work out. I can not imagine having a power plant a mile from every customer.

        Reply
      38. Avatar
        Hannah Grazia on August 12, 2016 11:58 pm

        Money is always the motive! I never knew Edison had a dark side to him. I always looked at him highly for all the great inventions he created. I do not understand how people think it is okay to test their inventions on animals. Poor Topsy the elephant.

        Reply
      39. Avatar
        Erin Kochan on August 13, 2016 1:42 pm

        I am so disappointed in Edison now. This is the first time I am learning about this and I am not impressed. Edison took on a dark side and took the lives of cats, dogs, and an elephant to prove that he was the “best”. Nothing is worth using the lives of mother living thing.

        Reply
      40. Avatar
        Sarah on August 13, 2016 7:06 pm

        Very surprising to me that a man who created many useful things was such a horrible human being. Animal cruelty is disgusting and if he was still alive he should be ashamed of himself, not only for the murder of an animal but for being greedy as well.

        Reply
      41. Avatar
        Robert Kratman on August 13, 2016 8:22 pm

        Never knew Edison to be the type of person who tries to halt progress being made. I like learning about the darker sides of people we hold up so highly.

        Reply
      42. Avatar
        Brandon Simpson on August 15, 2016 4:36 pm

        Interesting to hear the other side of people that are shown to be flawless. There is always the other side to everyone, everything.

        Reply
      43. Avatar
        Nikos Nacopoulos on August 15, 2016 5:05 pm

        Wow, this is a shocking article (no pun intended)! We have learned about so many brutal events in previous units, but it somehow seems more brutal the closer to present time we get. I cannot imagine a world where we’d need power plants everywhere! Thank you Westinghouse for winning!

        Reply
      44. Avatar
        Matt E. on August 17, 2016 1:33 pm

        I am surprised to learn how cynical Thomas Edison was. Also, how in the world do you hang an elephant?

        Reply
      45. Avatar
        joe leary on August 18, 2016 4:21 pm

        I am not sure at all how they expected to hang an elephant.

        Reply
      46. Avatar
        BS on September 10, 2016 11:36 pm

        Edison during the war of the currents was one of the most conniving and veracious attempts by and american businessman. Great film maker with an excellent sense of propaganda

        Reply
      47. Avatar
        Allison Lester on September 11, 2016 9:40 pm

        I think that this is a cruel way to prove a point. There had to have been a better way for Edison to prove that AC was more dangerous than DC.

        Reply
      48. Avatar
        Tim Burris on September 12, 2016 9:19 am

        I never knew Edison was such a greedy guy he was really out to make money that was it.

        Reply
      49. Avatar
        MM on September 12, 2016 1:18 pm

        I don’t blame Edison for pushing DC so much if he was on the verge of losing millions of dollars!

        Reply
      50. Avatar
        SR on September 16, 2016 3:33 pm

        How would it even be possible to hang an elephant?

        Reply
      51. Avatar
        AM on September 18, 2016 7:04 pm

        This made me angry, to know that a or elephant was experimented on and electrocuted. This was not necessary by any means.

        Reply
      52. Avatar
        EK on September 19, 2016 12:30 pm

        What a poor elephant! I am sure that Topsy did not intentionally kill those three people.

        Reply
      53. Avatar
        Liam Duncan on September 20, 2016 12:27 pm

        Its interesting to learn about the darker side of such a brilliant and respected inventor.

        Reply
      54. Avatar
        Jacob Oswalt on September 20, 2016 12:44 pm

        It’s weird to use ‘westinghoused’ to mean being electrocuted.

        Reply
      55. Avatar
        PS on September 20, 2016 12:47 pm

        It seemed like Edison was out for the fame and for him to film such a thing is unprofessional and disgusting.

        Reply
      56. Avatar
        VV on September 20, 2016 1:10 pm

        Never knew someone competed with Edison in regards to electricity in the US.

        Reply
      57. Avatar
        pw on September 20, 2016 2:52 pm

        I love elephants to this is sad to me! It really is interesting that someone competed with Edison.

        Reply
      58. Avatar
        jo on September 20, 2016 8:18 pm

        its horrible they tested the electric chair on a elephant.

        Reply
      59. Avatar
        Kayla Fox on September 21, 2016 11:01 pm

        I never knew Thomas Edison had such a dark side to him.

