USS Georgetown (AGTR 2) - Naval Cruise Book

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FIRST DAY 'Li' 7752 3.4 vii 1,-

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.. t .,,., f CI- 5 1 2 -H , at 1- I, gf My SX? U t in 6 f' A:-,gtiiif -ee' W ,K ,. w T., . Y, 4 A ' 'T i. 'Af :mf f X A t W Mui,-H , V N' . 4 ,wr , 2 A ix.. keg., -, ,, Y ,lurk v, f x 'Q sift' if ft, 5, ,k , , ia N72 , f 4 , 154 X ,r 'W i it sw i terous ceremonies of crossing the line are of 1 st such horse-play The bo s ancient vintage that their derivation is o 5 place in the Middle Ages, and even before that when ships crossed D thirtieth parallel or passed through the Straits of Gibraltor. These ceremonies were extremely rough and to a large degree were to test the crew to determine whether or not the novices, the ' their first cruise could endure the hardships of a life at sea now, it was primarily a crew's party . The Vikings are practiced similar ceremonies on crossing certain A probable that the present-day ceremony was passed to Saxons, and Normans from the Vikings D ' At an even earlier time there is record of tune the mythological god of the seas, was aid those of his ' pitiation. NBP . , p . , 3 the seamen, and marks of respect were p 4 Q 3 domain. It is plausible that a part of the present Q ' ' 0, X my Q of the superstitious of those days, even though Viking gi' , Oat e of Neptune. Nevertheless, ti to doubt the physical existenc Rex is today the 'maJesty who ,V ynwam xx! g ceremonies. we Those who have 'crossed , A i?,,H'f,z?' 5-I? 32, A? JA in ,L ig yi q ni igir M vs: '.nk if Sz' - vi ' fx i Y fl if T f called Sons ofNeptuneor li , Q Q ' as Q ' fl, fide Sons of Neptune always ,L , f. 13 A V r i Q, for present-day ceremonies gi, ig , , f 1, Q M V fact that men will suffer . ' ' . we :.,A at 'J - ,, 3 A i fi' A.: : ,Z- in s U 3 K ,I x 5 flls L-4 Ji thagq-K 'ff . -5, ,fs THE LINE alify to inflict the same on other men. initiation in order to qu Na are most onies of the modern vy light The crossing-the-line cerem picturesque. The discomfort of a good dousing in the tank, a s shock of electricity from the fork of the Devil , and the slap-happy shaving ceremony comprise the most unpleasant features of the initi- emony is still reasonably severe in the ' could ation. ln merchant ships the ce mforts inflicted. r Officers of the Umted States Navy rty a number of bottles of physical disco at one time buy off by giving the Neptune pa beer. However, unless the ceremonies are very crude, it is the tradition er officers, in particular, undergo the that all officers, and young initiation. fled senior The most digni . customarily selected as Neptu ' h ess Amphitrite is Hel Hlg n good will appear well in deshabille of seaweed an al Baby Royal Doctor, consisted of the Roy , Barber. nus a d t i the custom that The night before the ship crosses the line, l s with a message to the Captain from h ve Davy Jones shall appear on His Majesty, Neptunus to for the certain men to board t time he wants the ship o stating at wha and with specific summons for h

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