MONTEREY’S BIG DAY

Greymouth Evening Star, 16 April 1937, Page 11

MONTEREY’S BIG DAY

thrills for passengers

[pep. press association.] AUCKLAND, April 16. To watch the masters of the Matson liners Monterev and Mariposa, beingtransferred by life boat in mid-ocean, to see the Pan-American clipper swoop down from the skies and circle the Monterey and to cross the equator, all events being on the same day. made April 8 a red letter day for passengers <m the Monterey, which arrived at Auckland this morning from San Francisco.

A few hours before the Monterey berthed at Honolulu; her master. Captain E. R. Johnson was taken ill. He was rushed to Honolulu, and operated upon for appendicitis, his condition later being reported satisfactory. Captain C. Brocas, formerly master of the Ventura, which prior to the advent of the Monterey and Mariposa ran in the- trans-Pacific service, happened to

be in Honolulu, and took over the command of the Monterey, Just before Pago Pago was reached, the Monterey and the homeward bound Mariposa stopped within a quarter to half a mile of each other. Lifeboats were launched, and Captain Brocas was transferred to the Mariposa, and Captain W. Myer t<? the Monterey. The sea was calm, and no difficult was experienced. There was further excitement when the clipper en route to Kingman Reef dropped altitude, and circled the Monterey, which gave her a radio direction bearing. Crossing the equator completed an eventful day.