The Holt County sentinel., 1921-03-25
On the Wide, Wide Ocean.


Charles, son of Mr.. Marion
Brown, who Is now in the navy and a
member of the crew on board the u.
S. s. Pennsylvania, in a letter to his
father, under date of Jan. "a, says:
Dear father.-well, at last II has
happened. Your son is now a real
sailor. We all were put through by
old King Neptune and his gang as we
crossed the Line this morning, and
surely got mine. Ny hair Is still
sticky and can taste that paste yet
but II is great to think that ] am no
longer land lubber, and my cheat
is much bigger than il was yesterday.
I suppose all the folks will want to
know about II, and perhaps you will
see IL in the movies, but as | won't be
back for few months yet, as We have
SO many places TO visit, will write
you n bit about II, as ] am not on
watch. and YOU can pass IL around.
"Just think! We have nearly 1900
officers and men on board and until
this morning there were only about
40 real salts among them. No matter
how long fellow has been sailing the
ocean, he Is not deep water
shell-back until he has crossed the
Line, as the quatotr Il called, and has
been officially received into his royal
domain by old King Neptune, Ruler Of
the Raging Main.
"Such a time we had, Ever since We
' left New York, We have been looking
/ forward to II, and only yesterday af-
tcrnoon, the Commandcr-in-Chie scnt
message 10 all ships that Word has
been received from Davy Jones that he
would board the Fleet at seven thirty
tonight. The Birmingham will signal
his arrival to the Fleet BY firing sew.
eral bracketed stars copied that
from our bulletin board and the one
that came later. The Fleet will be
stopped by signal from Fleet Flag
ship ut eight thirty tomorrow morning
and remain stopped for ten minutes.
All drills may be suspended during the
forenoon. Tactical exercises will he.
gin at one thirty tomorrow rs pre-.
scribed. Speed fifteen knots or
course. only the first part wa simpor.
tant, as Il meant u holiday I'LL Ncp.
tune got through, anyway. And sure
enough, last night at seven bells
Chats half past seven) II began. A
crowd of Us were up ON the forecastle
lthat's the part way up on the front
Of the ship In the picture ! sent youl
when whooplal up goes some colorcd
lights from the little ship 'Birming.
ham, which was on ahead. and q loud
voice called out of the darkness Ship
ahoy! ship a-ho.oy. Ship a-ho-oy!
When our officer-of-the-deck answer.
ed from the bridge (Which IL high up
on our front mast) Hello! What
ship IL that? came back the question.
Our officer yelled back "u. $. 5.
Pennsylvania, Flagship, Atlantic
Fleet 'Heavc to. while ] come
aboard!' said some one in no gentle
voice. and who was Il but Davy Joncs.
the fellow that keeps all the treasure
at the bottom of the ocean locked up
as you all know. And We turned all
our big scarchlights on the bow, and
big as life there he was Iiggcd out
like an Admiral, with one Of those
funny hats on, and lots Of gold on his
sleeves and shoulders and wearing a
fine belt and sword. His secretary
was with him. Peg Leg, the Scribe,
they call him. and this scribe yelled
out, 'Dnvy Jones, the f0ur-star Ad-
mirnl of the Dead Men Of the Deep
wishes IN speak with you.' Then our
officer yelled out, Very well, what
has Admiral Davy Jones to say? And
Davy Jones himself then spoke up:
As Four-star Admiral Of the Dead
Men OF the Deep, have to inform the
Four-star Admiral Of the Live Ones OF
the World that my Imperial Master,