        Reply
      60. Avatar
        TC on September 22, 2016 12:50 pm

        I can not believe that they would test the electric chair on an elephant. This makes me so sad

        Reply
      61. Avatar
        AA on September 25, 2016 11:18 pm

        Animal cruelty laws were coming into effect in the 1800s, but I suppose it doesn’t surprise me that no one thought of this as cruel back then since humans were also being electrocuted then. I can’t believe they thought about hanging an elephant. That rope would have to be very strong to suspend an elephant!

        Reply
      62. Avatar
        LF on September 26, 2016 4:40 pm

        This is pretty terrible, Im not sombody who thinks killing animals is a horrible thing,but killing one for no reason, and like this, makes me feel pretty bad.

        Reply
      63. Avatar
        ES on September 27, 2016 8:44 pm

        It is very unethical how they tested some of the things back then.

        Reply
      64. Avatar
        CM on September 27, 2016 9:53 pm

        Makes me have a different perspective on Edison now. Knowing that he would do pretty much anything for money.

        Reply
      65. Avatar
        lm on October 1, 2016 12:22 pm

        we were always taught all the good things about edison and never the bad things. It is so sad to hear the terrible things he did to animals and it also makes me wonder what other historical people we have learned about also a have dark side to them.

        Reply
      66. Avatar
        mason saunders on October 4, 2016 12:58 pm

        Funny how back then they did this on elephants whereas they now do it on monkeys or lab rats.

        Reply
      67. Avatar
        MT on October 5, 2016 5:23 pm

        I actually first learned about the execution of Topsy the Elephant in the show bobs burgers. This was a event in history that was never talked about.

        Reply
      68. Avatar
        b_kinsinger on October 5, 2016 6:56 pm

        I think its terrible that they used an elephant to test the electric chair, but i think its terrible that they are still using other animals to test things today.

        Reply
      69. Avatar
        Allison Skerkavich on October 6, 2016 6:29 pm

        This is really disturbing, I would never condemn an animal to that kind of death. It doesn’t matter if the elephant killed anyone, they only act out of instinct.

        Reply
      70. Avatar
        David Birkbeck on October 9, 2016 2:46 pm

        It’s sad that they not only electrocuted Topsy but poisoned the elephant.

        Reply
      71. Avatar
        Reilly on October 9, 2016 8:39 pm

        …why are my eyes leaking?

        Reply
      72. Avatar
        Kelynn Heckman on October 24, 2016 10:04 am

        Forget Harambe let’s focus on Topsy. So sad and inhumane

        Reply
      73. Avatar
        Lori Caudill on October 31, 2016 1:26 pm

        It is unfortunate that animals are used for experimental purposes. Topsy was condemned for killing three people. If this situation were to occur in present time the animal would also be condemned and killed. I feel that the manner in which the execution was performed and publicity gained from the killing is unsettling. Why is such an event still being used in the filming industry?

        Reply
      74. Avatar
        Samantha Didion on November 1, 2016 12:55 pm

        In history it seems as though we treat Edison like a celebrity for his inventions but we often do not hear that he helped create the electric chair and was money driven.

        Reply
      75. Avatar
        Diana Minich on November 7, 2016 1:40 pm

        Smear campaigns and electrocuting animals, people will do horrible things for the love of money. I never knew there was even a fight over using AC or DC, or that Edison was such a cruel person.

        Reply
      76. Avatar
        Kristin Fellure on November 7, 2016 11:39 pm

        I did not know that Edison was such a horrible person. I cannot believe they would electrocute or hang an elephant.

        Reply
      77. Avatar
        Lessie Parish on November 8, 2016 9:47 am

        I never realized that Edison was involved in all of this. I never realized he was apart of the killing of a circus elephant which is really disturbing. I also never realized there was a dispute over AC and DC during the time and that Edison was the inventor of the electric chair.

        Reply
      78. Avatar
        Jennifer Maurer on November 8, 2016 11:43 am

        Oh my gosh!! What a horrible story. I never knew there was such a dark side to Edison.

        Reply
      79. Avatar
        Lydia Ott on November 8, 2016 2:13 pm

        I had no idea Edison worked to develop the electric chair. Also, I cannot believe money was so important to him that he electrocuted animals and poisoned an elephant to assist killing it by electrocution to show that AC was dangerous.

        Reply
      80. Avatar
        Jordin Vidmar on November 9, 2016 3:06 pm

        Hearing about this story makes me sick to my stomach. Being a huge animal lover, I cannot believe someone would “condemn” an elephant for killing three people. Elephants are meant to be in the wild, not in circuses. I do not blame the elephant for lashing out. I also do not think that Edison should have had any say in poisoning and electrocuting an elephant.

