Cincinnati November 24, 1880 Prof. Henry A. Ward Rochester NY Esteemed Sir Your favor of 20 inst is duly rec'd by Frank [J.?] Thompson offering him 2 real Grizzly Cubs born in January last being male and female for $125 00/100. The Garden when established 5 years ago was presented by me with a pair Grizzlys them old 2 1/2 years and they are in our Zoo being a beautiful pair. I paid that time for the pair 2 1/2 year old $200. and hope you can let me have your pair although I do not need them nor the garden for $100, but if you must have $125. I will pay it and you can consider the pair sold to me. One condition however I have to make is that you will keep them until I am ready to take them off your hands which will not be longer than March next, perhaps sooner. The reason I ask this, is that I donate the value of the Bears to our Zoo, but having Grizzly [there?] already I want to exchange your cubs for other animals in Europe and then donate the exchanged animals to our Zoo. I refer you to [Mssrs] Strong and Woodbury whip manufacturers in your city as you do not know me, and if you accept my proposition I pay you for the Grizzlys at once. yours respectfully, Julius J. Bantlin
Thompson leaves to morrow evening for Baltimore to receive some animals coming over from Hamburg for our Zoo.
HAW: $125 down and $6 per month for Board when safely delivered in Spring, not otherwise responsible, however.
Cincinnati November 30, 1880 Professor Henry A. Ward Rochester New York Dear sir, Your favor of 27 from New York is just to hand and seeing by enclosed slip from your clerk he is tired of the bother to feed the Grizzlies, so I telegraphed you at once to forward the 2 Grizzlies by American Express at once and direct them to our Zoological Garden and as soon as they arrive I shall send you draft in New York to your order for $125 they can keep them at our zoo until I can exchange them for some pheasants in Europe which I then present to our zoo the reason I made in my first letter the proviso that you should keep them for a while, is because Thompson got your letter just before starting for Baltimore to receive some animals coming for our zoo amongst which is some for me which I exchanged for a Grizzly and which I gives a zoo gave the zoo on arrival here but I can manage to bring your grizzlies at the zoo without Thompson being here I see you was in New York and Space and saw Conklin, did he tell you what happened in Thanksgiving night at Central Park. Some dogs broke into it and killed a lot of Cygnus olor and nine Cygnus atratus, a nice thing to happen when the city is paying $95,000 a year for 100 night policeman. If ever I can be of any service to you please command me with highest regards I sign myself your obt serv't Julius J. Bantlin
Cincinnati December 6, 1880 Henry A. Ward, Esqr. Rochester NY My dear Professor, Enclosed [?] handing Draft on New York for $125.00 in payment of the Grizzlies, for which please send me a receipt. The Grizzlies were laid over one night at Cleveland and arrived here Friday evening. It was lucky they came then, because the very next train was smashed to pieces. I cut the Halters off of their necks and they have a big cage 15 x 20 feet to cut up their capers in. They do splendid and I am glad I got them. I may now keep them at the Zoo till next spring and exchange them for other animals at some Zoo in Europe which I will then present to our Zoo. Thompson is still at Baltimore and hope Steamer will come in port today bearing animals from Hamburg and Cologne for our Zoo. Most respectfully, Julius J. Bantlin
Cincinnati January 12, 1881 Professor Henry A. Ward Rochester New York My dear sir When you wrote Mr. Thompson Novbr 20 offering him the grizzlies for $125 you stated they were female and male when they arrived here I sent them right out to the Zoological Garden to be kept there upon my expense till I would send them to Europe and Thompson being in Baltimore the keeper put them in a big cage 20 x 25 and cut their collars off. Now we are in doubt all of us, Thompson, the keepers, myself and Charles Dori the naturalist and think both are females. You had a chance to handle them while yet while their team now they are turned regular grizzlies id est awful bad tempered, I however can go up to them and feed them candies, apples, ladies fingers etc. One is of a darker color and it may be the male from its action and rating. Please let me know about it, as I want to be sure of their sex did you examine them. Monday last hour Grizzly Bearess delivered herself of 3 cubs all males we took them from their mother as she eat the others year ago 2 times. No 1 Cub weights 1 lb 2 1/4 oz, 10 1/2 inch long, 8 in around belly tip of nose to base of neck 3 in. No 2 Cub weights 1 lb 2 oz, 9 1/2 inch long, 7 1/2 in around belly tip of nose to base of neck 3 in. No 3 Cub weights 1 lb 3 1/2 oz, 9 1/8 inch long, 8 1/4 in around belly tip of nose to base of neck 3 in. thought this would interest you color ash down from head to tail.
and over the whole body, nose pink red and so the ears and bare of hair. Eyes lightly closed and I suppose they will be bluish 40-42 days, same as our black bears were. They are very strong and vigorous and their voice resembles when disturbed something like between the voice of a human baby and cub dog Hair about the length of newborn calf and have a silvery appearance. We nurse them from a certain cow fed for the purpose was dry rich food and they take the bottle freely about six times a day. Most respectfully yours Julius J. Bantlin
Affiliation
Julius J. Bantlin: Importer, Dealer & Manufacturer of Saddlery Hardware, Whips, Collar &c.