Hepburn (FF 1055) - Naval Cruise Book

Page 14 text:

THE HISTORY OF THE EQUATOR CROSSING The boisterous ceremonies of crossing the line are of such ancient vintage that their derivation is lost. Well known is that ceremonies took place long ago vi hen a ship crossed the thirteenth parallel and when going through the Straits of Gibralter. These early ceremonies were of the roughest sort and were, to a great extent, supposed to try the crew to determine whether the novices on their first cruise could endure the hard- ships of life at sea. Then as is the custom at the present time, it became primarily a crew ' s party. The Vikings were reported at an early date to carry out these ceremonies on crossing certain parallels, it is highly probatol h|||| resent-day ceremonies were passed on to Anglos. Saxons and Normans ' ' ' ' Q Pi Bv- During early ceremonies. Neptune, the mythajbgrcal pocf the seas, was appeased by to those ofi oi traditf |(istence of .5 underwater domain. It is other days. Even though ine, it is nevertheless, the Hed shellbai lonies. Sai These Sons of Neptune n treasure the certificate d usually addressed to all ins. Skates. Eels. Suckers, has been found worthy gathered into our trusty fold t order of the deep the seamen, and marks of respect were p. plausible that part of the ceremony grew modern day sailors have come to doubt the majesty who rules in the ceremonies. Those who have crossed the line are compose the cast for the present day cei which testifies that in Latitude 00-00 and Longitude Mermaids. Sea Serpents. Whales. Sharks. Porpoises. Lobsters. Crabs. Pollywogs and other living things o thi to be numbered as one of our trusty shellbacks, has and duly initiated into the solemn mysteries of tlWfan The ceremonies of the modern Navy are pictur que. and. with the exception of the discomfort of getting a good wetting in the tank, a slight shock from the Devil and a shaving ceremony, the initiation cannot be called rough. Officers of the Navy could, at one time, buy off by giving the Neptune party so many bottles of beer. On todays tee- totaling ships, it IS tradition that all pollywogs officer and enlisted alike, undergo the initiation. The eldest and most dignified member of the crew is usually selected as Neptune and his first assistant is Davy Jones. Her Royal Highness Amphitrite is usually a good look- ing seaman who will appear well in the deshabille of seaweed and rope yarn. The Co urt in general consists of the Royal Scribe. The Royal Doctor, the Royal Devil, the Barber; and other names that suit the fancy of the party. The Bears have the difficult task of rounding up the uninitiated and also standing dousing watches in the tank. The initiation commences with an early breakfast of steak and eggs for the Royal Court and such delicacies as cold spinach, green spaghetti cold-fried okra etc. for the Pollywogs . During the breakfast and the initiation following, the initiates are made to walk on their hands and knees and are not allowed to rise until they have passed the last test. Shortly after breakfast, the Royal party ascends the throne and with the officers first, the grueling initiation begins in earnest as each pollywog is first cooled off by handy fire hoses, lead before Neptune for sentencing and then delivered up to the Shelltacks to have the sentence carried out. Certificates of distinctive nautical phraseology are presented to those initiated. It is customary for the captain to sign the diploma ; also the seal of the ship is affixed thereto. No custom of the sea is better known tor to qualify as a shellback in this ancient ceremony is a distinption desired by seamen of all nations.

Page 13 text:

LCDR J. A. LEWIS EXECUTIVE OFFICER t 4

Page 15 text:

LOVER A FACE ONLY A MOTHER COULD LOVE.