Harris Nickel Plate Shows in United States

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Harris Nickel Plate Shows

Type	circus
Founded	1887
Closed down	1902
Country	United States
Related persons
Owner	1887-1902: William Harris

Zoological department
Animal trainers
-1896: Frank Scott

Elephant department

Elephant Trainer	-1902: Bernard Shea -1902: Bernard Shea -1902: James "Whiskey Red" O'Rourke -1895: Bernard Shea

Record history
History of updates	2025-03-23: poster, news article

Latest document update	2025-03-23 13:11:11

Description

Harris Nickel Plate Shows, United States , was founded in 1887. Harris Nickel Plate Shows closed down in 1902.

Casualties

2 casualties

1885: elephant trainer Bernard Shea attacked by Empress (Gypsy). Shea rode Gypsy to a stream so she could cool herself. There, Gypsy’s Trunk grabbed Shea and shoved him underwater. Bernard Shea Survived. Wriggling free, Shea subdued Gypsy in a “brutal” manner, which Johnston does not detail. “Shea quit the show after this incident, knowing it was only a matter of time before (Gypsy) would kill him.”
1896: animal trainer Frank Scott fatal attack by Empress (Gypsy). Bernard Shea was away and animal handler Frank Scott ignored warnings to leave Gypsy alone. He exercised her. Scott climbed onto Gypsy’s back and sat on her head, the usual custom for riding an elephant. Riding down an alley, “Gypsy caught (Scott) with her Trunk and hurled him to the ground,” according to the Johnston article. “Using her front Feet, she stomped the life out of him. † Frank Scott Died 1896, Harris Nickel Plate Shows Circus winter quarters, Chicago. Shea was contacted at once. He hurried back to the show to be greeted by Gypsy with happy snorting and trumpeting. But Gypsy’s love for trainer Bernard Shea was a temperamental one.

Comments / picturesFounded by William Harris of Cooksville, Canada.

References for records about Harris Nickel Plate Shows

Recommended Citation

Koehl, Dan (2025). Harris Nickel Plate Shows, Elephant Encyclopedia. Available online at https://www.elephant.se/location2.php?location_id=798. (archived at the Wayback machine)

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