Killed by an elephant (John King) - Elmwood Cemetery - Charlotte, North Carolina, USA
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N 35° 14.068 W 080° 50.840
17S E 513891 N 3899056
The grave marker for John King who was killed by an elephant in Charlotte, North Carolina in September of 1880.
Waymark Code: WM14YNX
Location: North Carolina, United States
Date Posted: 09/13/2021
Views: 5
Here in Elmwood cemetery of Charlotte, North Carolina is the grave marker for John King who was killed by an elephant named Chief in September of 1880. King was an animal trainer for John Robinson Circus, which was leaving Charlotte on September 27, 1880 when he was deliberately crushed to death by an unhappy elephant named Chief.
His headstone is made from white marble and is approximately five feet tall in a four sided obelisk shape about a foot and a half wide at it's base and tapers to a point on top. It was hand carved and signed by stone mason C.H. Berryhill of Charlotte, NC.
It's in excellent condition for it's age and has been cleaned in recent years.
The headstone depicts an elephant standing beneath a palm tree and was commissioned by his friends and fellow circus performers.
Above the relief carving of the elephant and palm tree the marker text reads:
Erected by the members of John Robinson Circus.
Below the relief carving of the elephant and palm tree the marker memorial text reads:
In memory of John King
Killed at Charlotte N.C. Sept 27 1880
by the elephant Chief.
May he rest in peace.
On the lower right front of the markers pedestal it is signed C.H. Berryhill Charlotte, N.C.
His findagrave memorial:
John King
BIRTH unknown
DEATH 27 Sep 1880
Charlotte, Mecklenburg County, North Carolina, USA.
BURIAL Elmwood Cemetery
Charlotte, Mecklenburg County, North Carolina, USA.
PLOT A-11
MEMORIAL ID 38975885
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More information on King's death and Cheif's fate.
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