I have read varying accounts.

Did Robert Ruark take his famous safari with Harry Selby in 1949, or 1951?

1951 I do believe.

1951

Africa bit and bit hard! Ruark very receptive wrote Horn of the Hunter. His grasp and ability to reproduce by way of the word the essence of what he experienced so clear as to elevate him to a level where is is difficult to believe he only had one Safari under the belt.

Sadly he later also observed what was "wrong" with Africa and he articulated it clearly and those in power did not like it ! To the point of where he was banned from going back to Kenya

In 1951, Ruark, his wife, Virginia, and professional hunter, Harry Selby, traveled to present-day Kenya for a two-month safari excursion. Just as Hemingway had trekked through Africa and produced his Green Hills of Africa in the mid-1930s, Ruark emulated his literary hero by composing a work describing the continent’s peoples, animals, and landscapes. Ruark had hired Selby, a student of Hemingway’s guide, Philip Percival, and he hired several Africans who had assisted Hemingway in his earlier safari. Ruark returned to hunt Africa sometimes twice a year for about 10 years. He also hunted India at one point. There is a DVD (I had the vcr version) of a film about one of his hunts. This available from Safar Press

Thank you all very much. In the course of my latest novel, the protagonist and family go on Safari in 1950 (just how it worked out). They will do two months with Ker and Downey before all the hoo-hah.
I did dig up that left handed Harry Selby bought his right handed 416 Rigby in 1949 after Donald Ker ran over his Rigby double. I wonder what he paid for the Rigby?
Were there other talented hunters with Ker and Downey at this time?
Thanks.

Probably a lot of talented people with Ker Downey at the tine, but only takes one big name representative to make someone a star. I was going to hunt with them, but didn't like the licensing system they (Kenya) had. Had to hunt X days to get a license for this and X more for a license for that, etc. In 1972, I was in Nairobi, and went into a gun shop there, Bunyuki, I think the name was, and a Rigby Rigby in 416 was for sale there for $365.00, so they weren't expensive. Ruark bought two that had belonged to Karamajo Bell, for a few $100 each and gave them to Selby and his son. In 72 it was hard, here anyway, to find 416 ammo, and I thought the rifle was ugly (had a "perch belly" stock, so didn't buy it.

quote:

Originally posted by lawndart:
Thank you all very much. In the course of my latest novel, the protagonist and family go on Safari in 1950 (just how it worked out). They will do two months with Ker and Downey before all the hoo-hah.
I did dig up that left handed Harry Selby bought his right handed 416 Rigby in 1949 after Donald Ker ran over his Rigby double. I wonder what he paid for the Rigby?
Were there other talented hunters with Ker and Downey at this time?
Thanks.

I'm sure there's lots of good information here but one good source of some basic background info is the book White Hunters. There's also a Facebook page for Robert Ruark.

A view from a tall hill: Terry Weiland

This book chronicles Ruark's time spent in Africa.

The problem with that is it is written by that asshat Wieland.

What a self-important idiot he is.

I have been told that Robert Ruark was totally serious on
His first safari then later times he was so drunk they only let him
Shoot birds .I have all his books and my dad is distant kin to him his
Cousins are Ruarks .A friend around Atlanta dad new Robert Ruark very well
He sold me a ton of Robert Ruark books that had been in a warehouse from the
Late 50s early 60s .Their book shop got into a bind once and he asked if
I could help him out .He knew I.liked hunting books and Ruark anyway he brought
A truck load of Ruark books mostly first editions .His dad had worked at the Atlanta
Journal in the 50sand 60s and got to be good friends with him at media or book shows or
Something close .They really liked him .I was glad I got those books they closed not too long
After that .I didn't mean to buy so many but knew they were going to close without help .
You hardly see hunting books in old book stores any more .Robert Ruark was quite a blast to be
Around when he was not drinking he said ! He said Ruark was a way better writer than he was a
Hunter but he knew he loved going to Africa .If anyone needs some of these Ruark books just pm me .

Jack Block, who owned the Norfolk Hotel in Nairobi was one of the original partners, along with Donald Ker and Sydney Downey.

They did a lot of work for film companies on movies like Mogambo, Kind Solomon's Mines, and Hatari, to name a few of the early ones.

