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Sasha Siemel Says His Spear Is Safer Than Guns for Jaguars
But the Dogs Do the Work, He Says, And the Little Dogs Are Best
[[April 19th]]
Bearing gifts for South American zoos, Dr. William M. Mann, director of the National Zoological Park, is en route to points in Brazil, Argentina and Uruguay to collect birds, reptiles and animals.  Among those on board his ship is William H. Shippen, Jr., feature writer of The Star staff, who here presents the [underline] fourth [/underline] of a series of articles about Dr. Mann's expedition. In today's article the man who hunts jaguars with a spear continues the story he began yesterday.
[[line]]
By W. H. Shippen, Jr.,
Star Staff Correspondent
[[image]] Bust photograph of writer captioned William H. Shippen, Jr.]]

Aboard the S.S. Uruguay (By Airmail).--"Why do you spear jaguars instead of shooting them?" Sasha A. Siemel grinned and folded his hands, leaning across the deck table. The question seemed to amuse him...still.  He must have answered it many times.

"Because," he said, watching us to see the effects of his words, "it's safer. Much safer. No?" "Yes?" "Yes, to be sure. I have crosspiece on my spear. The tiger's skin is tough. It won't tear. That crosspiece stop him every time."

"But what stops the spear?" "The ground. If he jump at my throat, I plant spear in ground. If he comes along ground at me, I joost give back a little. But I hold the spear. After 30 seconds fight is over."

Mr. Siemel, who is going back to Rio, and thence to the Matto Groasso back country--guiding a party which includes a Philadelphia society girl and several veteran big-game hunters--didn't seem to mind answering questions, although the ship was pulling into Barbados and preparations for going ashore were underway.

[bold] "Tigers" of 350 Pounds. [/bold]
"Are your tigers big fellows?" "Up to 350 pounds--big enough to kill a bull...some of them."  

"How do you bring them to bay?"  "With dogs. They are the ones, the dogs, who do the work, who take the risks.  A pack of dogs with a smart leader -- a dog of character, a self-respecting fellow.  Without a fine leader a pack is joost nothing. My best leader he lost his life.

"That was when I quit hunting...for two years. He was my friend. I couldn't hunt any more."

Later Mr. Siemel, who has conducted members of the late Theodore Roosevelt's family and many other well-known sportsmen on his hunts, imported hounds from the United States -- Virginia, North Carolina, Long Island, the Southwest. But for jungle hunting he likes mongrels best.

[bold] Little Dogs Best. [/bold]
"Little dogs," he said, "they get about fast, they dodge and run, too, when time comes, and come back. Tough little dogs. How well I remember my little Vreena. She would slip behind tiger and bite his tail. Tiger swing around.

Little Vreene hold on. She is like sled behind the big horse. Then Vreena turn loose and run...how she runnn! And howl! How that little Vreena could yip and howl!"

"What became of her?" "Ah, that is the accident--how sad. We change the subject, yes?"

"Why are there so many tigers in your country?"  "Maybe it would be better to say, 'Why am I in tiger country?' I'm there because tiger is."

[bold] Cattle Bring More "Tigers". [/bold]
"Do you think the number of jaguars increased after white men imported cattle?" 

"That is an interesting question. I believe tigers increase because of cattle. Before cattle come there was the natural balance. Tigers eat alligators, peccary, tapir. When wild game gets scarce, so do tigers in jungle.

"But in cattle country all that is change. On one big ranch they get 3,000 head of stock in year."

The ship was heading in for Barbados and the clamor on deck grew. As we rose to go, somebody said: "I sincerely hope, Mr. Siemel, a tiger never gets you!"

"Thank you so much," smiled Mr. Siemel,"...me too"

The next article in this series will appear in The Star at an early date.