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One of Us |
Just finished rereading Capstick's book on on Wally Johnson. A great read as all of Pete's are,but it always hits me hard at the end about his loss of everything due to the GODDAMNED communists.I have had a hatred for those bastards for over 50 years + this just reiterates that justification (as if it were needed.) Never mistake motion for action. | ||
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Great book, read it a few times. Love the story of parting vehicle over by canoe HA! | |||
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After struggling to read Capstick's horridly written "biography" of Richard Meinertzhagen, I crossed him off my list of authors. This sounds like a considerably better effort. There is hope, even when your brain tells you there isn’t. – John Green, author | |||
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Bill: Roughly half of that book was written by Capstick's widow after he died suddenly. Fiona writes well (as the two books she wrote under her own name show) but she is not Peter. Bill Quimby | |||
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I really enjoyed this book, and have read it several times. The part about the locals stealing gold dust by collecting it on mercury-coated coins then rubbing the goods in their hair ( and the subsequent outcome) was interesting. I first heard of Johnson as a kid when I read Fred Bear's Field Notes - still my favorite book on hunting. When Wally describes the "vapor trail" behind Fred's arrow, he's really describing a broken sack of SCC (or is it SSC?) poison that broke during flight. Fred experimented quite a bit with the "pod," which was a poison delivery device for arrows. Oh, and I have two pictures of Johnson at Ruark's place in Spain, both he and Walter jr. Great book! | |||
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Bill, good to know. I'll have to Capstick another chance, and the Wally Johnson bio sounds like a good read. There is hope, even when your brain tells you there isn’t. – John Green, author | |||
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You need to read Kambaku by Harry Manners as well. Wally and Harry kicked around together and hunted together. My favourite yarn is when Wally had driveshaft problems in the jeep..........or the one where he triple distilled palm (?) wine to run this jeep (?) on when he got caught short of fuel. | |||
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Yes,he certainly knew how to "make do.' Try it Bill,it is a great book;sorry you did not care for "Warrior".Peter does have a lot of great books out there. Never mistake motion for action. | |||
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My experience as well. That book is hard to read. | |||
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It was very hard to read. The Wally Johnson book was good but could have been a lot better had it not been for some the drama Capstick liked to interject into it. I am not a real big Capstick fan. I have read all of his books and found his book on his last ele hunt in Namibia his best. I am not sure "why" he wrote - for money, for fun, for fame or what. He reminded me a bit of Ruark at times as Ruark seemed to try and mimic Hemingway. Ruark was solid in his own abilities but seemed to suffer from hero worship. Capstick at times seemed the same to me. | |||
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Ross: Capstick was like many of us who make our daily bread by selling words. It is like hunting: We do it because we must, and we'll do it until we can't. Some are more successful than others, and some should take up lesser pursuits, like fishing or gardening. Bill Quimby | |||
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Wally Johnson and Harry Manners, those were two very good readings " Until the day breaks and the nights shadows flee away " Big ivory for my pillow and 2.5% of Neanderthal DNA flowing thru my veins. When I'm ready to go, pack a bag of gunpowder up my ass and strike a fire to my pecker, until I squeal like a boar. Yours truly , Milan The Boarkiller - World according to Milan PS I have big boar on my floor...but it ain't dead, just scared to move... Man should be happy and in good humor until the day he dies... Only fools hope to live forever “ Hávamál” | |||
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Don't forget "Baron in Africa" by Brian Marsh. Never mistake motion for action. | |||
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NormanConquest, You're absolutely correct. I'm currently reading Baron in Africa again. Werner Von alvenleben (if I got that right) hired Wally Johnson and Harry Manners when he started Mocambique Safarilandia and had clients like Robert Ruark. It all ties in like an old school photo. | |||
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Just finished the Wally Johnson book this weekend. A good , easy,enjoyable read. Wally was very unique, barely dodging death several times. 1300 elephants taken when ivory hunting was unregulated. Some scary close calls with elephants,cape buffalo and lions. Sad ending to the book where he looses everything but the clothes he is wearing because the communist rebels took over his home and property. photos in the book are from his daughter in California. If you have not read this book, give it a try. | |||
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IT'S SHAME THAT SUCH A GREAT CHARACTER AS WALLY HAD HIS STORY BY SUCH A LOSER | |||
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I agree. Kombaku is one of my all time favorites. I liked Last Ivory Hunter almost as much. I don't have anything against Capstick but in this case I wish he wouldn't have injected his own stories into it. Just telling Wally's was enough. I remember when Wally Johnson was Winchester's "Man in Africa" back in the mid sixties. Roger ___________________________ I'm a trophy hunter - until something better comes along. *we band of 45-70ers* | |||
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Perhaps I misunderstood you,but were you implying that Peter Capstick was a "loser"? If so I beg to differ. Never mistake motion for action. | |||
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Agree on Kambaku. Am halfway through it now. Waited far too long to get it. He does an excellent job of giving a sense of what it was like to be there: the food, people, places, smells, etc. he's not too dramatic, but there's plenty of drama in the stories. Highly recommend. | |||
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Its odd that I stumbled across this thread. I just finished reading "The Last Ivory Hunter" for the third time. Read it on the plane to and from South Africa last week. Its a good read. Also, I happened to find a Fred Bear hunt on Youtube with Wally as his PH. It shows the arrow shot with the vapor trail you mentioned above. The 50 minute video is worth the time. A great record of a different time in safaris. Two legends come together. | |||
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