        Reply
      81. Avatar
        Dakota Zimmerman on November 9, 2016 3:10 pm

        I am amazed that one of the greatest inventors to have such a lust of monitary gain

        Reply
      82. Avatar
        Kala Strong on November 9, 2016 8:35 pm

        When you think of Thomas Edison you think of all the wonderful inventions he was a part of. It unbelievable to think that he was part of such a horrible case of mistreatment of the elephant.

        Reply
      83. Avatar
        Elizabeth Bon on November 10, 2016 7:50 pm

        Wow! This is a perfect example of what greed can do.For Edison being such a great inventor and a genius too boot, he lacked much empathy, very sad.

        Reply
      84. Avatar
        Audrey Manahan on November 11, 2016 8:34 am

        I had never even hear of Westinghouse until reading this article. This article shows the competition between inventors and brings a new side of the story.

        Reply
      85. Avatar
        Taylor Young on November 11, 2016 12:18 pm

        I did not know this side of Thomas Edison. Now that I know that he chose money over the safety of people, I am not sure how I feel. Although I am very grateful for his invention, I do not understand why inventors such as Edison, and Ford for example have to be so greedy and be all in it for money. They should be proud of their accomplishment that they made in the first place.

        Reply
      86. Avatar
        Alyssa Hanes on November 11, 2016 12:45 pm

        This is one of the saddest articles that I have ever read. I always thought of Thomas Edison as a wonderful inventor that used his brilliance to enhance our lives with electricity. The fact that he made this grid to kill such a beautiful creature as an elephant is sickening an shows what money and fame can truly do to the mentality of a person.

        Reply
      87. Avatar
        Ben McClay on November 11, 2016 5:13 pm

        I never realized that Thomas Edison and Westinghouse were such big rivals. One thing that really struck me is that Edison killed/electrocuted the elephant Topsy. I am not as appalled with this as Alyssa is because the elephant was supposed to die anyways. All in all, I did not realize that Edison had such a quirky side. I always thought of him as the man who invented the lightbulb.

        Reply
      88. Avatar
        Shannon Read on November 11, 2016 7:11 pm

        I had never heard about this side of Edison. I agree with Taylor on how I am grateful for the inventions that he made, but I am not sure how I feel about him as a person. I did find it interesting on how they planned on hanging Topsy. I am not sure how that would have worked. I do not agree that filming the electrocution of Topsy was proper to do just to show what AC could do.

        Reply
      89. Avatar
        Jingshan Jiang on November 12, 2016 4:12 pm

        In my memory, Edison was one of the greatest inventor in the world because he made the world to be brightened. The article is so interesting that it shows me another side of Edison. But, it is still hard to believe in.

        Reply
      90. Avatar
        Brandon Wagner on November 12, 2016 6:45 pm

        It was interesting to see that genius inventors are just as competitive and in pursuit of their own interest as politicians.

        Reply
      91. Avatar
        Rose Jepson on November 12, 2016 9:55 pm

        Wow, I’m shocked by what I just read. (No pun intended) Edison is not who I thought he was. Money can really make people do crazy things. I also was shocked to hear about Topsy almost being hung. I’ve never heard of animals being hung in the past like that for wrongdoings, only of them being shot.

        Reply
      92. Avatar
        Daina Thomas on November 13, 2016 10:33 am

        I was very surprised reading this article about Edison. I do remember learning briefly that he wasn’t who everyone thought he was in elementary school. I also still think it was to hang Topsy even if he was going to die.

        Reply
      93. Avatar
        Breanna Beckley on November 23, 2016 5:53 pm

        After reading this article I now know that Edison was not the person everyone made him out to be. I cannot believe that he chose money over the safety of people.

        Reply
      94. Avatar
        Travis Tarnowski on November 27, 2016 10:05 pm

        I have heard that Edison is sketchy and not what everyone thinks. This just made me realize a little bit more!

        Reply
      95. Avatar
        Michaela Ping on November 30, 2016 9:44 am

        It is always sad to see how people and animals can be affected by the greed of others.

        Reply
      96. Avatar
        Azia on November 30, 2016 9:49 pm

        It is so sad what greed can do to people.

        Reply
        • Avatar
          Jared Good on January 24, 2017 4:08 pm

          I know greed can be a bad thing and cause people to do crazy things.

          Reply
      97. Avatar
        Kody A. on December 4, 2016 9:43 pm

        Greed can be a terrible thing and it is sad to see how many people it actually affects.

