Bluefield evening leader. [volume] (Bluefield, W. Va.) 1906-1911, 1907-12-26
FATHER NEPTUNE
VISITS OLD TARS
10000 MEN ARE To BE LATHER-
ED AND SHAVED BY THE "oLD
MAN." WHO USES A BARREr.-
HOOP RAZOR.

Port OF Spain. Trinidad. Dec. &C.
Loaded Ito the gunwales" with the
roast turkey and other delicacles
served TO them az the great Christ.
mas feast on board the American
fleet now in the harbor here. the
tars OF Uncle Sans navy are today
seeking, by means OF violent exercise
to prevent consequent attack OF
indigestion. All OF the Jacks on
shore leave are taking part in sports
OF various sorts provided for them
by the people of Port OF Spain. and
several exciting games OF football,
baseball, cricket and polo are I'm
progress. Coal is being loaded from
the colliers into the bunkers OF the
sixteen battleships and the auxiliary
vessels, preparatory to the start for
Rio de Janeiro. This run viii be
3,1O0 miles in length. the longest
or the voyage. Leaving here Sun
day the fleet is expected to reach Rio
de Janeiro on January II. Shore
leave will be granted to the men.
about 5000 at a time. While the
officials OF the Brazilian government
and the city fathers and influential
citizens OF beautiful Rio" are pre-
pairing a glorious reception for the
fleet, II is known that the officers
entertain fears that the bluejackets
may. In their enthusiasm 10 be en-
tertained, create disturbances.
On the trip from this port to Rio
one OF the most interesting events
OF the cruise Will take place, and
the older and more seasoned sailors
are already laying their plans for the
nigh inks. From time immemorial
IT has been the custom to initiate
sailors who have never crossed the
line. or the equator, and more than
haif OF the men on the fleet are due
TO receive a not very gentle hazlng
when the line Is reached on the trip
southwark to Rio. Father Neptune.
to the number OF sixteen, will board
each battleshfp and take command.
and then the greenhorns will get
what Is coming TO them. OF course
the commanding officers will be ex-
empt from the hazing program, but
they will have to step lively when
Neptune gives the word. Those Of
ficers who have not crossed the line
will be allowed to compromise by
setting up the beer to the crowd. If
any officer should refuse to pay. he
may be allowed 20 be initiated
while the other officers. who, are
content not to interfere with the Gus
toms of the sea. will obligingly be
deaf and blind Altogether. about
10000 men are to be lathered and
shaved by Father Neptune. who
uses a baTrel-hoop razor for the
job.
All Of the old-timers, who have
crossed the line one or more times.
have their certificates of initiation
into the mysteries OF Father Neptune
safely filed with the paymaster's
clerk. AS for the rest, nothing can
assist them. Every ship has on
board a full assortment of parapher-
MALTA for Neptune and Miss Amphi-
trite and the pages and courtiers and
all the rest OF Neptune's court.
When the happy day"-a happy
one for the old-timers-arriyes.
Father Neptune will come over the
bow Of each ship and take command
The officials will turn II over "a
Neptune, who VIII name a captain
and put quartermaster at the
wheel. Miss AmphitrIte and the rest
OF The court will assist Neptune in
the ceremonies which will follow
The neophytes are caught and ex.
amined by the doctors and are then
dragged, naked, shivering and tremo.
ling, before Neptune's barber. The
lather used Is a mixture OF oil and
grease and paint and the razor r. a
barrel hoop. After the shaving bro.
cess Is completed, the victims viii
be tossed into big tanks to wash. As
the water I'm the tank will be sis
feet deep. the initiates will have "a
swim out.