Probably like a lot of Americans that have traveled to Africa to hunt, it was one of Capstick’s “Death” books that put that excitement and desire in my heart. In several of PHC’s books, he references starting out his career as a magazine writer and I was recently prowling through one of the local antique shops with my wife and came across some vintage Saga magazines that contain some of his early writings. All of these stories below appear in some form in his books. I have no idea if the stories behind these photos are the gospel truth, and really don’t care, but I though other fans of his books might enjoy some vintage photos from the late 60s/early 70s that originally went with the stories.

Spearing The Chabunkwa Man-Eater


Spotted Death In The High Grass



The Man-Eating Leopard of Okavango


Man-Killing Croc of Munyamadzi



Elephant Hammering- The World's Riskiest Profession


Hunting Africa's Killer Cape Buffalo- With A Spear!


Brazil's Lord Of The Swamps

Great photos, thanks for sharing.
Matt

Excellent. Thanks for sharing.

Some or even most of his stories may be BS, but there are 2 things for certain.
1. He was one heck of a good story teller.
2. He apparently did live some of the adventures he wrote about.
The photography puts him there.
Probably spiced the story up a wee bit though.
I may just have to re-read the PHC books I have.

Thanks for the vintage pictures! I love old pictures of anything in regard to African or South American hunting!

People will believe what they want, and many have said he was never a licensed PH at all.

I have seen a picture of his PH license and his passport where he is listed as a Zambia professional hunter.

From time to time pictures of Peter show up in places where he is among some very good trophy animals.

Because of the controversy, I had a long talk with PH Volker Grelman about Peter a few years ago. Volker told me that Peter was the most knowledgeable person he had ever met about African game animals and was a very accurate instinctive shooter.

Of course those little tidbits of info will mean nothing to those who think he was a total fraud. I personally believe he was somewhere about middle ground but was, in my opinion, a very good writer and I witnessed some real fast and accurate bolt rifle handling by Peter with his Mauser .375 H&H.

......................................................................

Thank you for sharing the vintage Capstick photos. Like you, it was his writing that first whetted my taste for Africa. After three safaris, Africa has definitely lived up to his billing!

I just hope he killed id in a better manner than he speared his buffalo

Excellent find. what magazines are those from?

Sure were a lot more man-eaters around in his day !! Thank goodness for his presence, no doubt saved dozens more from becoming eaten !!

Think I have read all his books, some several times.
Thanks for sharing.

Thanks for the post.

He sure was a dashing and handsome dude in his younger years!

Enjoyed the pics. His stories and books fueled my fire to hunt Africa and beyond

Great stuff, thanks for sharing!

PHC was hunting here among his guides was FRANCISCO GARRIDO the grandfather of my wife ,he had him on high level saying that killed boars with knife and hunted a lot with shottgun ,rifles an knife and our dogos argentinos he called them the white angels and he brouth many clients to our patagonia .
PD I WOULD LOVE THE COMPLETE ARTICLES .

I first read PHC's books thirty years ago and they sparked a desire to go on safari that will only die when I do. I last read him on my Kindle in a tent in Chewore South with lions grunting and roaring outside and my rifles in the Land Cruiser (suggested by the PH but not recommended by PHC in his books!). His description of what can happen if you mess up your shot on a leopard was running through my mind as I lined up my shot at my leopard. PHC's writing has enriched my life and I am grateful for it. Thanks for sharing the pictures.

I've read some of his stuff and enjoyed it. I think he was a great writer who was able to tell an adventure in a way that most writers are unable to. I admire that he was able to make a good living at it. It's disappointing that he seems to have boasted of things that others question the accuracy of those claims, which will forever place a dark cloud over everything he did. In all fairness, his career is very similar to Brian Williams. Neither of who I now hold any trust in what they said they did or saw happen.

This post reminds me of an old Guns & Ammo article by PHC that I stumbled across while packing for a move a few years ago. He was extolling the virtues of using airguns for backyard safaris. Squirrels and anoles were the quarry. In typical PHC fashion, it sounded like the adventure was every bit as exciting and hair-raising as any quest for buff or lion. God bless'im...he still makes me smile, he played a major role in the African-safari fantasies of my youth...and it's time to leave this thread before the bashers get too rambunctious.

I met him at a local gun club somewhere around '85 or '86, and he was clearly an accomplished shotgunner, using a semi auto which was not common here in SA. Nice guy with interesting stories

Gentlemen, everyone is certainly entitled to an opinion on any subject including Peter Hathaway Capstick.