Some of the other notable pros with K&D at the time were Andrew Hoilmberg, Eric Rundgren,and Muhammed Mauladad.

quote:

Originally posted by lawndart:
Thank you all very much. In the course of my latest novel, the protagonist and family go on Safari in 1950 (just how it worked out). They will do two months with Ker and Downey before all the hoo-hah.
I did dig up that left handed Harry Selby bought his right handed 416 Rigby in 1949 after Donald Ker ran over his Rigby double. I wonder what he paid for the Rigby?
Were there other talented hunters with Ker and Downey at this time?
Thanks.

quote:

Originally posted by ALF:
A view from a tall hill: Terry Weiland

This book chronicles Ruark's time spent in Africa.

I was very disappointed in this book. He spends way too much time on ancillary stuff than on the meat of the story. Also he shows his lack of research ability when he emphatically (twice) makes the claim that no evidence exists of Ruark and Hemingway meeting or corresponding. I have pictures of two letters from Hemingway to Ruark, and in point of fact, Mary Hemingway, in her book, How it Was, mentions meeting the Ruarks Spain. These resources were available long before Weiland wrote his book.

Other K&D hunters : peter Becker, John dugmore, Alan north, Tony archer, Terry Mathews, Eric Rundgren, Fred Bartlett, John cook, kris aschan, John Kingsley-heath, John Sullivan, John Sutton, Bali Iqbal, David Ommannay.

Some years ago I corresponded by written letter to a lady by name of Jan Hemsing in Nairobi after reading a small short book she authored on the History of Ker and Downey Safaris. She was surprised that anyone would be interested in the History of "old Kenya" She was quite old at the time and likely has passed on.

To her credit she wrote a number of short pieces on the histories of the original Hotels of Nairobi and Kenya and she she let me have them.

Many years ago after Tanzania opened their borders to allow South Africans to visit my Wife and I went to Kenya and Tanzania and we visited all of the places of note as it pertained the past Safari era. Some remained such as the long bar at the Norfolk but others like the New Stanley altered and modernized.

Some like Karen house restored after the interest shown after the making of the movie Out of Africa. Karen House is on the grounds of the medical school in Nairobi and was used a storing space. The House itself was not used in the movie ( they made a mock up) but after the movie the original was restored and they turned it into a Museum though the furnishings and displays were the actual furnishings used on the movie set and made for the set. It included the clothes worn by Merrill Streep in the actual movie.

As to the merits of Terry Weiland, that I cannot comment on and whether this or that book is perfect in every way, that too does not concern me much other than when reading many views and pieces one gains a picture and perspective of a time gone by.

The issue Ruark being drunk concerns me even less other than its a fact that he expired as result of complications of chronic liver cirrhosis and portal hypertension.

Over the years I had opportunity to personally meet and in some cases befriend some of the personalities of that time and those who wrote about it. Eric Rundgren, Steve Smith and then later even Peter Capstick ( He and Fiona lived just down the road from where I grew up )

Jan’s book is worthwhile for the K&D aficionado, which I am. It does’t come cheap though!

Ruark also had advanced prostate cancer. Weiland was right to infer that Alec Barr’s (protagonist of the Honey Badger) condition was Ruark’s. Again, better research would have given him the proof he needed to make the link stick. I’ve seen it.

I wish to express my gratitude for these insights. A novel only sings to the reader if all the basics are correct. One of the basics consists of having the myriad details mentioned in passing be spot on, and presented in a cogent manner; just as if they came up in a normal conversation.

quote:

Originally posted by ALF:
Some years ago I corresponded by written letter to a lady by name of Jan Hemsing in Nairobi after reading a small short book she authored on the History of Ker and Downey Safaris. She was surprised that anyone would be interested in the History of "old Kenya" She was quite old at the time and likely has passed on.

To her credit she wrote a number of short pieces on the histories of the original Hotels of Nairobi and Kenya and she she let me have them.

If you would post some of these short pieces, I for one would really appreciate it. I am sure others would as well.

quote:

Originally posted by lawndart:

Were there other talented hunters with Ker and Downey at this time?
Thanks.

JudyB posts occasionally on AH. She is a sweetheart, and was a former secretary for the EAPHA before they closed in 1977??? If you pm her she can probably give you the information you want.

Robin Hurt and Danny McCallum would probably be fairly easy to get in contact with. Also, I believe the following former EAPHA members are still alive and might be able to help if you can find contact information.