        Reply
      98. Avatar
        Keagan Frey on December 7, 2016 8:20 pm

        I would think he did it to show off how strong his electricity was.

        Reply
      99. Avatar
        Hunter Music on December 10, 2016 12:10 am

        One real question, how do you hang an elephant? Anyhow, Edison’s greed got the best of him.

        Reply
      100. Avatar
        Alexis Dykes on December 10, 2016 4:20 pm

        This article came as a total surprise! I never thought of Edison as a cruel or greedy man, just a genius that was a staple figure in our history. This article shows him in a different light for sure.

        Reply
      101. Avatar
        SG on December 12, 2016 12:58 am

        Edison seems like a very greedy person this article made me think of this video we watched in class about Edison once again being greedy

        Reply
      102. Avatar
        Abeer Bin on December 15, 2016 12:13 pm

        I thing Edison has a god idea when he established Ac

        Reply
      103. Avatar
        Dan Sumpter on January 15, 2017 7:00 am

        Edison inventions definitely boosted the way we live. He had so many inventions, many went by the wayside. I guess you have to be a little unstable to play with electricity.

        Reply
        • Avatar
          John Milton on January 28, 2017 6:48 pm

          You probably also have to be unstable to be successful. From wht I am learning so far, success is not for the fainted heart and things have to be done, whether it is nice or not, to get a head of the game.

          Reply
      104. Avatar
        Kay McCargish on January 23, 2017 10:13 am

        This story is tragic! He was so desperate he would do anything! His DC plan was obviously a poor one in comparison to AC. He had to have seen this. Desperate times, desperate measures, I guess. I wish animal cruelty had not been a part of his smear campaign.

        Reply
        • Avatar
          Jared Good on January 24, 2017 4:06 pm

          I agree I don’t think he should of killed an animal to prove his point. There is other ways to rove it.

          Reply
      105. Avatar
        Cara Zang on January 23, 2017 2:18 pm

        I don’t think this was the best way to prove his point. I think he should of come up with some different ways to show the impact without getting involved with the death sentence of an elephant.

        Reply
      106. Avatar
        Jared Good on January 24, 2017 4:05 pm

        This was a battle between AC and DC current and I also agree that they both have good and bad with them. We use a lot of ac/dc current now. I think we should keep using it in the death penalty and not on animals. Bring back Old Sparky and show how this electric current works.

        Reply
      107. Avatar
        Luke Lyden on January 24, 2017 5:46 pm

        Thomas Edison was a brilliant individual, and he is from Ohio. The is crazy to think they were going to hang an elephant to death, that seems kind of harsh for an animal.

        Reply
      108. Avatar
        Jason Orellano on January 24, 2017 8:25 pm

        Money will make you do some desperate things. Especially when millions of dollars are on the line.

        Reply
      109. Avatar
        Kacey Kovac on January 24, 2017 9:37 pm

        I find it highly ironic that Edison was trying to use the word “Westinghoused” to replace the term electrocution when Edison was behind the creation that electrocuted people! I would be interested in how many volts of electricity it took to electrocute Topsy, but I’m sure it was quite a large amount!

        Reply
      110. Avatar
        Jared A. Hutt on January 25, 2017 9:38 am

        I always find it interesting to read about incidents like this, it’s horrifying to be sure, but it goes to show how far we’ve come in a relatively short amount of time.

        Reply
      111. Avatar
        Dan Fidoe on January 25, 2017 7:55 pm

        Great history about the invention of electricity and its war to be superior between DC and AC. The battle of advertising continues today with the many products battling for the market.

        Reply
      112. Avatar
        Shaun Emerick on January 25, 2017 11:30 pm

        Even though Topsy was going to be executed anyway this incident just goes to show what money can do to some people. Thomas Edison, regarded as one of our countries most famous inventors for his pioneering work in electricity, turned to awful smear campaigns and the execution of animals. All just to gain millions when he had already made a large profit in so many of his other inventions.

        Reply
      113. Avatar
        Jeffrey Keenan on January 26, 2017 6:54 pm

        Wow, I cannot believe that they were actually going to hang an elephant (Doesn’t seem like the most effiecient way to execute an animal of this size). This is the first that I have ever heard of Topsy the elephant. This was Edisons way of trying to convince people that DC was more safe than AC.

