In the late 19th century, P.T. Barnum traveled across the United States revolutionizing the American circus with the act he dubbed “The Greatest Show on Earth.” It was meant to be a spectacle above all other spectacles, an experience that would capture the imagination and leave audiences questioning the limits of human nature.
In order to raise such a production Barnum had to search high and low, to the far reaches of the continental United States and beyond, for the rarest talents, the most bizarre oddities and the most marvelous expositions the world had ever known. Among Barnum’s stable were bearded ladies, mummified mermaids and miniature men, but few matched the popularity of Jumbo the elephant.
Born in 1861, Jumbo was a large African bush elephant that was imported from Sudan to France before finally finding a home at the London Zoo in 1865. As years passed, Jumbo became known as the friendly elephant that offered rides to zoo visitors. Jumbo even earned the title, “The children’s friend.” As is often the case, however, Jumbo eventually grew tired of his London surroundings and in fits of restlessness, began to act up around zoo attendants and other bystanders.
In 1882, despite over 100,000 English school children writing the Queen to urge otherwise, the London Zoo sold Jumbo to Barnum for use in his traveling circus. Jumbo’s arrival in New York was somewhat of a spectacle in itself as spectators swarmed to witness the newest acquisition to Barnum’s ever growing sideshow. Barnum claimed Jumbo was the largest elephant on the planet, and the event was chronicled in newspapers across the country.
Within months the 13-foot tall wonder became the main attraction of Barnum’s show, often-featured front and centre in the circus’ advertisements and posters. Jumbo was a giant draw for Barnum and company and even had a custom built carriage and a specialty handler. On occasion, Barnum even used Jumbo’s image to endorse products such as Centaur Liniment, an ointment that promised to cure all pains.
After nearly three years on top of the world, Jumbo’s life came to an abrupt end on Sept. 15, 1885, when the great elephant was struck by a train and died shortly thereafter. Legend has it that on that fateful night, in the town of St. Thomas, Ontario, Jumbo was attempting to save the life of a younger elephant when he was struck by an unscheduled express train traveling opposite Barnum’s circus. In the blink of an eye, Barnum’s “Greatest Show on Earth” had lost its brightest star. It took nearly 150 circus workers to haul Jumbo’s body away from the train tracks.
After his death, Jumbo’s heart was sold to Cornell University, his skeleton donated to the American Museum of Natural History and his stuffed hide to Tufts University. Jumbo’s hide remained at Tufts for nearly a century before it was destroyed in a fire in 1975. The great elephant’s ashes are currently kept in a Peter Pan Crunchy Peanut Butter jar at Tufts where Jumbo has remained, ever since 1889, the school’s mascot.
In 1985, the town of St. Thomas erected a life-sized elephant statue as a commemorative tribute to the 19th century circus star.
Jumbo’s name was originally derived from the Swahili jumbe, meaning chief, but in the West it took on a whole new meaning: large, enormous, colossal. For their names, the jumbo jet, the jumbo shrimp and the jumbo hotdog can all thank the great African elephant who, thanks to his brief time in Barnum’s circus, may just be the most famous elephant who ever lived.