Robin Hurt
Tony Seth-Smith
David Mead
Terry Matthews
Danny McCallum
Tony Dyer
Brian Hern

I would like to know where BaxterB heard that Ruark had advanced prostate cancer. It doesn't appear in most men till they are about 60 or older, and he was only just 50 when he died. His liver technically fell apart, when he was flown to London. Unfortunately in those days, they didn't do liver transplants yet. It's really sad, when someone as bright as he was, he graduate high school at 12, and college at 15. But seems so many talented folks go that route.

quote:

Originally posted by tysue:
I would like to know where BaxterB heard that Ruark had advanced prostate cancer. It doesn't appear in most men till they are about 60 or older, and he was only just 50 when he died. His liver technically fell apart, when he was flown to London. Unfortunately in those days, they didn't do liver transplants yet. It's really sad, when someone as bright as he was, he graduate high school at 12, and college at 15. But seems so many talented folks go that route.

Well, technically, Ruark mentions it himself with the symptoms he gives Alec Barr in the Honey Badger, so Ruark starts the idea. Weiland picks it up in his book and runs with it. Of course Eva Monley and harry Selby were never told and did not think it was true when asked. But I have a copy of a personal letter Bob wrote where he mentions his “cancer man”, that his condition is going to be treated with estrogen in the hopes it will shrink enough to be “operable” and that he is overall concerned about his virility (of course, it’s Bob Ruark after all). That’s a pretty strong case for prostate cancer from Ruarks own typewriter.

I found this letter while doing other research on Ruark - call me a fan. I’ve been trying to piece together where Bob was mentally/emotionally at the latter stage of his life - I think I have a damn good idea of where he “was”, and what was motivating him at that time.

Bear in mind I’ve been researching Ruark for many years (since 1998), these things don’t just fall in your lap one day.

My first taste of Ruark came when I was 13 or 14, had joined the Outdoor Life Book Club, and started accumulating books I didn't really want but failed to "send back" in time. (Remember how that worked?)
One of the books was "Use Enough Gun." I loved it.

quote:

Originally posted by AilsaWheels:

quote:

Originally posted by lawndart:

Were there other talented hunters with Ker and Downey at this time?
Thanks.

JudyB posts occasionally on AH. She is a sweetheart, and was a former secretary for the EAPHA before they closed in 1977??? If you pm her she can probably give you the information you want.

Robin Hurt and Danny McCallum would probably be fairly easy to get in contact with. Also, I believe the following former EAPHA members are still alive and might be able to help if you can find contact information.

Robin Hurt
Tony Seth-Smith
David Mead
Terry Matthews
Danny McCallum
Tony Dyer
Brian Hern

Nicky Blunt- lives in UK. I don't think he ever worked for K&D.

quote:

Originally posted by Dahav:

quote:

Originally posted by AilsaWheels:

quote:

Originally posted by lawndart:

Were there other talented hunters with Ker and Downey at this time?
Thanks.

JudyB posts occasionally on AH. She is a sweetheart, and was a former secretary for the EAPHA before they closed in 1977??? If you pm her she can probably give you the information you want.

Robin Hurt and Danny McCallum would probably be fairly easy to get in contact with. Also, I believe the following former EAPHA members are still alive and might be able to help if you can find contact information.

Robin Hurt
Tony Seth-Smith
David Mead
Terry Matthews
Danny McCallum
Tony Dyer
Brian Hern

Nicky Blunt- lives in UK. I don't think he ever worked for K&D.

Yes. I believe Blunt worked with Tanganyika Tours and Safaris and later UWD in uganda.

quote:

Originally posted by lawndart:

I did dig up that left handed Harry Selby bought his right handed 416 Rigby in 1949 after Donald Ker ran over his Rigby double. I wonder what he paid for the Rigby?
Were there other talented hunters with Ker and Downey at this time?
Thanks.

Not sure if this helps, but I have access to a list of Kerr Downey PH's whose clients shot 100 lb'ers between 57-67 that I can send you. I do not know how to post photos here. If someone wants to post the photo of a page out of a brochure I can email it to you. It is also available on AH but I always hesitate pointing people to other websites.


Can't help you on the Rigby, but Dan McNickle in his book "Teaching and Hunting in East Africa" tells how in 1966 he went into a store in Arusha that had a 577 Holland & Holland DR for sale for $300USD. He offered them $50. (This was the days when you could hardly find ammo for any British large caliber except .375. I do remember .375 Kynoch in 5 packs at this time.) He negotiated the price down to $100 which included 40 rounds of ammo. The first elephant he shot had ivory of 74/67 and he sold it for 2,604 TZS which was $372USD. If I remember correct, there were either 3 or 4 elephants on license at that time. Dan used to live around 100 miles from my family but I didn't know him until contacting him after I had read his book.

