McDonald, On January 4 1903, after being fed carrots laced...

On January 4 1903, after being fed carrots laced with 460 grams of potassium cyanide, Topsy was led to her execution. A hawser (a heavy rope) was place around her neck, one end attached to a “donkey engine” and the other to a post. Wooden sandals lined with copper were attached to her feet, and these were connected by a copper wire to the Edison electric light plant. It took 6600 volts of electricity less than one minute to kill her, and ‘Electrocuting an Elephant’ captures every uncomfortable moment of it. Edison was trying to “prove” that Tesla’s AC power was dangerous by showing that it could kill an elephant. 50s