Topsy, the unfortunate circus elephant, was electrocuted to death in a demonstration of the dangers of alternating current on January 4, 1903. Though, to be fair, Topsy was hardly an angel. She’d killed three men in three years and was scheduled to be put down anyway. Still, I’m at a loss as to how I would have reacted when, after having gone to Coney Island for a day of entertainment, I was faced with an electrocuted elephant. My mind, it boggles.