The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1883-09-23

I, RiehMssd Man.
,co,ro.pordencc OF the Richmond Dispaschl
MOUTH OF Coxoo RIVER,
June "a, 1883.
We called from Gaboon Saturday after.
80, June 2ad, hound for the Congo and
=, pan, de l.oanda. II was warm, hay
dsv. hut A fresh sea breeze was blowing
,ns, gratefully suggested other and cooler
cimes The EQUATOR was not many miles
distant and for the majority Of the ships
on,nnanv this would be the first experience
~ another hemisphere. SO we spread our
broad sails and stood CALAMITY on. The
ouiet of discipline soon reigned, anu
n,uoht was heard but the churning OF the
engines and the gentle ripple oil the wa'er
under the bow.
/. White ia the CLASSY deck without a stain. .,.s
"where an he watch the staid lieutenant wsks-
Look on tst part which sacred ;e. ,,s re saaiss
For the lone chieffstn. Who mars''' S'"''
silent and feared bv ait"
Rut night IA now drawing on. Suddenly
from out the darkness ahead oeep 'o'''
IL heard
"Ship ahoy !"
"Hello 1" IL the answer.
"what ship Is that"
"Tbe limited States steamer Sinkemall.'
"W here bound 7"
"From Gaboon to the Congo river"
care any OF my children aboard :,
"Some, bat the majority are strangers.
.sTell the captain i will be pleased 10
come aboard on Monday morning and re-
new nv acquaintance with him. and also
view those presumptuous mortals VINO hus
rasbly invade my domain"
"The captain will be delighted 10 see
your Majesty"
"Until then farewell 90,
.Good-njrbf and pleasant dreams
who wasfbisy Whence came that strange
voice from the deepY The youngsters anu
landsmeu went about with startled LOOKS,
peerinp behind each corner As II IN lear Oh
ghosts. The old sea-dogs winked al one
another and smiled knowingly. There was
nothing TO do but wait. sunday passed.
quietly. and the good ship reeied OH her
knots along the Guinea coast.
Monday at last--trst rumDling as Oh
distant thunder. and the same voice =,
heard ship ahoy Heave to whi'f
come aboardlv And over the bow APP
nears n PROCESSION OF Out-runners ana
ber,lds. chariot drawn by eight sturdy
mermen wbereon repose in their glory
Neptnne. King OF the Sea, bearing aioi'
his differing trident, and Ampbltrite, M
Queen, supporting in her arms tne ihlan'
Triton. Around them frolic gay Nereids
and doIphins, and the stately court brings
up the rear.
Hail. Neptune. greatest of The godsi
Thou ruler of the sat-sea HOODS
Thou with The deep and dark-green mar,
That dsst the golden trident otSr'
Thou that with either arm outspread
Emb0somest the earth we !reau
Thine A the beasts with Ems anu sChlts.
That round thy chariot as IL sails
Plunging aud tumbi ny fast ana iree'
All reck less follow DER the SEA.
Thine are the gentle dolphin throng
That love and listen 10 the song
With whom the sister Nereids stray,
And In their crystal caverhs pay
But the stately thing now draws ait (to
music by the accordeon). The officers and
men are gathered on the quarter-deck. the
captan advances and salutes his Majesty,
who responds: mn, =,
eve greet YOU, captain. This is the
first time we have seen this vessel in our
dominion, but your face is familiar, and II
we mistake not yon visited us some twenty
wears ago. We see many OF our children
on board. and we are proud that they
have not forgotten their old father. Bui
who are these strangers that have the bold
ness to enter our domain without our
knowledge? Are they here for irolicY III
so, we commend their sentiments, for
Is relished by the best or men,
"Our secretary will call the roll and all
hands will pay their respects to our august
majesty. Let the frolic commence.
.1Their highncsses now occupy a throne
prepared for them over the break OF the
iorecastle, overlooking the port-gangway,
wherein Is triced up huge awning han
filed with salt water. The Lord Chief
Justice opens the court in an eloquent ora
ton, the secretary calls the roll. the men
alarms and attendants disperse in search
OF victims, and the first prisoner is brought
before the bar. He is Immediately con-
victed of entering his Majesty's domains
without a proper license, and Is sentenced
TO suffer due penalty Of law. Seating INN
i'm the tonsorial chair, the iatherer de-
mands, "Have you crossed the me
"No." is the answer, and ere his lips close
the brush, reeking with soap-suds, salt
water, molasses, and flour, is flirted INTO
his face. The incipient beard is removed
by the court barber with tin razor yard
long, and the struggling locks trimmed
with pair OF timers shears. A toss into
the awning and ducking by two
Tritons in waiting below complete
his miseries, and the next victim APP
pears. He is discovered by the court
physician to be suffering from grievous
Indigestion; but the pills are prepared,
likewise a toothsome mixture in great
black bottle. Both are duly administered,
and doubtless 90 far to effect a speedy cure.
Another reckless yioator Of laws is afflicted
with an aching tooth, but he is quickly re-
lieved by the court dentist. who gracefully
removes it with pair of blacksmlth's
tongs. The toss into the awning Is the In
variable finale, and the cold water seems to
dissipate all i'll will. One OF two OF the I'M
washed accuse the court Of partiality in its
judgments and vow they will not be
ducked. As well contend against the laws
of the Medes and Persians-the more re-
sistance the more merriment, and as a rule
the fewer clothes at the end Of the struggle.
so il proceeds until the roll Is finished.
The officers who have not crossed before
disgracefully purchase exemption by bri-
bling the Ruler Of the Seas with beer. The
ceremony completed, the music strikes up.
the procession forms again, files around the
deck, bids goodbye TO officers and crew,
and disappears over the bow. The good
ship holds her course and quiet returns
again 10 the bosous OF many who have
passed sleepless nights anticipating the
agonies OF this encounter.