That being said I see no reason to constantly pi$$ on his grave! The fact is every author who ever wrote a book took literary licenses to make the story entertaining. ALMOST all were both alcoholics and/or dope heads. Yet Ruark, Hemmingway, were both alcoholics, and it is well known both spun a yarns in their books.

It seems everyone who read Capstick after the 1960s attribute him to making them want to hunt Africa more than any of the other writers who wrote about hunting in Africa. The irony of this is all the others are given a pass, while Capstick is kicked in the head any time his name is mentioned!

I simply see a large bucket of hypocrisy being passed around where Peter is concerned!

I've read just about everything PHC wrote in his books, and the articles he wrote in SAGA magazine, and though he wasn't what made me want to hunt Africa, he didn't write anything to dull my enthusiasm for the safari dream.

I also had the pleasure to talk to Peter on a few occasions and very much enjoy his company.
He died much too soon being a good bit younger than myself, and in my opinion his passing was a loss to us all!

...........................................................Opinions vary, however!

quote:

The fact is every author who ever wrote a book took literary licenses to make the story entertaining. Almost to a man they were all alcoholics or dope heads. Yet Ruark, Hemmingway, were both alcoholics, and it is well known both spun a yarns in their books.

Please paint with a narrower brush. After writing, ghostwriting, or editing 23 published books (with two more the works), I can assure you that I have never knowingly taken "literary license," nor am I an alcoholic or dope head.

Thank you for defending Peter's memory,though. Although I did not know him as well as some, I have found little in his writing to deserve the things some people have accused him of doing (or not doing).

Bill Quimby

PHC wasn't the one who started my wanting to hunt Africa, that was my Grandmother, but he certainly fueled the desire. Hemmingway and Rurak while good writers did not inspire me.

quote:

Originally posted by billrquimby:

quote:

The fact is every author who ever wrote a book took literary licenses to make the story entertaining. Almost to a man they were all alcoholics or dope heads. Yet Ruark, Hemmingway, were both alcoholics, and it is well known both spun a yarns in their books.

Please paint with a narrower brush. After writing, ghostwriting, or editing 23 published books (with two more the works), I can assure you that I have never knowingly taken "literary license," nor am I an alcoholic or dope head.

Thank you for defending Peter's memory,though. Although I did not know him as well as some, I have found little in his writing to deserve the things some people have accused him of doing (or not doing).

Bill Quimby

Mr.Qimby, I'm sorry if you took that personally. In my opinion "Literary license" doesn't mean lying but the painting of a passage literarily, with prose that brings the mind to see in the mind's eye to accentuate the feeling in the reader's mind of a happening that otherwise would seem a little boring!

It is certainly not a fact that "ALL" were alcoholics or dope heads, and the word I meant to use there was both not all. I simply missed that in the editing of the post.

I apologize for the wrong word and I will gladly change that wording in my post!

......................................................................

Why can't we all just like the post and photographs? Shit...

quote:

Originally posted by jwm:
God bless'im...he still makes me smile, he played a major role in the African-safari fantasies of my youth...and it's time to leave this thread before the bashers get too rambunctious.

quote:

Originally posted by DCS Member:
Why can't we all just like the post and photographs? Shit...

My point exactly!

...................................................................BYE!

quote:

Originally posted by MacD37:

quote:

Originally posted by billrquimby:

quote:

The fact is every author who ever wrote a book took literary licenses to make the story entertaining. Almost to a man they were all alcoholics or dope heads. Yet Ruark, Hemmingway, were both alcoholics, and it is well known both spun a yarns in their books.

Please paint with a narrower brush. After writing, ghostwriting, or editing 23 published books (with two more the works), I can assure you that I have never knowingly taken "literary license," nor am I an alcoholic or dope head.

Thank you for defending Peter's memory,though. Although I did not know him as well as some, I have found little in his writing to deserve the things some people have accused him of doing (or not doing).

Bill Quimby

Mr.Qwimby, I'm sorry if you took that personally. In my opinion "Literary license" doesn't mean lying but the painting of a passage literarily, with prose that brings the mind to see in the mind's eye to accentuate the feeling in the reader's mind of a happening that otherwise would seem a little boring!

It is certainly not a fact that "ALL" were alcoholics or dope heads, and the word I meant to use there was both not all. I simply missed that in the editing of the post.

