MYSTER WOMAN ON LINER

Greymouth Evening Star, 14 June 1927, Page 3

MYSTER WOMAN ON LINER

JOURNEY IN CARPET SLIPPERS. A young woman who crossed the Atlantic in the White Star liner Celtic, wearing, a pair of carpet slippers, and Whose only other luggage was two men’s boots in a bag, was released by the immigration authorities at Liverpool recently. On arrival of the liner she was refused permission to land, and had since been sheltering at Oceanic House, the White Star Company’s hostel. On regaining her freedom,’ the young woman, Eleanor Parker, aged 27, left for London. Just before the Celtic was due to sail from New York she went on board wearing a pair of carpet slippers and carrying a small bag. Apart from the carpet slippers she was wearing she had no other footwear or change of clothing. The only contents of her bag, a search revealed, were the two men’s boots, both being for the left foot. These, she explained to the puzzled official, belong to her brother. She declined, however, to give his address or the names of any relatives in America. The mystery passenger had no passage ticket; but she had in her possession a receipt for £7'issued by the New York office of the White Star Line, which was believed to have been paid as a deposit on account of her passage money.

It was discovered that Miss Parker’s original intention was to make the Atlantic crossing on the Olympic, and some luggage belonging to her was discovered on that liner. Although she carried a passport properly vised by the British Consul in New York, she; was .refused permission, to land. Miss Parker was described as .a highly-intelligent arid well-educated young woman. She received 50 letters while staying ,at the hostel, and apparently has many friends in Englands . One of . the two visitors who called on her Was a university professor.