I've been reading Peter Hathaway Capstick's "Death in the Silent Places (recently read "Death in the Tall Grass" and loved that too).

Anyway each person he writes about it really interesting but Sasha especially caught me attention as it was mentioned that in addition to using a spear to kill jaguars in Brazil (he learned this ancient form of hunting jaguars from a native indian "tigero"). He also used a bow. In all he killed about 300 jaguars. If he couldn't get them to charge his spear he would use the bow and arrow and that would often lead to a charge.

He hunted around 1925 for about 10 years. He died in 1970 at the age of 80.

curious is anyone has read other works about Sasha and know what kind of bow he used? Weight?

The title of his autobigraphy is "Tigero". I read it in high school. The book had lots of photos to prove his claims. A very interesting man. I should read his book again.

I met him at a lecture he was giving in 1960 or so, at Birmingham-Southern College. He showed his home movies of Brazil, and killing a jaguar with a spear after baying it with dogs. Unbelievable stones to face a 300 pound jaguar armed with only a hand held spear.

troy

If you ever wanted to walk up on an angry jaguar, get it to pounce on you, but have it land on your spear tip just before it tears your throat out, then Mr. Siemel's book is a great "how-to". The man had guts!

I have been a big Sasha Siemel fan for many years. I accumulated a large file on him. I have almost everything that has ever been written by or about him as well as old photos, magazine articles, films and even several of his personal bows. Very fascinating, unique and courageous man. One of a kind for sure.

Thanks for the replies.

Gene could you describe the bows to us?

Have you ever been jaguar hunting Gene?

I have really been enjoying reading "Death in the Silent Places" and would like to read "Tigero" sometime.

There's a nice article about Sasha Siemel right here on www.stickbow.com

http://www.stickbow.com/FEATURES/HISTORY/tiger_man.CFM

The one is a selfbow of yew made from a stave probably given to Sasha by either Art Young or George Brommers. The other was probably made by Ben Pearson for him. I wrote an article about Sasha in an old issue of Traditional Bowhunter magazine and reprinted it in my book "The Best of Traditonal Bowhunter" available on our website.

thanks Uncle Lijah for the article and Gene for the pictures and info about your book. I'll have to pick up your book.

Might have to pick up a spear too. ;) Guns are illegal here in Thailand and a place I want to go explore had 23 cattle killed there a while back. Local people said it was a tiger but after reading Capstick I'm thinking it might have been a leopard. I kinda doubt a tiger is still around that area but leopards are so secretive they could survive.

sashasiemel.com

Website run by his son-in-law; married to Siemel's daughter Dora.

I first acquired a copy of "Tigero" in Japan, 1964 or '65. The Base library would discard worn and damaged books periodically and sell them for a nickle or dime. It was there I developed an interest in Sasha.

Cliff (Liquid Amber) has just about everything ever written about and by Sasha. He has been a wealth of information for me over the years. Thanks old friend. Bob Savage was the first to turn me on to the exploits of Sasha, probably in 1971 or thereabouts.

Gene that is one of my all time favorite TBM articles. Sasha had to about the toughest SOB that ever walked the earth, or he at least had one big set of nads.

Here's some other books of interest about him. His son Sasha Jr is a Federal attorney in New Mexico.

Green Hell – Duguid, Julian - 1931 Tiger-Man – Duguid, Julian – 1932 Capturing the Jungle with Camera and Spear – 1937 Jungle Wife – Siemel, Sasha & Edith – 1949 Tigrero – Siemel, Sasha – 1953 Sashino- Siemel, Sasha Jr. – 1965

Thanks Cliff.

I'm also a fan of Sasha Siemel. He was an true adventurer and a tough man. I also have Duguids books. Cool stories!

His daughter, Alexandra Siemel lives still in PA, where Sasha lived. She's returning to Brazil every year with her grandchildren to be on the places of her youth and where the "Tigrero" hunted.

I once read somewhere that Siemel was friend, or has known Art Young - does anybody knows on that?

Gene, I have your Best of TBM-book, good stuff. Thanks for sahring that pic, I never have seen one Sasha Siemel drawing a bow. Best!!

Young and Siemel were good friends. I touch on it in the articles on Art Young and Siemel that are posted in the Stickbow History Section.

Gene, is there any chance you may ever publish a compilation of your Siemel material? I would pay well for such a thing.

I live not to far from Green Lane PA where he ended his days , my son lives there now . Seimel's son ,at one time , maintained a museum of his fathers stuff in Green Lane and I was fortunate in the early 70s to vist there meet his son and actualy see and touch some of the stuff ( spears and bows). I have several of the books on him and he is completely facinating to me . A truly fearless individual. Wish I could have met him in person .

I have been looking for a copy for a few years now.

Ted Fry has one of his bows, I got to check it out at his shop. Amazing man for sure

All the really cool bowhunters have speared a big cat somewhere along the line. Gene, haven't you speared a big cat?

Wait. Isn't he the Dos Equis guy?

Alexandra Siemel wrote me, that her daughter lives in London - she is puttig a memorial room together with memorabila. Some arrows are left and some spear blades, as far as I understand that. No bows. The bow Ted Fry has, I have seen a photo.

"Tigero!" was also availabe in German language.

I also got two DVDs on the movie serials Sasha Siemel acted in. "Jungle Menace". The star was Frank Buck and Siemel played himself, "Tiger van Doorn" - a really nice serial, Siemel has his spear and a knive....I love to see such old stuff!

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