        Reply
      114. Avatar
        Jeremiah Linden on January 27, 2017 9:44 am

        Although I am an avid outdoorsman, I still believe animals should still be treated ethically. The execution of an animal for the sole purpose to make money is unnecessary. Topsy was removed from his natural element for the satisfaction for people’s entertainment

        Reply
      115. Avatar
        Sarah Marie Sykes on January 28, 2017 5:34 am

        What they did to this poor elephant is terrible. I cannot believe they were considering hanging the poor thing either

        Reply
      116. Avatar
        Shannon Smith on January 28, 2017 2:44 pm

        How horrible it is to learn what these poor animals went through! We see animals in a different light these days. I guess back then they were just defining human rights, so how were they ethically knowledgeable enough to know that electrocuting animals was not humane?

        Reply
      117. Avatar
        John Milton on January 28, 2017 6:44 pm

        It is extremely sad that someone who use an animal to make their point. An elephant should not be handled by humans anyway so it is no surprise that the elephant killed someone.

        Reply
      118. Avatar
        Michelle Ross on January 29, 2017 2:43 pm

        Animal cruelty is something that I have a really hard time with those people who commit those crimes. There are certain animals that are supposed to be wild and when humans try to tame, them something awful happens and the blame is always put on the animal. It’s sad to see that even back then animal cruelty was taking place.

        Reply
      119. Avatar
        Juan Rodriguez on January 29, 2017 9:30 pm

        I was shock to find out that Edison was so money hungry that he would be cruel to animals. This was something that I did not know about him and cruelty of animals is beyond acceptable to me or any other person just for to proof someone wrong over money. I always thought he was a great person, but I guess I was wrong.

        Reply
      120. Avatar
        Bailey Cleary on January 31, 2017 2:09 pm

        Animal cruelty is ridiculous and unexpected. The fact that they even thought about hanging an elephant is disgusting.

        Reply
      121. Avatar
        Nakia Bridges on March 14, 2017 1:08 pm

        Edison was a smart individual but to use animals and be cruel to them is disgusting. But the fact is he used this elephant to prove his point is way to disturbing and horrible. I guess he was more worried about being greedy then the well being of the animals which is just sick.

        Reply
      122. Avatar
        Angela Kessinger on March 25, 2017 3:11 pm

        Edison was a smart man and just like many today he was also greedy. He did however have to find a way to prove that DC current was the way to go. The use of an elephant is inhumane by today’s standards nevertheless this was not even a consideration back in this time period. I guess you could say in this aspect we have learned from history.

        Reply
      123. Avatar
        James Cole on March 26, 2017 2:31 pm

        After adding the article, and reading the other post, I am in an agreement that Thomas Edison was greedy, and cruel in proving his point. I think he could have chosen another way to do it. I think he could have used self-made dummies to prove his theory. There is no excuse to use animals to prove such things. I have always admired Thomas Edison, but after reading about this, I have my doubts.

        Reply
      124. Avatar
        Misty Prosser on March 27, 2017 10:53 am

        Edison was a horrible person it is sad what greed can do to a person. Why he felt that killing animals was acceptable is beyond me. For being as smart as he was one would have thought he could have come out on top using other ideas other than killing defenseless animals.

        Reply
      125. Avatar
        Jaisun on March 27, 2017 1:56 pm

        I’ve heard this myth before about Edison and Topsy. Thought I would share a few things. Topsy was sentenced to death by Luna Park officials after she had killed three men over a three-month period. That she had, under the goading of her drunken handler, menaced the local police and some workmen likely also influenced amusement park officials in their decision to rid themselves of the elephant (“Myth Buster-Topsy the elephant”, 2017). Once the park officials decided that electrocution would be used on Topsy, they needed the help of the local electric company-the Edison Electric Illuminating Company of Brooklyn, NY. This company used the Edison name because it originally used the Edison system of electric power generation under license from the EEIC. Edison had no personal role or was involved in the day to day operations of these companies.

        Reference

        “Myth Buster – The Edison Papers”. Edison.rutgers.edu. N.p., 2017. Web. 27 Mar. 2017.

        Reply
      126. Avatar
        Adrian Lewers on March 28, 2017 9:59 pm

        This was sad, that poor elephant. Where does Tessla come in to all of this. I thought he invented AC.

        Reply
      127. Avatar
        Michelle on March 28, 2017 10:39 pm

        Wow, if this is all true, its pretty crazy! I’ve read some information saying that Edison was not involved, and some information that says he was involved in the electrocution of Topsy. It is amazing to witness what some people will do for the sake of profit.

