Blacked Out At Sydney Party; Awoke At Sea

Northern Advocate, 6 March 1947, Page 5

Blacked Out At Sydney Party; Awoke At Sea

WOMAN NOW IN N.Z. WITH SON

(P.A.) AUCKLAND, This Day. TO be at a party at a hotel in King’s Cross, Sydney, one afternoon drinking “boilermakers’’—whiskies followed by chasers of beer—and to wake next morning at daybreak on the deck of the American passenger vessel Marine Phoenix, en route to Auckland, was the fantastic experience of Mrs Terrie Littlejohn, 24, theatrical artist, of Darlinghurst, Sydney.

She arrived here last Friday with no luggage, accompanied by her three-year-old son, and is still in Auckland awaiting return to Sydney by air. Mrs Littlejohn made the four-day voyage without tickets, and, according to her statement, without quesboning by officers or ship's crew. She walked ashore with her son, escaping the eyes of Customs officers. Because her name was not on the passenger list, it was not called with others on arrival at Auckland, and she was not noticed on the wharf, where passengers have their luggage examined, because she had none. Officials were unaware of her arrival until Monday, when she called at the passport office inquiring about return to Sydney. She caused a flutter at the Auckland Police Station when she explained that she had been an unwilling stowaway, because she had a “blackout” at a party at a Sydney hotel. ~ The Port Security Department of the police inquired into the strange

case, but were satisfied after identification of Mrs Littlejohn by two members of an Australian theatrical company now in Auckland. Interviewed by the Press, Mrs Littlejohn said: “I think I must have had too many ‘boilermakers.’ “Just imagine my consternation when at daybreak I awoke to find myself curled up on the deck of an American ship under a rug with my little boy fast asleep in my arms. “I was not feeling well, not seasick, but had a terrific hangover.” Mrs Littlejohn said she had 100 dollars in her purse. She and her sen had meals in the ship's first-class diningroom, mingled with the passengers during the day. played poker in the lounge at night—and won. too. Her son played with the two children of Jan Rubini. She appreciated the courtesy and kindness of Auckland officials.