Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1908-12-22
NEPTUNE AT THE "llNE."
Admiral Evans Tolls About Initiation
Ceremonies on Board the Fleet at the
EQUATOR.

ceremonies on poaTu tHo Tlees a. Ss
Equator.
OF all the old customs Of the navy
the only one that will probably sur
vive and last for all time is the initia-
ton Of landsmen who cross the "line
as the equator Is called, for the first
time. The ceremonies, like the custom
itself, are practically the same In all
the navies of the world but do not
so far as 1 know, obtain in the mer-
chant service. In an age Of change
when all precedents are disregarded
and old customs and traditions forgot
ten, 1t is pleasant to know that this
one, so long observed and which gives
pleasure to so many, may still hold It's
place.
AS the fleet approached the equator
on the evening Of January A. a mes
senger from Neptunus Rex boarded
each vessel, interviewed the captain
and, having received his permission
for his majesty to visit him on the
morrow, took his leave. During the
night Of January 4, each ship was fit
ed with a large canvas tank near the
forward turret, so arranged that from
fitting BARRIERS chair on the rim OF
the turret, the one to be initiated could
be tumbled head over heels into the
water which, as it leaked out, was be-
ing constantly renewed by several lines
Of hose. All those to face Father
Nepture were sure Of a good, cool
bath If nothing more.
When the position Of no latitude was
reached on January S the flag Of the
monarch Of the sea was broken out at
the signal yardarm on every vessel Of
the fleet, and King Neptune, followed
by his suite, boarded each ship over
the bows and marched aft to the quar-
terdecis in the presence Of the assem-
bled crew to make his call on the ad-
mirals and captains, and obtain their
permission to conduct his ceremonies.
Great ingenuity had been shown by
the 'old hands" in preparing the many
costumes necessary for the occasion,
and the march aft" as 1t is called,
produced much laughter and applause
from those who saw it for the first
time but there were many serious faces
among the young recruits who looked
forward with some anxiety to the time
when they should fall into the hands
Of these fearful looking monsters OF
the deep who were constantly threat
cning dire things to those "landlubbers'
and "haymakers" who ventuTed to In
wade thei: domain without permission.
Father Neptune in every case knew
the officers and men whom he had
met before, and he welcomed them with
a few kind words. mentioning the name
of the ship in which each had sailed,
and wishing them a fair wind for all
time. So perfect were the costumes OF
the king and his court on board that
flagship that failed to recognize a sim
gle man of the more than fifty who
constituted the suite. / presented them
with cigars enough to keep them go
ing, wished them successful day, and
the frolic began. Seats had been ar
ranged on the forward bridge for the
officers who had cross, the line be-
fore, and from this point we observed
the ceremonies. The day was exceed
ingly hot and we were all dressed In
our thinnest white uniforms. After /
had been watching the fun for several
hours felt a peculiar cold wind blow
ing on my back, which so chilled me
that was forced to retire to my cabin.
where in the evening I found myself
helpless with an attack Of inflamma-
tory rheumatism. which caused me in