After Kenya independence, white Kenyan's would move to Rhodesia and South Africa to get away from black rule. Their Land Rovers and Bedford's were loaded with their earthly possessions. Our house was just off the Great North Road. The Kenyan's would stop, (mom would let them camp in our back yard, or stay in an extra room if it was available) and try to sell whatever they could to buy petro to continue their journey. My father was offered British doubles for a song, or even a tank of petro. Of course, we had no money either, so never bought one. Dad would give them a couple gallons or maybe a debi can of petro to help them on their way. I don't know what firearms prices were in 1950, but by the late 1960's they weren't worth much in EA.

quote:

Originally posted by lawndart:
Thank you all very much. In the course of my latest novel, the protagonist and family go on Safari in 1950 (just how it worked out). They will do two months with Ker and Downey before all the hoo-hah.
I did dig up that left handed Harry Selby bought his right handed 416 Rigby in 1949 after Donald Ker ran over his Rigby double. I wonder what he paid for the Rigby?
Were there other talented hunters with Ker and Downey at this time?
Thanks.

I know exactly how much Selby paid for his Rigby. :-) - care to take a guess?

And extra credit if you know who originally owned the Rigby!

quote:

Originally posted by Bill/Oregon:
My first taste of Ruark came when I was 13 or 14, had joined the Outdoor Life Book Club, and started accumulating books I didn't really want but failed to "send back" in time. (Remember how that worked?)
One of the books was "Use Enough Gun." I loved it.

I joined that too!
The books I received were really small.I lost all my books to a flood years ago.We had just moved into a new home and my books were not yet on shelves.I believe I still have one-a guide to North American trees.

$100 ?

quote:

Originally posted by lawndart:
$100 ?

You win the prize! 100 pounds, but close enough!

...not trying to bypass the thread, but FYI, Jan Hemsing wrote ENCOUNTERS WITH LIONS. from Trophy Room Books.Good read

quote:

Originally posted by tsibindi:
...not trying to bypass the thread, but FYI, Jan Hemsing wrote ENCOUNTERS WITH LIONS. from Trophy Room Books.Good read

So many books...so little time...

quote:

Originally posted by BaxterB:

quote:

Originally posted by Dahav:

quote:

Originally posted by AilsaWheels:

quote:

Originally posted by lawndart:

Were there other talented hunters with Ker and Downey at this time?
Thanks.

JudyB posts occasionally on AH. She is a sweetheart, and was a former secretary for the EAPHA before they closed in 1977??? If you pm her she can probably give you the information you want.

Robin Hurt and Danny McCallum would probably be fairly easy to get in contact with. Also, I believe the following former EAPHA members are still alive and might be able to help if you can find contact information.

Robin Hurt
Tony Seth-Smith
David Mead
Terry Matthews
Danny McCallum
Tony Dyer
Brian Hern

Nicky Blunt- lives in UK. I don't think he ever worked for K&D.

Yes. I believe Blunt worked with Tanganyika Tours and Safaris and later UWD in uganda.

Yes and George Dove as a Stooge as aspiring PHs used to be called. Also Blunt worked with Robin Hurt in Zambia (late 70 early 80s) and then did some safaris in Ethiopia for elephant, I believe through Thomas Mattanovich. After that for Tanzania Safaris & Hunting, Ltd.

Baxter: having read all the books and probably most of the articles written by Ruark, I have no recollection of his mentioning having prostate cancer, or even hinting at it. He did way before they had a PSA test, and MIGHT have had the condition where your prostate swells up and causes problems. Usually a roto rooter job done on those. I have also recently read "Ruark" by the man who knew him best, and nothing in that either. Anyway, just wondering where you saw any reference to prostate cancer. I've been reading his stuff and doing as much digging as I can, since 1965, and just cannot find anything like that.

As a retired quack, I agree that he had early onset prostate cancer. People didn't talk about the topic back then. Really, it was a race between the cancer and the portal hypertension from liver cirrhosis. He likely had alcoholic varices in his esophagus. If one of those gives away, you croak, tout suite.

Who was the original owner of the 470 double?

quote:

Originally posted by tysue:
Baxter: having read all the books and probably most of the articles written by Ruark, I have no recollection of his mentioning having prostate cancer, or even hinting at it. He did way before they had a PSA test, and MIGHT have had the condition where your prostate swells up and causes problems. Usually a roto rooter job done on those. I have also recently read "Ruark" by the man who knew him best, and nothing in that either. Anyway, just wondering where you saw any reference to prostate cancer. I've been reading his stuff and doing as much digging as I can, since 1965, and just cannot find anything like that.

