James Capen Adams 45 



the origin of the book and his recollection of Adams. In 

 reply I received the following letter: 



San Francisco, December 15, 1907, 

 Mr. W. H. Wright. 



Dear Sir: Your letter in relation to "The Adventures of James 

 Capen Adams, etc.," has given me great pleasure. The book, 

 unfortunately, was published in the exciting and excited days of 

 i860, just before the breaking out of the Civil War, and was 

 never properly placed before the public; but it is gratifying to 

 find that it did here and there reach readers who became inter- 

 ested in it. It is possible, and indeed, likely, that it will be re- 

 published, and, if so, it will contain a preface giving an account 

 of how I became acquainted with Adams and came to write his 

 story, and a postscript relating to his death and what became of 

 his big bears, so far as known to me. 



Your own work in hunting and studying the grizzly excites 

 my lively interest, and particularly so as you say my book, to 

 some extent at least, directed your attention to the subject. As 

 to the questions you ask, or any other inquiries you may make, 

 I will cheerfully give you all the information within my knowledge. 



Ben Franklin, Adams's favorite bear, died in San Francisco; 

 but as my papers are not at hand, I cannot be certain just now 

 about the exact date. According to my recollection, it was in the 

 summer of 1859. About the end of that year Adams went East, 

 carrying his animals in a sailing vessel around Cape Horn, but 

 without his finest specimen. I knew Ben Franklin well, often 

 played with him, and on several occasions rode on his back. 

 The picture of him and his master, given at the head of Part 

 Second of my book, entitled "Adams and Ben Franklin," pre- 

 sents excellent portraits. Lady Washington and Samson were 

 both, as I understand it, taken to New York and exhibited there 

 by Adams under the auspices of Barnum. I do not know what 



