The world has been shocked on more than one occasion when circus animals have turned on their trainers and injured, maimed, or even killed the trainer. And history tells the 1880 tale where such an unfortunate event occurred right here in the Tar Heel State. Take a moment and read all about the man crushed by an elephant in North Carolina.
His name was John King. King was a trainer for the John Robinson Circus which was, at the time, one of the largest traveling circus shows in the country.
FindAGrave/EMS
In September of 1880, the circus came to Charlotte to put on one of its four-ring, three-menagerie shows for an adoring public.
Wikipedia/Library of Congress LCCN2002719198 (public domain) Unlike today, when the population of Charlotte is quickly approaching the one million mark, the city was much smaller in 1800 and had only 7,900 residents.
The John Robinson Circus was known to feature camels, lions, llamas, tigers, hippos, giraffes, and elephants, among other performing animals.
Wikipedia/Atwell, Harry A., 1879-1957
After the shows wrapped up in Charlotte, the circus was loading up to depart on September 27, 1880 when an elephant named Chief turned on his trainer. In a fit of anger he crushed him.
Wikipedia/Public Domain
It’s said that every bone in King’s body was broken. And King didn’t survive.
Waymarking/Manville Possum It’s said that Chief ended up being sent to a zoo in Cincinnati… where he eventually killed two more people.
John King’s friends and coworkers in the John Robinson Circus banded together to erect a very respectable headstone to mark the site of his grave.
FindAGrave/Bibs
You can see it any day of the week at Elmwood Cemetery’s 6th Street entrance.
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Did you know about this unfortunate circus incident from more than 140 years ago? Who knew there was a man crushed by an elephant in North Carolina? The John Robinson Circus was family owned from 1842 until 1911 and was managed by four generations of Robinsons before selling to the American Circus Corporation – which eventually sold to Ringling Bros.
FindAGrave/EMS
Wikipedia/Library of Congress LCCN2002719198 (public domain)
Unlike today, when the population of Charlotte is quickly approaching the one million mark, the city was much smaller in 1800 and had only 7,900 residents.
Wikipedia/Atwell, Harry A., 1879-1957
Wikipedia/Public Domain
Waymarking/Manville Possum
It’s said that Chief ended up being sent to a zoo in Cincinnati… where he eventually killed two more people.
FindAGrave/Bibs
Google Maps
For another unexpected grave to get a peek at in North Carolina: Few People Know Wolfman Jack Is Buried In The Front Yard Of A House In North Carolina.
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Address: Historic Elmwood/Pinewood Cemeteries, 700 W 6th St, Charlotte, NC 28202, USA