I think (as Weiland wants you to think), if you read the Honey Badger (p495-497), you'll see the truth.

Dr. Eichmann: "...and do a biopsy on you on your ecstasy department. It's called a prostatic punch...we just stick the needle through the rectum and into the gland...but then we'll know if you are or if you are not."

Alec Barr (Ruark): "So tell me...is it is, or is it ain't?"

Dr.: "... it is..." and later about the female hormone 'jazz' "...about the best is a thing called Diethylstilbestrol..."

That drug is a prostate cancer drug. This is straight from the Honey Badger, and I think it's pretty much as Ruark experienced it in real life. It's not that much of a mystery - really.

Combine this with the letter I have held in my hands from Ruark mentioning the above, and I think the case is clear.

I have my own thoughts as to why it doesn't show up anywhere, including Ritchie's biography - but that's another tale for another time. I took an interest in Ruark many years ago when I serendipitously ended up living just down the road from Southport, NC, which of course is where the Old Man stories are from. Since then, Bob has led me on some fascinating (to me) trips, including forging friendships with some mighty fine people. So many people focus on the "Africa" Bob, or the "Old Man and the Boy" Bob, or the "Journalist" Bob - I just took an interest in the "Everything" Bob. And after reading 20 years about Bob, from all kinds of sources, well, I think THB is as close to an autobiography as we can get - just as Weiland said.

quote:

Originally posted by lawndart:
Who was the original owner of the 470 double?

I meant the original owner of the famous 416... it was Don Bousfield.

quote:

Originally posted by lawndart:
As a retired quack, I agree that he had early onset prostate cancer. People didn't talk about the topic back then. Really, it was a race between the cancer and the portal hypertension from liver cirrhosis. He likely had alcoholic varices in his esophagus. If one of those gives away, you croak, tout suite.

Jack Kerouac

Yeah, It seems many very gifted creative types feel the need to self medicate. Every gift, brings with it a burden.

Thanks for the information on Don Bousefield. I meant to say .416, but it came out .470 from my fevered, creative brain. I'm just now describing a dinner conversation in the Norfolk hotel.

quote:

Originally posted by tysue:
I would like to know where BaxterB heard that Ruark had advanced prostate cancer. It doesn't appear in most men till they are about 60 or older, and he was only just 50 when he died. His liver technically fell apart, when he was flown to London. Unfortunately in those days, they didn't do liver transplants yet. It's really sad, when someone as bright as he was, he graduate high school at 12, and college at 15. But seems so many talented folks go that route.

The person with the highest IQ on the planet is a house wife in New York City who is trying to hide from the world. She isn't interested in saving the planet, building a superweapon or crushing atoms.

My last job I worked with hundreds of PHDs in rocket science. Rare to find a super happy person in that group of MENSA brain owners.

I believe there are highly intelligent people that can be happy, but they have to have some kind of hobby or career that is all consuming to turn off the million thoughts in their head.

Just read something that proves I need to do more researching before repeating something. I was sure I had read Ruark had graduated from HS at 15, but recently saw 12. Well, just read some more on him, and he did graduate HS at 15, and college at 20. Have been to the house his grandparents lived in, in Southport. Big old place a few blocks, if that from the river.

quote:

Originally posted by tysue:
Just read something that proves I need to do more researching before repeating something. I was sure I had read Ruark had graduated from HS at 15, but recently saw 12. Well, just read some more on him, and he did graduate HS at 15, and college at 20. Have been to the house his grandparents lived in, in Southport. Big old place a few blocks, if that from the river.

And here’s something else often said about Ruark that’s wrong: he never got a degree in journalism. He took some journalism classes, but did not have the full degree. How do I know? I have his transcripts. And he wasn’t that great a student. But he was young!

The house in Southport is now a bed and breakfast. They added onto the back (removing the fig tree Bob mentioned) and fancied the place up. I got to go in the house after it was sold but before it was renovated, so it was closer to how it was back in the day. I had a fun time walking around thinking about Bob and the old man - I always do when I’m back down there.

Lots of apocryphal stuff with Ruark... people claim this or claim that, most I think out of a sense of sentimentality and a desire to belong. I’m seeing more Ruark “relics” pop up too - things he is supposed to have owned at one time.