Aldebaran (AF 10) - Naval Cruise Book

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Jhe IteA o( KlejfituM On July 11, 1953, the good ship Aldebaran, bound southward to a rendezvous with the great midship- man cruising force returning from Rio de Janeiro, crossed the equator with her two hundred and thirty officers and men. In accordance with one of the oldest traditions of the navy and the sea the entire morning was set aside in order to initiate one hun- dred and seventv-six of these men into the Ancient Order of the Deep. The Neptune tradition, which traces some of its origins as far as the ' ikings, says that the ocean areas near the equator are waters sacred to King Neptune. Accordingly, anvone entering into this area must pa - homage to the roval dignit) ' of King Neptune. . li men coming into the domain of Neptune for the first time must be duly initiated into all the mysteries of the Ancient Order of the Deep before they can be considered true sons of Neptune and thence pass unmolested through the sacred area of the equator. Whenever a vessel approaches the equator. King Neptune sends his trusty messenger and scribe Davev Jones to investigate the loyalties of the crew. Davev Jones, discovering anv pollv wogs. snails, or other forms of uninitiated sea life aboard, reports this fact to his royal master and thus brings about a holding of court the following day to try and pun- ish the offenders. Shellbacks , those sons of Nep- tune who have crossed the line, make up the court, and hand out a variety of harmless and humorous punishments to the poUywogs. Neptunus Rex The Ruler of the Raging Moin . . . Neptunus Rex alias Patrick Potterson, EMC The Royal Court of King Neptune consists of the following personages: King Neptime. Davev Jones, Queen - mphitrite. the Babw the Princess, the Judge, the Prosecutor, the Doctor, the Dentist, the Barber, the Police, the Devil, Pegleg Pete, and va- rious other piratical figures. All pollywogs are given a trial, and all are found guiltv of ha -ing offended the dignitv of King Neptune b) ' entering the south latitudes for the first time. Such offense demands punishment, and the roval court is right at hand to provide a number of curious t pes. The ceremonies aboard the . ldebaran |uK ' 11th were verv colorful. There was a good variety of eve- patches, satin knickers, flintlock pistols, and other standard pirate gear. With the skull and bones of the joli ' roger flving from the ardarm. the court as- sembled on number two hatch, summoned up the offending pollywogs, and handed out the following punishments: a visit to the stocks or the doghouse. a gooti hosedown, some gagging medicine from the royal doctor, a good ducking in the pool by the royal bears, a skinclose haircut from the royal barber, and several other humiliating tortures. All the poUvwogs took their punishment in good tri(i( ' , and it is generalK ' agreed that King Neptune increased his tainilv this time in one of the most spirited ceremonies in man ;i moon.

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The royal court in all its splendo The ( ci al Ccuft