        Reply
      128. Avatar
        Megan on March 30, 2017 3:29 pm

        Smart man, but why animal cruelty? Maybe he was wanting to go big, and thought that by using the elephant it would help him.

        Reply
      129. Avatar
        Autum Alisa Grandstaff on March 31, 2017 4:21 pm

        I never knew that about the electric chair. I thought the soul purpose of it being created was for the death penalty. Interesting. I believe the only reason he turned to the elephant was to create shock value. This is a large, strong creature and electric can take it down easily.

        Reply
      130. Avatar
        Tiffany on April 1, 2017 2:49 pm

        This was by far the worst article I have read regarding Edison. Times were different then but what Edison did was just disgusting. I did, however, find it interesting that he was behind the scenes of he electric chair. It makes sense after reading this but at the same time it makes me wonder what kind of man he really was!

        Reply
      131. Avatar
        Kyle Gelenius on April 1, 2017 3:09 pm

        The information in this article was absolutely unbelievable to learn! Edison may have been a famous inventor, but if he lived today his inventions would be overshadowed by his apparent cruelty towards animals. It did not surprise me that he did everything he could to protect his business interests in order to make a considerable profit off his inventions. Incidentally, I doubt they would have been very successful in hanging Topsy. Hanging an elephant thing seems a little impracticable.

        Reply
      132. Avatar
        Jessica Kessinger on April 2, 2017 11:29 am

        I found this article very interesting as in school you learned how great Edison was and that he was remembered for his inventions. I had never heard such wild things about him such as his cruelty towards animals. I also never knew he was behind the electric chair. Such crazy things that history books do not tell you.

        Reply
      133. Avatar
        Patrick Barker on April 2, 2017 2:19 pm

        Very informative. Obviously, everyone puts Edison on a pedestal as a great inventor, but I enjoyed learning about his road to success. He was a very smart man. Although his schemes may have been morally terrible, they were intelligently calculated and they worked.

        Reply
      134. Avatar
        Ashley Betsa on April 3, 2017 7:34 am

        Not to take away from all the Edison has accomplished, but I am disappointed in his behavior to say the least. I am a huge animal lover and to know Edison was electrocuting animals to make a point against AC is disgusting and cruel to say the least. With how intelligent he was why did he just not develop something better than AC or try to advance his own DC?

        Reply
      135. Avatar
        Robin Crandel on April 3, 2017 4:27 pm

        I can see that there are animal cruelty issues existed then and now.

        Reply
      136. Avatar
        McKenna Kapper on April 13, 2017 12:19 pm

        It was sad to read about problems with animal credulity way back then. We still struggle today keeping animals in captivity and treating them poorly.

        Reply
      137. Avatar
        Yang Shao on April 19, 2017 12:35 pm

        It was sad to know that people were using cat and dog as part of test to finish their final work, Even though Edison was smart enough to invent the light, but animals should be treat as the same as the human beings.

        Reply
      138. Avatar
        KIMBERLY KESTNER on April 23, 2017 9:31 pm

        I know the cat and dog thing is unforgivable but he needed to get his point across without humans having to die. People do crazy things when it comes to money.

        Reply
      139. Avatar
        Justin Hodson on April 26, 2017 9:47 pm

        Wow! I had no idea Edison was such an individual. Anyone who is cruel to animals loses my respect.

        Reply
      140. Avatar
        WenYu Zhang on April 30, 2017 3:09 am

        Even though Edison was smart enough, but his behavior of animal abuse was not advocated in the past. As an inventor, he was inventing many thing for the people around the world to have more convenience.

        Reply
      141. Avatar
        Dani McBride on October 1, 2017 5:14 pm

        I think it is sad that Edison broadcasted an elephant being electrocuted by AC just so he could ingrain “Westinghoused” to mean being electrocuted. It makes it even worse that this horrible event is used in films and music videos.I also wonder how on earth they planned on hanging an elephant?

        Reply
      142. Avatar
        AP on October 1, 2017 7:59 pm

        Edison is a brilliant man but this article makes it seem like he cares more about money than the well being of the nation. As an inventor I would think you would side with the most practical option even if that is not your own invention. Also electrocuting an animal on purpose is very wrong and in today’s society would not be accepted.

        Reply
      143. Avatar
        CJ on October 1, 2017 8:30 pm

        Thee execution of the elephant is tragic to me because I adore elephants! While Edison was very smart and innovative, I do not agree with his decision to record the electrocution of the animal.

        Reply

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