Stories, quotes and anecdotes from Appalachia. 1880s-1950s era.

Category: Carnivals & circuses

The day they hung Murderous Mary the elephant

On September 13, 1916 a five-ton circus elephant was executed, hung from a 100-ton Clinchfield railroad crane car, in the little town of Erwin, TN.

There was a circus at Little Creek; they drove them back over the mountain to take them back and elephants and giraffes had no problem.

After spending much of their lives on tour, the Bunkers settled in Mount Airy. They married sisters and raised a total of 21 children.

The man never made any money out of the water circus. Well, I’ll tell you, he went down the river, made all the river towns aware.

Ever wonder why you came home from the carnival empty handed? Swindled? Well, maybe! This 1930 Modern Mechanix article explains the set-up.

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