Thomas Edison's movie crew filmed the electrocution of an elephant. Topsy was being destroyed by its owners after she killed three men in as many years. The third was a man that fed her a lit cigarette. The event was a public spectacle to a paying audience of 1500 people in Coney Island, where the elephant had been kept on the show. Edison was the consultant chosen to arrange the electrocution death after cyanide-laced carrots had failed. Thereafter, he showed the film around the country as part of his unsuccessful effort to discredit the “dangerous” alternating current of George Westinghouse, and promote Edison's direct current electrical system. Eventually, A.C. was universally adopted, however, as more practical for long-distance transmission.

The first fully automated subway train began revenue service with passengers in New York City. This began a six-month trial period as a shuttle 2,600-ft between the Times Square and Grand Central stations. A ceremony was followed by a run carrying invited guests and reporters. Next day, it began service for three hours each morning and evening rush hours. With a top speed of 30 m.p.h., a round trip took 4-1/2 mins including waiting time in the station. The three-car train carried a stand-by motorman. A strike threat by the Transport Workers Union had delayed an earlier scheduled trial beginning the previous 15 Dec, and resulted in a contract agreement that a motorman would still be aboard each train during the trial period. It remained in service until 21 Apr 1964, until destroyed by the spread of a nearby major fire in a station.«