Episode 164 Circus Tragedies and Mysteries of the South

Southern Mysteries Podcast

Shannon Ballard

True Crime, Society & Culture, History

4.8 • 918 Ratings

🗓️ 28 April 2025

⏱️ 27 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

The American circus promised wonder and spectacle—but behind the big top was a hidden world of danger, tragedy, and loss. In this episode, we explore the dark history of the circus, from deadly train wrecks and animal attacks to the mysterious death of aerialist Eva Clark. Discover the true stories of Clyde Beatty’s near-fatal encounter with lions and tigers, the public executions of elephants Mary and Black Diamond, and how their legacies changed the circus forever. Want more Southern Mysteries? Hear the Southern Mysteries show archive of 60+ episodes along with Patron exclusive podcast, Audacious: Tales of American Crime and more when you become a patron of the show. You can immediately access exclusive content now at patreon.com/southernmysteries Connect Website: southernmysteries.com Facebook: Southern Mysteries PodcastInstagram: @southernmysteriesEmail: [email protected] Episode Sources "Elephant Parade Erwin 2018." Elephant Parade. https://www.elephantparade.com/parades/erwin-2018 "From the Circus Train Wreck to the Man o’ War: History of the Railroad in Columbus (Part 3 of 3)." Historic Columbus. https://www.historiccolumbus.com/post/from-the-circus-train-wreck-to-the-man-o-war-history-of-the-railroad-in-columbus-part-3-of-3 "Mary the Elephant Hanging: 100 Years Later." WBIR-TV Knoxville. https://www.wbir.com/article/news/local/mary-the-elephant-hanging-100-years-later/51-ee92f081-718d-4da6-bb6d-8be8dbe2b8b6 The Tennessean, via Newspapers.com. Image of article on Black Diamond the elephant. https://www.newspapers.com/image/385756327/?match=1&terms=black%20diamond%20elephant The Daily Times (Maryville, Tennessee), via Newspapers.com. https://www.newspapers.com/image/898209095/ "Clyde Beatty." Circuses and Sideshows. https://www.circusesandsideshows.com/owners/clydebeatty.html "Elephant Hotel Historical Marker." Explore PA History. https://explorepahistory.com/hmarker.php?markerId=1-A-1DB Wikipedia contributors. Various entries on Mary the Elephant, Black Diamond, and circus history. Wikipedia. https://www.wikipedia.org "Execution of Mary the Elephant." WHSV-TV. https://www.whsv.com Aine Norris. Circus history articles. AineNorris.info. https://www.ainenorris.info Episode Music Out of the Mines, courtesy of Ross Gentry, Asheville, North Carolina

Transcript

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0:00.0	Every crowd has a silver lining.
0:17.0	That was the belief of P.T. Barnum, the man who turned the circus into a spectacle, unlike
0:22.4	anything the world had ever seen. To him, a circus crowd wasn't just an audience. It was an
0:29.3	opportunity. No matter the challenges, no matter the risk, as long as the crowds came, there
0:35.8	was always something to gain.
0:40.8	But Barnum's words only tell part of the story.
0:46.9	Behind the bright lights and the marvel of the big top were stories of loss, tragedy,
0:50.5	and lives cut short in the name of entertainment.
0:56.7	These forgotten stories, the one circus showmen never wanted their audiences to hear,
1:04.0	are the hidden history of the circus. Welcome to Southern Mysteries, exploring Southern History and True Crime. I'm your host, Shannon Ballard. This is episode 164, circus tragedies and mysteries of the South.
1:19.6	Showmen know what audiences want and figure out how to give it to them. They understand drama,
1:26.7	suspense, and the all-important visual appeal,
1:30.2	making a show feel grand and unforgettable. Perhaps the most famous circus showman, P.T. Barnum,
1:37.3	co-founded Barnum and Bailey's greatest show on earth, and his marketing schemes popularized the
1:42.7	three-ring circus.
1:46.5	Long before the greatest show on earth,
1:50.8	the American circus began in Philadelphia in 1793,
1:54.5	created by a trick-writing juggler from England,
1:56.2	John Bill Ricketts, the circus showcased writing acts, clown performances,
2:00.5	and tight-rope walking.
2:02.5	But everything came crashing down for Rickett's circus in 1799.
2:08.0	The year his pantheon circus building burned to the ground after a carpenter left a candle in the scenery storage room.
	...

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