I apologize for the wrong word and I will gladly change that wording in my post!

......................................................................

Apology accepted. Incidentally, there is no W in Quimby.

Bill Quimby

Loved seeing these! Thanks

Here's a pic of Peter during the very short time he was at UVA.

quote:

Originally posted by billrquimby:

Apology accepted. Incidentally, there is no W in Quimby.

Bill Quimby

You know Bill, I bought a brand new keyboard, and simply found it didn't type or spell any better than the old one!

................................................................

After some of the comments made on this subject, one can not wonder but how much of the negative attitude toward Capstick and his writing is merely the result of envy and jealousy!

quote:

Originally posted by juanpozzi:
PHC was hunting here among his guides was FRANCISCO GARRIDO the grandfather of my wife ,he had him on high level saying that killed boars with knife and hunted a lot with shottgun ,rifles an knife and our dogos argentinos he called them the white angels and he brouth many clients to our patagonia .
PD I WOULD LOVE THE COMPLETE ARTICLES .

Juan, I like that....thanks for the South American perspective

quote:

Originally posted by MacD37:
Gentlemen, everyone is certainly entitled to an opinion on any subject including Peter Hathaway Capstick.

That being said I see no reason to constantly pi$$ on his grave! The fact is every author who ever wrote a book took literary licenses to make the story entertaining. ALMOST all were both alcoholics and/or dope heads. Yet Ruark, Hemmingway, were both alcoholics, and it is well known both spun a yarns in their books.

It seems everyone who read Capstick after the 1960s attribute him to making them want to hunt Africa more than any of the other writers who wrote about hunting in Africa. The irony of this is all the others are given a pass, while Capstick is kicked in the head any time his name is mentioned!

I simply see a large bucket of hypocrisy being passed around where Peter is concerned!

I've read just about everything PHC wrote in his books, and the articles he wrote in SAGA magazine, and though he wasn't what made me want to hunt Africa, he didn't write anything to dull my enthusiasm for the safari dream.

I also had the pleasure to talk to Peter on a few occasions and very much enjoy his company.
He died much too soon being a good bit younger than myself, and in my opinion his passing was a loss to us all!

...........................................................Opinions vary, however!

I may very well own all of his books. Hardbound even, but I have four softback. I have read them multiple times in my youth, college, adult, and as a married father yada yada. I collect these books of exploration and hunting and have Sutherland, Ruak, Baker, Selous, and the list goes on. Over a hundred total, and mostly original publications.

I loved PHC, and still do. He may have glorified his writings IDK, but I think he is still well within reason-ability of others experience.

If he got some of it at a bar with other old timers I just hope he did their stories justice.

quote:

Originally posted by MacD37:

quote:

Originally posted by billrquimby:

Apology accepted. Incidentally, there is no W in Quimby.

Bill Quimby

You know Bill, I bought a brand new keyboard, and simply found it didn't type or spell any better than the old one!

................................................................

No problem, Mac. I have similar trouble at times. In case you hadn't noticed, I dropped the word "in" that should have appeared in the phrase "in the works" in my original comment.

At any rate, the photos from Saga are great and SmkyMtn deserves our thanks.

If anyone has any copies of Peter's articles in Argosy, it would be interesting to see those, too.

Bill Quimby

Good point of some authors getting a pass on their personal life and some not. Probably applies to politics, too.
I have all of PHC's works and read his first three ("Death in the…") every year or two and they are not tiresome.
I've published five books and try not to take license to stretch the truth.
It's a rare day that sees me sober.
Cheers, all.
Cal
PS. As WC Fields said, "When I read about the evils of drinking, I gave up reading."

I own All his books, along with the PHC endorsed Classic books that he was marketing. I have his video set too.
I don't care about his credentials, I bought them for entertainment. They are entertaining and I feel like I got my money's worth.

Its never the wrong time to reproduce the eulogy for Peter Capstick, given by Tink Nathan.


As I Remember Capstick
By Tink Nathan


Peter Hathaway Capstick died in Pretoria, South Africa just before midnight on March 13th 1996 from a thrombosis following cardiac triple by-pass surgery. At his request, only his wife Fiona and her sister attended a private cremation ceremony. Fiona scattered Peter’s ashes over the Chobe River in Botswana with elephants and a herd of Cape buffalo in attendance. Peter will now remain a part of the land he loved so much.

