Alpena argus. [volume] (Alpena, Mich.) 1893-1909, 1893-02-15


from the bottom of the briny deep.
The clerk carries a mailbag which
contains the certificates of member
ship of the Royal Sons of Neptune"
which are given to every one aboard
who has crossed the line before.
Every one who does not receive one
of these certificates has to be initial
ed on the following day into men,
bership of the Royal Sons. Those
who do receive them are given
some station for the exercises to
act as policemen, guardsmen, pilots,
lookout and barber. On the follow
ing morning Neptune takes COM
plete control of the ship, puts his
lookout at the masthead and the
course is laid to the coming of the
pilot. All Of his subjects array
themselves in long white robes
made of canvass or anything else
convenient, march around the father
of waters, and pay him homage.
A pool is arranged near the feet of
Neptune and by tucking up the
corners of a large sail and filling
the bag part of the sheet with
water a person Of medium height
would be covered to the breast when
in the water. Several of the men,
bers act as seadogs, and founce
around with delight in this impro-
vised pool. Directly by the pool is
placed the barber chair, construct
ed so that the seat Of it is little
higher than the pool sail. When
everything is in readiness the mast
head lookout sings out:
Lime OH Where away" "A
ships length ahead, sir" "Cut it,"
SAY, ay, sir"
Some one runs up to the bow,
and, with a sheath knife, sewers the
imaginary line, and the ship glides
over the equator. The policemen
are ordered to bring every one who
has not certificate before the
throne, and though they know the
ceremony is rough still the uninitiat.
ed have to come. To conceal them
selves is impossible; il in the hold
they are dragged out and beaten be-
fore the Judge supreme with stuffed
clubs. If aloft even to the truck he
is hauled down without ceremony,
though sometimes he gives the cop
pers lively chase through the rig
ging. The "greenies" are marched
in line before the Judge, and the
ceremony begins.
Neptune-"My son, have you
ever before entered my sacred do
main?"
First Victim-"No, sir" (for if
he lies about it he is caught.)
Neptune-"Do you desire to be-
come amember of my royal familyP'
First Victim-"You do me toe
much honor"
Neptune-"My sons, take him
make him as yourselves"
He is seized, placed in the BARRIERS
chair and prepared for a shave
The lather is made of molasses, tar
-four and grease, which is bounti-
fully applied, and the barber WELD
ing great tin razor about two feet
long gracefully scrapes him and
turns him over to the assistants,
who turn him over to the seadogs,
waiting just behind; by hosting his
feet and giving a shove. Into the
pool he goes head first and the dogs
keep him in the salt water with
constant ducking until he is prop
er salt. He is taken out, given the
right of fellowship and joins in the
initiation of the other unfortunates.
Every one has it to endure, even to
the officers, unless they pay their
footing by bountiful treat to the
jewellers.
This ceremony sometimes occu-
pies a half day, according to the
number Of men aboard, who never
crossed before. If there is band
aboard they pay their footing by
furnishing music during the entire
time, and at close all hands are call
ed to muster, and the newly initial
ed brothers are given their certificat-