"TOM" COMES HOME.

Auckland Star, Volume LIX, Issue 214, 10 September 1928, Page 11

"TOM" COMES HOME.

GREAT WELCOME FOR HEENEY

CROWDS ON THE WHARF.

TWO THOUSAND REFUSED ADMISSION.

A TUMULTUOUS RECEPTION.

Tom Heeney—the same genial, broadshouldered Tom who packed his kit and set out to try his luck four years ago— came home last evening. His welcome was one that he will never forget, for scarcely if at the Yankee Stadium on the evening of July 26 had he wrested from Gene Tunney the world's heavyweight title could Auckland's sporting public have accorded him a more tumultuous reception. With Torn on the Aorangi came his wife—married quietly a few days after the championship figlit —and his three brothers, Jack, Pat and Arthur. It was dusk when the Aorangi came slowly round North Head, only indistinctly visible through a pelting rain shower. As the liner came to her anchorage, the launch containing Customs officials and other persons privileged to go aboard before she berthed ran alongside and made fast. Included in the party that climbed the steep gangway over the vessel's side was Mr. E. A. Cra'g, president of the New Zealand Boxing Association, and several others whose business was exclusively with Heeney.

A hurried search by the party from the shore at first failed to reveal Tom, and none of the army of stewards seemed to know where be was. "Where is he ?" was the question (there was no need to explain whom the "he" was). Everyone on board knew that Heeney was in demand, but it was not for some little time that he was found in a corner of the first saloon stateroom. The Ferry's Greeting. With Tom was Mrs. Heeney, nestling in the folds of a fur coat. Tom looked a picture of health. With the exception of a slight scar above his left eye he bore no marks of his championship fight or of any of his other ring battles in either England or America. He took a cigar from his lips as he exchanged greetings. Outside, a passing ferry boat sounded a shriek on her whistle. If it was given as a blast of welcome for Tom he didn't hear it. Tom had passed the doctor and the Customs officers and was free to talk, and he chatted willingly of the fight, not to mention many other things. As the liner was about to weigh anchor to move to her berth Tom and his wife, anticipating a busy -evening ashore,- went below for tea. , Meantime the crowd on shore who had rolled up to welcome Tom home were becoming impatient.. Inquiries concerning the time of the Aorangi's arrival had been received by Harbour Board officials as early as 7.30 in the morning and by the middle of the afternoon the first of the crowd had gathered behind the barricades on the Prince's wharf. 3?ewC that the liner was in the harbour had swelled the crowd to over two thousand. Outside the wharf gates in Quay Street another two thousand waited patiently, despite a chilling sou'-west wind and biting rain squalls. Human Sparrows. Slowly the Aorangi moved into her berth. Across the steadily decreasing gap between wharf and ship came shouts of welcome. They were all for Heeney. The lights of the vessel lit up a sea of faoes. Packed sardine fashion behind the barricades on the wharf were 1500 people, all eager to catch a glimpse of the popular Tom. In a more elevated position along the cargo landing platforms were jeveral hundred more. A trio of youths were perched like sparrows on a crane. The faces on shore eagerly scanned those looking down from the ship, but failed to find that which they wanted, and there were cries of "Where's Heeney." (Tom, meantime,- was finishing his tea.) One of the saloon passengers on B deck raised himself on the rail to wave to a friend cm shore. "Get downt [You're not Heeney," came from the crowd. "We want Heeney," gave place to "Where is he 7" The crowd were Wildly excited and wanted their hero.

And then Tom, his tea finished, came on deck, and a couple of his fellow passengers, all of whom were greatly interested in the demonstration, made room for him at the ship's rail. The appearance of his cheery face and a broad smile were the signals for a burst of cheering from those of the crowd immediately in front of him, but the greater majority of those present still looked for him. "Take off your hat and wave," suggested someone, and Tom did. Immediately a great roar of welcome went up from the big crowd. Hurrahs and cheers mingled with cries of "Good old Tom," "Good old Heeney." It was a welcome the like of which had never been heard on the Prince's wharf before.

While ropes were being made fast and the gangway rigged Tom went up to the boat deck and appeared in the glare of a duster light. He was then clearly visible from the shore and there was renewed . chcering. "Where's Mrs. Heeney," asked one of the youths on the crane, and the query was taken up by the crowd. There was more cheering for Tom, but many of those on the wharf wanted to see Tom's wife and they again gave cry to their desire. It was not the best mannered of requests, but it was spontaneous and intended as a compliment, and Mrs. Heeney took it as such. Her appearance at Tom's side was greeted with prolonged cheering. Tom Meets His Parents. Cameramen perched on the wharf shed fired a flash and cameras clicked as Tom, one burly arm helping his young wife, filed down the gangway. Half a dozen arms stretched out to grip his hand as he reached the wharf, but Tom, while accepting the greetings, was looking for his parents who had come up from Gisborne to meet him. A couple of policemen cleared a way and Mr. Heeney, senior, grasped the hand of the son he had not seen for four years. Then the old man put both . arms . round . his daughter-in-law and kissed her. In the excitement Mrs. Heeney, senior, had become separated from her husband, but Tom espied her and pushed his way to her. Other of Tom's relations were there to meet him, and it was several minutes before Tom arid his party were able to force their way through the crowd to their taxis. Even then it was hard work getting away, but eventually Tom, happy as a schoolboy, and his smiling wife, were lost to the crowd, which then turned its way citywards. It was a great welcome to a man who made so splendid an effort to win for New Zealand tha world'* jhmvy/weight gram*