THE CHINA CLIPPER

Taranaki Central Press, Volume IV, Issue 331, 12 January 1937, Page 8

THE CHINA CLIPPER

VAGARIES OF HUMAN NATURE. flying the pacific ocean. Behind the announcement* of the rirst commercial trip of the China Clipper across the Pacific Ocean from San Francisco to Shanghai lies a story not only of engineering and business triumphs, but of the vagaries and peculiarities of human nature. Three years ago Will Rogers, America's best loved comedian, who died on a Polar flight with Wiley Post, returned from a journey on the airline route which encircles South America. As his luggage was removed from the aeroplane he turned to the airport manager and said: “If you people, ever open up a new line I want to be the first to fly on it.” “You never can tell,” replied the manager. “Some of these days we’re going to fly the Pacific Ocean.” “Well,” said Rogers, “I guess it won’t cost any more than this South American trip.” Taking out his wallet, lie put £4OO on the desk and bought his reservation for the conjectured Pacific route. Will Rogers died before he could claim his reservation. But since that day about 900 people wrote, wired, telephoned, and telegraphed for the privilege of making the journey. But the twist of it is that, the first clipper took only 18 passengers. And'all 900 were determined to be one of that 18, determined to stick a label on their baggage saying, “San Francisco to Shanghai—First Flight.” The cost to each passenger was about £l4O. Most of them sa/id that if they could not go on the first flight they did not want to fly at all. One of the applications nearly involved the company in a lawsuit. A woman wrote asking for a reservation. The reply stated that she was 788 on the list. That infuriated her. Within an hour of receiving it she was on the telephone. “I want to charter the ship outright,” she shrilled. “The first ship —for myself and 17 of my friends.” That will cost a great deal of money,” said the man at the other end, trying politely to put her off. “How much?” “Oh, about £7000.” “Very well,” said the woman. “I’ll charter the ship.” If there had been a binding agreement on this basis it would have ueen disastrous for the company—disastrous because they are trying to make the whole enterprise as plain and businesslike as possible, doing all they can to avoid “stunt-. ing” it.