Why does a grave in Elmwood Cemetery feature an elephant standing beneath a palm tree?

In the 1880s, a group called the John Robinson Circus was traveling around the country and performing for enthusiastic crowds. That September, when the circus come to Charlotte, it brought an elephant named Chief, his mate Mary, and their calf known as The Boy, along with the trainer for all of them, a man named John King.

On Sept. 27, Chief had what some called a fit from a surge of testosterone and crushed John King with his weight, pushing him against his own cage. He then ran up the Trade Street railroad tracks to 5th Street before crossing Tryon. He was finally caught on Church Street.

King died the following day from the injuries and a hearse pulled by four white horses took him to Charlotte’s Elmwood Cemetery. Mary and The Boy walked in their trainer’s funeral procession. King was buried beneath an almost five-foot-tall grave that includes an engraving of an elephant standing beneath a palm tree.

See John King’s Grave

WHAT: The grave of the elephant trainer who died in Charlotte.

WHERE: Elmwood Cemetery, 700 W. 6th St., section A2.

COST: Free.

PRO TIP: Wonder what happened to Chief? After being moved to the Cincinnati Zoo he killed two more trainers before being put down — and then was served for dinner at Cincinnati’s Palace hotel.

This story comes from Sarah Crosland’s book “Secret Charlotte: A Guide to the Weird, Wonderful, and Obscure,” which you can buy on Amazon here or at local shops like Park Road Books and Paper Skyscraper. It’s a great read for anyone who loves Charlotte — and we’re not just saying that because she’s our boss.

Photo: Sarah Crosland

This story was originally published May 16, 2017 at 9:39 PM with the headline "Why does a grave in Elmwood Cemetery feature an elephant standing beneath a palm tree?."