t^i ^vi^^t^ 



fully injured, followed, and found Ben lying under 

 the wagon licking his bleeding sides. So grateful 

 was he to Ben for saving his life that he dressed the 

 little bear's wounds before giving attention to his 

 own, and remained in camp several days, giving 

 Ben every possible attention and opportunity to 

 recover. We can understand his saying of Ben 

 Franklin: "The most excellent of all beasts, as 

 faithful as it is possible for any animal to be; Ben 

 Franklin, the king of the forest, the flower of his 

 race, my firmest friend." 



. The following tribute to Ben Franklin appeared 

 in the San Francisco "Evening Bulletin" of Janu- 

 ary 19, 1858: — 



"death of a distinguished 

 native californian 



"Ben Franklin, the grizzly bear, the favorite of 

 the Museum man, Adams, the companion for the 

 last three or four years of his various expeditions in 

 the mountains and his sojourns in the cities and 

 towns of California, departed from this mortal ex- 

 istence on Sunday evening, at 10 o'clock. The noble 

 brute, which was captured at the head-waters of 

 the Merced River in 1854, had been raised by his 



220 



