Criminal · Podcast summary
Out of the Box
Reg Speirs and John McSorley discuss their incredible journey of Reg mailing himself from England to Australia in a box, and the aftermath of this daring feat.
Listen on the show ↗Key takeaways
- 🤕Reg Speirs, an Australian javelin thrower, found himself stranded in London after an injury prevented him from competing in the 1964 Tokyo Olympics, leading to his desperate plan to mail himself home.03:53
- 🐶The idea to mail himself home was sparked when Speirs observed animals, particularly beagle dogs, being shipped in cargo planes, making him think, "If a dog can survive it, I could."06:37
- 🤝John McSorley, Speirs's friend, initially thought the idea was crazy but eventually helped him plan the journey, utilizing the "cash on delivery" (COD) option to circumvent Speirs's lack of funds.10:56
- 📦The box was designed to be 5 feet long, 3 feet wide, and 2.5 feet high, with slats for air and brown paper for concealment, to avoid looking like a coffin and fit within cargo regulations.12:22
- 👟To disguise the package, Speirs and McSorley created a fictitious company, "The Supreme Shoe Company," and labeled the box as containing "rubberized emulsion" for a shoe company.15:10
- 🎒Speirs packed tins of raw baked beans, water, a flashlight, a book, and a suit for his journey, along with placemats for his mother, and said goodbye to John before being sealed in the box.17:09
Chapters
- 0:58🎙️ Introduction to Reg Speirs and the Re-release of a Favorite Episode
- 2:09🥏 Reg's Unexpected Entry into Javelin Throwing
- 3:25💪 The Allure of Javelin Throwing and Reg's Rise to Prominence
- 4:13🤝 A Friendship Forged at the Commonwealth Games
- 6:33🤕 Injury, Desperation, and the Birth of an Idea
- 11:40📦 Historical Precedents: Others Who Mailed Themselves
- 17:31📐 The Plan Takes Shape: Convincing John and Designing the Box
- 24:48👟 The Fictitious Shoe Company and Cash on Delivery
- 28:21🎒 Packing Essentials and Final Preparations
- 32:24✈️ The Journey Begins: London to Paris and Unexpected Delays
- 39:03🇫🇷 First Stop: Paris and a Close Call with Discovery
- 42:13🧘 The Longest Leg: Paris to Mumbai and the Power of Mindset
- 45:13🥵 Arrival in India: Upside Down and Naked
- 47:15🇦🇺 The Final Stretch: Singapore to Perth and the Sound of Home
- 49:10🏃♂️ Escape from the Customs Shed and Blending In
- 57:05🙏 The Journey Home: Hitchhiking and a Priest's Kindness
- 58:17📰 The Aftermath: Fame, Consequences, and Enduring Friendship
- 1:07:11❤️ A Friendship That Transcends Time and Differences
- 1:09:08💈 A Final Act of Friendship: John's Haircut
The digest
In a world where travel often involves meticulous planning and conventional transportation, the story of Reg Speirs stands out as a testament to ingenuity, desperation, and an unbreakable bond of friendship. In 1964, faced with the daunting challenge of returning home to Australia from England with no money, Speirs, with the help of his friend John McSorley, embarked on an audacious plan: he would mail himself home in a box. This episode of Criminal delves into the extraordinary details of this journey, the motivations behind it, and the lasting impact it had on both men.
The Genesis of an Audacious Plan
Reg Speirs, an Australian javelin thrower, found himself stranded in London after an injury prevented him from competing in the 1964 Tokyo Olympics. With his right arm damaged and no money to afford a plane ticket home, Speirs was desperate. He recounts seeing animals being shipped in large cargo planes, particularly beagle dogs, and a thought sparked: if a dog could survive the journey, why couldn't he? "I put a stamp on my ass and send myself home," he quipped, encapsulating the audacious simplicity of his idea.
His friend, John McSorley, an English javelin thrower whom Speirs had met at the Commonwealth Games in Perth in 1962, was initially incredulous. "You're crazy!" McSorley exclaimed, but he soon recognized the gravity of Speirs's situation. The key to the plan was the "cash on delivery" (COD) option, meaning the recipient would pay for the freight upon arrival. This circumvented Speirs's immediate financial predicament. The cost of shipping the box was estimated at 440 pounds, a significant sum compared to the 350 pounds for a regular plane ticket, but it was payable upon arrival, making it a viable, albeit risky, option.
Keep reading in The Digest
The full 5-minute article, 4 more sections, and every new episode from Criminal and the creators you follow.
- Crafting the Perfect Disguise
- The Journey: From London to Perth
- Arrival and Aftermath
- A Lasting Legacy of Friendship and Audacity
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