Peter was 56.

I first hunted with Peter in the mid 1960’s when he was a student at the University of Virginia. We hunted groundhogs in the springtime between Remington and Scottsville Virginia. I was privileged to meet Peter again, in about 1976 or 1977 when he came up to me at a sporting goods show in Houston, Texas, and introduced himself to me. I had heard of Peter Capstick, and learned his last name for the first time. I had always called him Chapstick, and he never corrected me. He told me he was one of my readers, as I was a contributing editor of Bowhunter Magazine at the time, and he told me he enjoyed bowhunting. We managed to spend some time together and managed to down a few Pearl beers over some enchiladas.

Peter told me of his amazing life, and we kept in touch. It turns out Peter and I had hunted groundhogs in Virginia ten years before. I saw Peter at some outdoor shows and SCI conventions over the years and started communicating with him when I made plans to move to South Africa.

Peter always had time for my calls, and his sage advice was welcome and dead right on target. I guess the best advice he gave me was not to come over to Africa, which I ignored, and came over anyway. Not too many people knew that Peter did some bowhunting in New Jersey, and I think he told me he once nailed a whitetail, sometime in the 1960’s.

Peter attended the University of Virginia, at Charlottesville, and it seems our paths crossed once or twice at Clarks Gun Shop in Remington, Virginia where we rifle hunted groundhogs, and where we first met on a Saturday on a spring day in the mid 1960’s. Peter was buying ammo and looking for a place to hunt groundhogs. I invited Peter and his University buddy to join me for a woodchuck hunt, and went to a farm that we hunted. We sort of lost touch when he graduated, I was getting ready for my first African safari and he was quite envious of my trek to Mozambique. He remembered me clearly, but I could not place him. Peter first came over to Africa in 1968 but spent quite a bit more time here in Africa than I did. Peter also hunted South America and always preferred the jungle and bush to the city and pavement.

After arriving in South Africa, I called Peter. I was a bit nervous about attending the first AGM / annual convention of the Professional Hunters Association of South Africa (PHASA), and asked Peter if I could sit with him. He told me I was always welcome at his table. Being the only two Americans in PHASA who lived here, he showed me the ropes, and apparently enjoyed being my silent mentor. He introduced me to his many friends, and showed me the correct path during the following years.

Early in our homesteading days in Africa, my miniature smooth haired dachshund Meg became ill and was at deaths door from dehydration, tick bite fever and a pinched nerve in her spine. She had become infested with ticks while guarding my wife and her lady client at a waterhole in the lowveldt, during a safari. We had to bring her in for surgery and treatment to a government research facility outside Pretoria, and I called Peter to see if we could stay with him and Fiona. He said he was a bit bored and could stand some company. We had just driven all night with the sick dog, and we had just completed a long safari with clients from France, and were exhausted when we arrived at his villa in Pretoria. Peter and Fiona made us welcome, and the next four days at Peter and Fiona’s were like a vacation in a grand Parisian hotel. They fed us like Kings, and we sometimes snuck out and grabbed a pizza. We shot pool or snooker in his pool room/office, where he wrote his many best sellers, his books and articles. We shot air rifles in the garden, shooting at empty 9mm brass cases. We talked of Africa, the Africa of old, and the new South Africa, and the Africa of tomorrow. He told me his favorite unpublished hunting stories, and I told my stories, and we discussed people he knew, and those we liked and those we did not like. It was strange we had come to the same conclusions independently.

While Peter was a man of Africa, he was still an American, and we talked endlessly about Africa and her wildlife, until he was ready for the sack. Peter liked to retire early, and after he bid us goodnight, I read those books of his that I did not own, and watched his extensive wildlife video collection, and videos of his hunts. He seemed to enjoy my company and was only to willing to sign, and in fact resigned and autographed several of his books he first signed in 1988 in the USA. He was very chuffed that I had purchased the first impression, first edition of his classic Death in the Long Grass. I gave Peter a small gift for putting us up, and putting up with us for almost a week while the dog healed. It was a videotape of my 1987 Elephant and Buffalo bowhunt in the Selous in Tanzania. Peter was fascinated with the video, and asked a hundred questions. After he hit the rewind button, he told me that he was amazed at the quality of the video, and after that it appeared my ratings with the former stockbroker rose 100 points. He then told my wife Donna Rae and I it was the best hunting video he had ever seen. Coming from Peter, it was an important and deeply appreciated compliment.

