Death by Elephant

Harry Dale really did run away and join the circus but it turned out to be his death.
Circus’ were huge attractions in the late 19th and early 20th century.
But far from the type of spectacle they are now, these were the old style - dangerous animals, tricks, clowns and trapeze artists in a big ring.
People flocked to them.
Even the strange performing flea circus that toured the South Island in 1889-90 as part of the New Zealand and South Seas exhibition.
Along with a switchback railway or roller coaster, a camera obscura, the Fat Family, Jo-Jo the Russian Dog Faced Boy (who was said to resemble a Skye terrier), Unzie the frizzy-haired and gentlemanly Circassian Albino, and two replicas of the Eiffel Tower, the fleas were quite the attraction.
Professor Upini (sometimes Ubini) was travelling with his troupe of world celebrated performing fleas - the first to visit New Zealand - and he set up in a building in George St.
His fleas performed feats of strength pulling chariots, a wheeled (miniature) elephant and a cab.
Newspapers even reported that they chopped wood and carried water.
They had extraordinary names, like Boulanger and Bismarck, and fought duels with swords and one named Tom was a miniature strong man.
A local newspaper even gave a hilarious (and ridiculous) story about how the fleas were trained.
The whole thing was hugely popular.
Very little is known about Signor Upini except he came from London and claimed his grandfather was who had perfected educating fleas.
One of the biggest circuses to visit New Zealand regularly was the Wirth Bros. Formed by Philip Wirth and his brother George, officially opening in 1880, the circus travelled throughout New Zealand several times over 60 years. It was usually based in Australia and coming over must have been quite the exercise for its biggest attractions were its elephants.
Their first elephant was bought from Burma
In 1909 the whole circus were heading off on the road from Hastings when they came across a steam traction engine stuck in shingle by the Waipawa River. The driver asked if the elephants could pull it out.
Five elephants were hooked up and managed to pull it out.
One of the elephants was Toby, who was considered bad tempered.
Later that year, back in Australia Harry Dale, who was a New Zealander, was in charge of Toby while transporting materials to a train at the railway station. Toby pinned Harry against a railway truck, crushing him badly.
Harry died June 27, 1909 and is buried at Apple Tree Creek Cemetery in Queensland. His gravestone says he was a member of the Wirth Bros circus.​