John Daniel II #1 (From Richard Reynolds)

!cid_X_MA1_1240867954@aol, originally uploaded by bucklesw1. This is John Daniel II, the second of Miss Cunningham's gorillas to join RBBB. He was on the 1924 show and made the full tour. However unlike John the first, the lady retained ownership and the show had John II on a lease arrangement. He was originally called Sultan or John Sultan. He had originated in Gabon and was acquired in 1923 by Miss Cunningham of London. Both of the John Daniels were western lowland gorillas, as was the famed Gargantua. John D. 2nd arrived in New York on April 24, 1924, coming over on the maiden voyage of the new steamship "Deutschland." That was just two days before RBBB closed its Garden run. This time Miss Cunningham came with her gorilla. Unlike John the first who rode the Atlantic in a cage crate, John II shared a stateroom with Miss Cunningham. As per usual practice back then, after the Garden date the circus went over to Brooklyn, this time for a three day stand.