The First Circus Elephants in America
The first circus elephant to arrive in America was brought by Captain Jacob Crowninshield from India. Captain Crowninshield and the elephant arrived in New York on April 12, 1796. The elephant, which was never named, cost $450 was imported from India. Soon after her arrival she was sold to a man named Owen for $10,000. Owen and the elephant toured throughout New England spending the first winter in Philadelphia where Owen tried to charge people 50 cents to see her.
Even though the animal was advertised as a male, she was actually a female. People were unwilling to pay 50 cents to see the elephant and soon the price was lowered to a quarter. The last mention of this elephant was on July 25, 1818, in York, Pennsylvania. There is no recorded evidence of what happened to this elephant.
The second elephant in America was brought to Boston in 1804 by Edward Savage. She was soon ought by Hachaliah Bailey originally to do farm work since elephants require little water and the area was experiencing a severe drought. In 1808, Mr. Bailey sold two shares of the elephant for $1200 each.
The elephant was named Old Bet and soon Mr. Bailey discovered there was more money to be made with touring with Old Bet than in farming. He would walk Old Bet from one city to the next including on Sundays when many settlers found it wrong to work. In 1816, some of these settlers chose to kill Old Bet for working on Sundays. She was stuffed and continued to be exhibited.
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Very interesting research about elephants and circus. Your blog is simply amazing. Keep the great write-up !