Peter was by and large a happy man, doing what he liked to do. There were times he gave the appearance of being grouchy, but it may have been due to health concerns. Peter loved people, and truly enjoyed them at times, but he treasured his tranquility and his very private home life. Peter was ever vigilant in his home, and carried his 9mm parabellum pistol from room to room as he moved about his home. He never forgot he was in Africa, and he never let his guard down. He told me the most dangerous animal in all of Africa walked on two legs. I think it was out of concern for his beautiful wife Fifi, as he called her and not so much for his own protection.
Speaking of firearms, he was very pleased that Art Alphin, honcho of A-Square Firearms, named his .470 Capstick after him. Peter was presented the first rifle made, which was a Winchester Model 70, and while I was visiting Peter, he told me he was forced to return his .470 Capstick to the Winchester factory for some minor repairs. There was a minor problem that might have slipped by a dozen professional hunters, but Peter found the glitch and had it corrected.

Peter told me he admired my guts, but not my intelligence, for bringing my lady to Africa at such a bad time, but he understood me. I think. Peter was quite surprised that I survived my first two years living in the remote bushveld of the Soutpansberg Mountains of the far Northern Transvaal of South Africa. Peter felt it was impossible for an American, like me, to become an outfitter and professional hunter in South Africa. Peter pointed out that old Rhodesia was, in many ways more civilized as far as culture, languages and security wise than modern South Africa was. In one of his books, Peter wrote that he had weekly letters from young Americans who aspired to become a professional hunter in Africa. Peter said in print “an American would have a better chance of winning the Victoria Cross than to become a professional hunter in Africa.” He told me with a wide smile “Tink, I think you have won the Victoria Cross and don’t yet know it.” I doubt if he knew that I knew what he was referring to, but I told him I knew the passage and treasured his comments. Peter was always kind and polite.

Peter was a kind man, and a truly caring person. At a hunter’s convention, I introduced him to a young black professional hunter, named Ross, who had been a classmate of mine at professional hunter’s school. As we took our seats, Peter became instantly aware that this young professional hunter had no one to sit with, as most of the tables were reserved or filled. Peter went to Ross, and insisted that Ross dine at his table next to Fiona. All real hunters were welcome at Peter’s table, and Peter was the classic U.V.A. gentleman. The University of Virginia, nicknamed U.V.A., produces gentlemen of the first water. Peter was a perfect gentleman to one and all. Peter was a kind man.

Peter once saved my life and when I thanked him, he made me promise never to mention it, since he didn’t want me to be embarrassed in having to tell the tale. Needless to say, I will always be in Peter’s debt. Peter did things other people would never do. He killed two Cape buffalo with a spear. Once to do it, and once again to prove it wasn’t a fluke. Peter had a dream from the time he was a small boy, and that was to go over to Africa to live. Peter lived out his dream, or was it his dream? Peter lived a life of adventure, then took the time to commit to his stories, and the stories of Africa, past and present, to the printed page. He was the world’s best storyteller.

Peter heard the stories we all do in Africa, but he captured them, edited, and polished them, and preserved them forever. Peter wrote twelve books, and sold more than any other hunting author in history. He made and appeared in many videos, so those who had never met him could someday see him on the small screen. Peter wrote stories for the French magazine FIRE, and for the leading South African hunting journal MAGNUM, as well as OUT THERE. It is said that Peter brought more hunters and people to Africa, though his works, than any other person. Peter not only wrote about Africa, but he lived Africa. Only someone who comes from far away can appreciate Africa. He spoke often about the people that were lucky enough to be born here and to live here a lifetime, seldom, if ever, appreciated in Africa. Peter did.

Writers and readers far more skilled than I, will discuss Capstick’s works well into the next century. However it was my wife that noticed his writing style, and pointed out to me that each paragraph told a story and his colorful writings jumped of the pages and bit deep into your soul when reading his work for the first time. A close friend told me that Peter was aware of some coronary circulatory problems as far back as two years, but avoided the confrontation with the cardiologist. I tracked his 1996 medical progress through a source outside of Fiona, and was relieved to hear the heart operation went well on March 5th, 1996. I sent him a get-well card that I am sure he never saw. Fiona told me that she had taken it to the hospital and that he really enjoyed hearing from me.

