The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1907-08-05
FRANK COOKE
IS INITIATED
He Gives a Graphic Account OF
Crossing the Line in
S. S. Aorangi.

Aloha oukou. According 20 my prom
Use before leaving Honolulu for trip
to Australia. I shall now send you a
few lines concerning how we spent the
4th of July.
Ever since leaving Honolulu, Satur-
day. June %. we have had very smooth
seas and fine weather.
1t has been quite warm while near
ing the equator, but now. since crossing
the line. it is growing cooler as We
go south. on Monday we hope TO
reach suva. the largest city in the Fiji
Islands. about the size of Hilo. Then
we go on to sydney. which is about the
size of San Francisco or larger.
I had often heard about Neptune,
the god of the ocean, and of his treat
ment of those crossing the line for the
first time.
All day Wednesday, July 3. there was
much talk on board about crossing the
line. and preparations were going on
for the celebration of the Fourth and
the reception of Neptune and his
court. Many were the stories We heard,
some true. but many untrue. At 3
O'Clock in the evening. Boom! went
the gun on the upper deck and soon
there was seen a bright light on the
water to the stern of the vessel.
What's that! What's that! called
many of the passengers. That is the
signal always given when the ship
crosses the imaginary line between the
North and South Pacific Oceans, and
for Neptune to report TO the ships cap
tain. After few minutes notice was
posted in the different parts of the
shin. that Neptune and his court In
full dress would appear on board at
$50 o. m. of the Fourth Of July TO mete
ont the punishment to all on board who
had never before crossed the line
The next morning being the Fourth
mucb excitement prevailed all over the
ship. 1 visited the steerage and fore
castle in the forward part of the YES
sci several times during the morning
and saw much of what was going on IN
those quarters.
The crew were shifting a pile OF
heavy lumber (4x12), making large
platform over the main hatch and ar
| ranging cross pieces to the railing to
make a large canvas water tank about
twenty feet long by sixteen feet VIDE
and four feet deep. This was soon MI
ed with salt water by 3-ineh nre nose
| attached to the steam pump on board
After dinner and promptly at 2;Se P.
m Neptune with his little wife "a
small sailor boy dressed up, his court
and attendants (some of them passen-
gers and crew. about twenty or more
all dressed in fashions and styles Pc
,,,,iar 70 the inhabitants of the South
Seas and his own people, appeared.
/ Most of the dresses. skirts, headgears'
etc were made of UNFINISHED ana
braided old Manila rope. The hair
haaras hat trimmings, etc, were very
GOOD and well made. the whole sight
making a most unusual and interesting
parade.
The company fled up the forward
n.ngvav and marched single file al
ovsr the ship. much to the amusement
Of ali On board and greeted by their
turrahs. They passed from end to END
uiaa n side and top to bottom Of our
big steamship Aorangi-
%eptune and his court finally assem-
bled on and around the platform over
+ba hatch. His four devils went
straight into the water TO be ready L
-a,aivA the victims as they were
-,rovn into the tank. The bailift, VIII
~. b5r spreading trumpet, called on
one bv one the names from among th'
passengers of those who had neVe'
o-osses the line before, TO come torti
"a aDDear before Neptune and MS
,-, They had to come forth aht
ra seated one at a time on the LITTLE
ns,cn prepared for them on the mar
81, Of the platform just over the eag'
~ tbs tank. The doctor, the barpe
and helpers then went through in gFea
.-1s me operation Of shaving the vic
rim with q large carpenters tWo-ioo
beveI-souare for a razor. using a mast.
orarftv Of soft soap, etc, put on VIZ
large six-inch paste brush Just d
The shaving was completed the I"
ne1ra~z aoused the patient all owe
with -four and blue paint, and at 'ileA
moment the seat was oapsized ana N
! follow was tipped over backwards mi
: +ha tank Of water Here the oeVli
= .,,c,.s- him over and over again, Pre-
tending TO wash his face and bod
while the three-inch stream OF "'''s
: r,s-ss on them It was a most laugf
! ,,7a and ridiculous performance. HOO
:. and laughter were loud and Ion
and heard all over the ship after eae
act ut,,a 81