January 7 - The Current War's Casualty: How Topsy Changed History

Breaking Free from the Lure of Spectacle

Jan 07, 2025

This is the day Thomas Edison staged the public electrocution of Topsy, a circus elephant, at Luna Park on Coney Island in 1903.

In today's lesson, we will explore a disturbing chapter in entertainment history that challenges us to examine our own consumption of spectacle and sensation. How do our entertainment choices shape our spiritual sensitivity? What responsibility do we bear when we participate in making spectacles of suffering? This historical incident from Coney Island forces us to confront uncomfortable questions about progress, entertainment, and our moral obligations as followers of Christ.

"I will not look with approval on anything that is vile. I hate what faithless people do; I will have no part in it." - Psalm 101:3 (NIV)

This Date in History

A crowd gathered at Luna Park on Coney Island, cameras rolling, as handlers led a massive, chained elephant to the execution grounds. The air was thick with tension and morbid curiosity as Topsy, once a star circus performer but now deemed dangerous after killing three handlers, took her final steps. What was about to unfold would become a disturbing spectacle at the intersection of entertainment, industrial rivalry, and the dawn of a new electrical age.

Topsy's path to this fate was paved with tragic circumstances. The 28-year-old Asian elephant had spent most of her life entertaining crowds in the Forepaugh Circus, where she developed a reputation for both intelligence and unpredictability. Her final act of aggression - killing a spectator who had burned her trunk with a lit cigar - sealed her fate. Luna Park's owners, Thompson and Dundy, initially planned to hang her, but the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals intervened, objecting to this method of execution.

Enter Thomas Edison's company, which proposed electrocution as a more "humane" alternative. This was no simple act of mercy, however. Edison had been waging a fierce campaign against his rival George Westinghouse's alternating current (AC) electrical system, promoting his own direct current (DC) technology as the safer option. The elephant's execution would serve as a dramatic demonstration of AC's lethal potential.

The execution was meticulously planned. At 2:45 PM, after being fed carrots laced with 460 grams of potassium cyanide, Topsy was led to a platform where workers attached copper-lined sandals to her feet. A crowd of over 1,500 spectators watched as Edison's film crew positioned their cameras. When the signal was given, a 6,600-volt AC current surged through her body. The mighty elephant collapsed within seconds.

Edison's company captured the entire event on film, titled "Electrocuting an Elephant." Though Edison himself wasn't present, the footage became one of his most requested films, distributed to nickelodeons across the country. The film served its intended purpose as propaganda in the "War of Currents," Edison's campaign to discredit AC power.

The event occurred during a transformative period in American history. The nation was rapidly industrializing, and the race to electrify America had become intensely competitive. Meanwhile, public attitudes toward animal welfare were evolving, with organizations like the SPCA gaining influence. The emergence of film as a medium for mass entertainment added another layer to this complex moment, as audiences became increasingly hungry for sensational content.

This public execution marked a dark convergence of business rivalry, technological advancement, and entertainment in early twentieth-century America. The "War of Currents" would eventually end with AC power becoming the standard for electrical distribution, despite Edison's dramatic demonstrations of its dangers. Topsy's death stands as a disturbing reminder of how commercial interests can manifest in unexpected and cruel ways.

Historical Context

America at the turn of the 20th century was embroiled in the "War of Currents," with Thomas Edison's Direct Current (DC) system facing fierce competition from George Westinghouse and Nikola Tesla's Alternating Current (AC) system. This technological battle had already spawned public demonstrations of electrical danger, including the development of the electric chair. Meanwhile, the emerging film industry was establishing itself as a powerful medium for both documentation and propaganda, with Edison's film company regularly capturing news events and spectacles for distribution to nickelodeons across the country.

Coney Island had become America's premier amusement destination, with its three major parks drawing millions of visitors annually to witness spectacles and sensations. While organizations like the ASPCA were beginning to challenge traditional practices in animal entertainment, their influence remained limited. The concept of animal rights was still in its infancy, and exotic performers in circuses and menageries remained subject to harsh treatment despite growing public awareness of animal welfare issues.

Did You Know?
Topsy was named after a character in "Uncle Tom's Cabin," a common practice for performing elephants in that era. The original Topsy was a young enslaved girl known for her mischievous nature.
Despite Edison's intense campaign against AC power, which included the electrocution of various animals, Westinghouse's AC system ultimately won the "War of Currents" because it could transmit electricity over longer distances more efficiently.
The copper sandals used in Topsy's electrocution were specially designed and manufactured for the execution, highlighting the premeditated nature of the event.

Today’s Reflection

In 1903, a crowd gathered at Coney Island, not for joy or wonder, but to witness a harrowing act: the execution of Topsy the elephant. More than documentation, her death was filmed and distributed as entertainment, sent to nickelodeons across the country. A century later, the same grim fascination persists, though now it plays out on screens and social media feeds. Why are we drawn to such spectacles? And what does this say about the state of our hearts?

The Bible offers guidance for this struggle. David declared in Psalm 101:3 (NIV): "I will not look with approval on anything that is vile. I hate what faithless people do; I will have no part in it." This commitment goes beyond simply avoiding evil. David's words challenge us to actively reject anything that trivializes suffering or glorifies sin. When we find amusement in cruelty or humiliation, we risk becoming desensitized to things that should break our hearts.

This spiritual problem isn't new. As spectators in 1903 turned Topsy's death into entertainment, today we do the same with reality TV, viral videos, and sensational news. 1 John 2:15 (NIV) warns: "Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, love for the Father is not in them." When we consume content that profits from others' suffering, we align ourselves with worldly values rather than God's heart of compassion.

We might think we're merely observers, but our attention fuels the continuation of harmful spectacles. Each click, view, and share sends a message that such content is acceptable—even desirable. Instead, let's make the prayer of Psalm 119:37 (NIV) our own: "Turn my eyes away from worthless things; preserve my life according to your word." This verse invites us to examine what captures our attention and ask whether it helps or hinders our walk with Christ.

The Christian response to the spectacle of sin must go beyond mere abstention. We're called to cultivate hearts that reflect God's compassion and justice. This means actively choosing what we watch, share, and participate in. It means asking ourselves whether our entertainment choices honor the dignity of all God's creation or contribute to a culture that trivializes suffering.

In our digital age, this challenge is constant. How do we develop spiritual discernment to recognize when entertainment crosses the line from harmless amusement into harmful exploitation? Philippians 4:8 (NIV) offers a roadmap: "Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things." By choosing to dwell on what is excellent and praiseworthy, we fill our hearts with what reflects God's character.

Our choices about what we consume reflect and shape our spiritual character. When we reject entertainment that makes light of suffering or exploitation, we align ourselves with God's heart and maintain our spiritual sensitivity. Imagine a world where Christians choose compassion over cruelty, dignity over derision, and love over fleeting amusement. Every choice we make, every click and share, can help build that world, one step at a time. Let's choose wisely.

Practical Application

Take time today to audit your media consumption. Review your recent viewing history, social media engagement, and entertainment choices. Identify content that might be desensitizing you to suffering or exploitation. Create specific boundaries for what you will and won't consume, writing them down as concrete guidelines. Consider replacing sensational or cruel content with media that uplifts, educates, or genuinely entertains without causing harm to others.

Final Thoughts

The exploitation of Topsy for public spectacle serves as a sobering reminder of humanity's capacity to normalize cruelty for entertainment and profit. Our consumption choices shape not only our personal character but our collective moral compass. As Christians, we must actively choose to turn away from spectacles that degrade and destroy, instead cultivating hearts that reflect God's compassion for all His creation.