Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-09-01
HOMAGE TO NEPTUNE.
RATHER ROUGH HANDLING OF SOyIcEs


q southwesterly course, having left Panama
about week before, and being bound for
the Island Of Tahiti, in the Society group.
The ship, though steamer. was proceeding
under sail. as she had an extended cruise
among the Pacific islands before her, and 1t
would probably be difficult to obtain coal.
The crew were scattered about the decks in
groups, the center of which, in most cases,
was some old, bearded shell-back, who was
retailing his experiences ON previous cruises.
The officers, who had just finished their
evening meal, were clustered in the lee
gangway. sending up curling wreaths Of
light blue smoke from cigars and pipes,
which the faint breeze that just filed the
sails carried lazily astern. The navigator,
an old and grizzled sea dog, remarked that
''if the wind freshens during the night we
will cross the line during the morning
watch"
eyes, and from what hear, we may ex-
pect to receive a visit from Father Nep-
tune, and some of our youngsters will have
q chance to make the acquaintance Of that
amiable monarch, % says the old surgeon.
glancing quizzically at . couple of mid
shipmen who have just Joined the group.
"Oh, we're all right" they replied;
"we've fixed things with the old boy, and
will be allowed 10 pay forfeit Of half q
dozen bottles of beer apiece, and viii get
spanker boom or any other monkey busi-
ness.
GOING TO THE DOGS.
"well, welli the navy is going 70 the
dogs" says the navigator. when. I was
,xufa cIr oAok
ing as to accept forfeits, and we took our
Cruel without any salt"
Seven bells strikes and the lookouts pass
the hail: 'Starboard cathead, bright light, "
comes from ahead, and meets with its re-
sponse from the lookout on the port bow.
Flows her head?" sings out the officer
of-the-deck, from the bridge, turning to the
man at the wheel.
"On her course, sir, West sou'west. +"
growls the quartermaster, and everything
1apses into silence, broken only by the
splashing Of the water under the bow.
"Ship ahoyp comes the sharp cry from
directly ahead, and everyone starts into an
attitude Of alertness to learn the cause of
this unexpected hail.
"Aye, ave." answers the oficer-of-the-
deck.
"What ship is that?" comes back.
'srhe q. s. s. Richmond, Captain -,
from Panama, bound for the Society Islands,
who are you?"
81 come from his worthy majesty Nep-
tune, monarch of the seas, who, hearing
that you were in these waters, will visit the
ship tomorrow morning to receive the hom-
age Of his royal subjects. Goodby," and .
splash in the water causes all hands to rush
to the side to see what this means. A light
is drifting slowly astern, and is quickly
swallowed up in the darkness. The more
credulous claim that they can distinguish
the outline of boat, but one Of the men,
who was first at the side, says it was moth
ing but lighted candle in a bucket.
The excitement gradually subsidies, and
many are the inquiries which the younger
men put to the old sailors concerning the
ceremonies observed when Neptune pays his
visits to ships as they cross the equator. "Oh,
it ain 'tnothin' now to what it used to be. says
old Chips, the carpenters mate. 1.-THE cap
tains won't allow nothin' but baby play
nowadays. May be you'll get chance to
have your beard taken off" turning to .
smooth faced apprentice boy, "and guess
you'll all get more or less salt water if the
old man don't interfere"
NEPTUNE MAKES HIS CALL.
At eight bells the lookouts are relieved,
3,
and the ship settles down to the quietness
of tropical night, with steady breeze re-
quiring no changes in the trim of the sails.
The next morning, the usual routine work
of scrubbing decks and cleaning bright
work is gone through with, and after
breakfast has been served, the men are
mustered at quarters. The reports of of
fcers of divisions have been made, and ev-
eryone wears an air of expectancy. A noise
forward attracts the attention of all, and
over the bows comes Neptune and his court.
He is dressed in what resembles Cape Ann
fsherman's suit, from which and from his
amber-hued beard, tangled with seaweed,
the water is dripping. On his head is an
old ou'wester, surmounted by tin crown,
and in his right hand he grasps the tradi-
tional trident. Clinging to his lett is his
blushing bride. Amphitrite, who remarka-
bly, resembles one of the younger appren-
tices, and in the scanned face of Neptune, a
likeness can be traced to old Billy Bowlegs,
the bosn's mate, who singularly enough is
not at his gun.
A motley crew follows this royal couple.
First comes the court barber, ferocious
looking parsonage, armed with a gigantic
tin razor, and from whose belt bangles q
formidable pair of forceps. A number of
policemen, dressed in old marines uniforms
and armed with stuffed clubs, bring up the
rear.
An improvised chariot has been rigged
up from howitzer carriage. On this His
Majesty is drawn aft to the quarterback,
where he is met by the captain. After q
satisfactory interview with the commanding
officer, in which Neptune agrees to treat
everyone with mildness, and that the forfeit
which those officers who have not crossed
fha nfnr trIl linz 10 ahoIl kao
cepted, the ship is turned over to him for
the forenoon, and the crew dismissed from
quarters.
A throne has been arranged on an ele-
vated platform amidships, in front Of which
a large tarpaulin has been stretched, with
the four corners triced up, and the basin
thus formed
FILLED WITH SEA WATER.
Dismounting from his chariot, Neptune
takes his seat, and borrowing a chew of
navy plug from his barber, proceeds to
business. A number of the old salts press
forward, and are cordially greeted BY his
briny nibs. One he recognizes as having
met in these same waters, in '58, in the good
ship Lydee Adlee, three decks, one gun and
no bottom. Another first made his ac-
quaintance on the brig Polly, and all these
old friends are invited to assist in disposinp
of the forfeits paid by the younger officers.
In the meantime the royal police force has
not been idle, and young apprentice bow
is brought before the King. He meets with
no smile of recognition, but with a frown
the worthy potentate demands to know for
what reason this youth is allowed to an
proach the throne without having been
shaved. Two of the ''fnest" seat the
youngster on camp stool, and the barber
proceeds to perform his functions. Lather-
ino his face we'll with a villainous IooL;..