WOMAN DRANK AT PARTY AND WOKE UP ABOARD SHIP

Wanganui Chronicle, 7 March 1947, Page 6

WOMAN DRANK AT PARTY AND WOKE UP ABOARD SHIP

(P.A.) Auckland, March 6 To be at a party at an 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 for Auckland, was the fantastic experience of Mrs. Terrie Littlejohn, aged 24, a theatrical artist, of Darlinghurt, Sydney. She arrived here last Friday with no luggage, accompanied by her three-year-old son, and is still in Auckland awaiting her return to Sydney by air.

Mrs. Littlejohn made the four days voyage without tickets and, according to her statement, without questioning by the officers or the ship's crew. She walked ashore with her son, escaping the eyes of Customs officers. Because her name was not on the passenger fist, it was not called with others on her arrival at Auckland, and she was not noticed on the wharf, where the passengers have their luggage examined, because she had none. CAUSED A FLUTTER Officers were unaware of her arrival until Monday, when she called at the passport office, inquiring about her return to Sydney. She caused a flatter in the Auckland police station when she explained that she was an unwilling stowaway, because she had a “blackout” at the party in the Sydney hotel. The port security aepartinent of the police inquired aiiv . . strange case, but are satisfied after the identification of Mrs. Littlejohn by two members of an Australian theatrical company now in Auckland. Interviewed by the press, Mrs. Littlejohn said: “1 think 1 must have had too many ‘boilermakers.’ Just imagine my consternation when at dayoreak I awoke to find myselt curled up on the deck of the American ship under a rug, with my little boy fast asleep in my arms. I wasn’t feeling well, not seasick, but I had a terrific hangover.” WON AT POKER Mrs. LitllejohQ said she had 100 dollars in her purse. She and her son had meals in the ship’s first-class dining room, mingled with the passengers during the day and played poker in the lounge at night, and won, too. Her son played with the two children of Jan Rubini, the violinist. She slept on deck. Mrs. Littlejohn said she appreciate < the courtesy and kindness of Auckland officials.