Nothing to do with fishing or hunting

[GrandpaTom]

This a strange accomplishment.  All in the timing.

GREAT SEA STORY
The passenger steamer SS Warrimoo was quietly knifing its way through the waters of the mid-Pacific on its way from Vancouver to Australia.  The navigator had just finished working out a star fix and brought Captain John DS. Phillips, the result. The Warrimoo's position was LAT 0º 31' N and LONG 179 30' W.  The date was 31 December 1899.  "Know what this means?" First Mate Payton broke in, "We're only a few miles from the intersection of the Equator and the International Date Line".  Captain Phillips was prankish enough to take full advantage of theopportunity for achieving the navigational freak of a lifetime.  He called his navigators to the bridge to check & double check the ship's position.  He changed course slightly so as to bear directly on his mark.  Then he adjusted the engine speed. The calm weather & clear night worked in his favor. At mid-night the SS Warrimoo lay on the Equator at exactly the point where it crossed the International Date Line! The consequences of this bizarre position were many: 
The forward part (bow) of the ship was in the Southern Hemisphere & in the middle of summer.
The rear (stern) was in the Northern Hemisphere & in the middle of winter.
The date in the aft part of the ship was 31 December 1899.
In the bow (forward) part it was 1 January 1900.
This ship was therefore not only in:
Two different days,
Two different months,
Two different years,
Two different seasons
But in two different centuries - all at the same time!

[mike89]

I suppose it really could happen.. 

[markn]

  That's neat GT. Coming home from Sydney 30 years ago I left there at Noon on Sunday and arrived in LA at 10:00 am the same day. So I was in LA two hours before I left Sydney.