Cass High School’s thespians put on a student-directed competition at Harleton High School of “Elephants’ Graveyard,” winning many awards for their heart-wrenching rendition. Specifically, Charli Shane won the Best Director award, Anna Marie Boughton won Best Actress, and Shelby Lowery and Andrew Pitts won All-Star cast. We are very proud of our Cass High thespians for their strenuous efforts. The plot of “Elephants’ Graveyard” is a true story of Erwin, Tennessee.  

In September of 1916, in the overlooked town of Erwin, Tennessee, a surprising lynching took place that changed Erwin forever. Mary, a five-ton elephant being charged with murder, was to be hanged and killed.  

Mary was the main attraction of Sparks Circus in the early 1900s. She played show tunes on a trumpet and played basketball as part of her act. During a parade, Mary strayed from her line momentarily towards a discarded watermelon rind. The man atop Mary’s back, Red Eldridge, forcefully tried to get Mary back on the right path. She did not react right away and was again torn into by Eldridge’s bullhook. Mary had enough. She reached back with her great trunk and slashed him to the ground. Then Mary, in her wild rampage, squashed Eldridge’s head with her foot.  

The residents of the small town of Erwin blamed Mary for the tragic incident that occurred that day. The adopted the chant, “Kill the elephant!” A man in the crowd even shot Mary several times with no effect on the elephant. Sparks knew he had to give into these demands if he wanted to keep his circus alive. Filthy ideas of how to kill Mary filled the air. Poison. Electrocution. Crushing her between two railway engines.  

Hang her.  

The next day the town’s population gathered around a 100-ton crane. Mary entered with her four fellow elephants for comfort. As the chain was wrapped around Mary’s neck, the smaller elephants began to trumpet in protest. In fear that Mary would try to run off, she was tethered to a rail by her foot. Slowly, painstakingly, Mary was lifted into the air. Before she could get five feet into the air the crane strained and pulled and then-  

CRRRRACK  

Mary’s bones had been ripped and broken. No one had untied her foot from the track. She was being pulled at both ends. Ripped apart. Then the chain broke. Mary fell to the ground with a chilling thud. The hugs elephant had broken her hip in the fall. She lay there unable to get up. A thicker chain was put around her neck and she was again lifted into the air. Mary thrashed in protest but soon fell still.  

Mary was buried in a huge grave and is remembered to this day.