On Friday March 15th, I got the call about Peter’s death. I could not believe that Peter had left us. I could not accept that someone who was so vibrant and dynamic and full of life was gone. As I write this in April 1996, I am not yet over the shock. On March 16th, I wrote a letter and faxed it to some of the hunters and friends across the world that knew and loved Peter. It wasn’t much, but it was all I could think of at the time. I have the original folded and tucked away in one of his books that he had signed for me. It said something like this. Peter Hathaway Capstick passed away etc. Today Peter is on a hot spoor of a mighty black bull, in a land of dagga boy buffaloes, in a valley with massive elephants with thick tusks, and clever cats. Tonight Peter shares a small gleaming campfire with hunters from another time, such as Selous, Taylor, Bell, Harris and others. Peter was truly a son of Africa. Our prayers and thoughts go out to his devoted and beloved wife and soul mate, Fiona.

Peter was a giant of a man, with a heart as big as Africa, yet strong and straight as a new arrow. With out a doubt, Peter was one of the finest, if not the finest writer of our age. A man who turned his back on fortune, the family Hathaway shirt business, and went of into the jungles of Viet Nam to fight in freedoms name as a green beret officer, an American special forces soldier, and to Africa to fulfill a child’s dream. Peter, you did it all so bloody well too. You never got a client killed, you never got tossed in jail and you never stepped on a mamba. You lived your life, every second’s worth to THE MAX, and you were a gentleman the whole time. You were a man’s man, a man that women lionized, and you did America proud. You showed Africa just what could do when the chips were down. You took care of your clients, and hunted like a sportsman, with ethics and true responsibility.

There isn’t a good way to go out of this world, and while we both know you would have liked to go out in a tangle with a bull elephant, at least you were spared a long lingering struggle with a slow painful disease, and months of incarceration in a sterile, somber place of men in white suits, plastic pipes, needles and tanks of air. Hell Peter, you went out fighting. I choose to remember Peter as the well tanned, highly irrelevant, very witty and very funny guy who did his own thing, and didn’t “give a rats ass” about what other people thought. Peter had forgotten more about hunting than most people will ever learn. He loved African wildlife, and yet took endless delight in raising Koi, the oriental goldfish like creatures. He loved rifles, and all that go with them, yet he hunted with a bow and a spear, and loved all of nature, the good, the not so good, and the ugly.

Peter was one of the few truly happy people I have ever known. Peter was a hunter, and then a writer. Peter was a living legend in his own time, yet he was humble, simple and down to earth, a regular guy. Peter was a really nice guy, a super person, and I was fortunate to have had Peter as my friend. We will miss Peter.

Keep your powder dry, keep your nose in the wind, and watch your back trail, old friend.



Tink Nathan, Professional Hunter, Outfitter
9930 Hughes Ave.
Laurel, MD 20723-1744

Thanks Matt! Very nice.

Thanks Matt, I really enjoyed reading it.

Good old Tink. He hunted elephant with a bow with the father of one of my dad's friends in Mozambique a long time ago now.

Clark's gun shop, or what we always called Clark Bros. was my brother's and my default gun shop; it was halfway between our house and the farm. I can't tell you how many boxes of big bore ammo I opened as a kid just to have a look at those big bullets and cases. It was also where my dad got my first handgun, a Ruger MKII (I always liked it because it looked like the Luger Oddball carried in Kelley's Hero's) when I was 10. It's still in the safe.

Good stuff.

Thanks for the photos and articles,SmkyMtn

As someone above said, many of the African writers appear to have let their "inner muse" get away from the strict truth.

PHC seems to collect a lot of that flak whereas Pondoro Taylor doesn't seem to get the same stinkeye turned on him.

I think it was in "Big game and big game rifles" where he talks of the magical penetration of the .375 H&H, where he spotted an eland under a tree and whacked it and , and lo and behold, the bullet had overtravelled and there were seven dead eland there and just for kicks the bullet had whistled through the tree as well ....

He also documented that he was great poacher and had launched a raid from Mozambique into Tanzania where he led the Game department around by the nose before escaping with thousands of pounds (of ivory).

I later read an article where someone interviewed the Chief Game Warden of that area of Tanzania many years later and his response was "Who ....?"

When I brought it up with my closest friend at the time (an Ulsterman), he said - "He's fookin Irish - of course he's overdoing it. Good story, though ..."


And - YES, I still read Taylor and Capstick - great stories - maybe not every detail is true, but they make me feel like I am there ....