Imperial Valley press., 1928-11-30
HOOVER S
COMPANY
HAS FUN.
"Crossing The Line" Is
Occasion For Merriment
Aboard Maryland.
NEPTUNE IS RULER
Unique Ceremony Staged
BY Sailors for Those
Crossing Equator.
BY THOMAS L. STOKES
Omitted Press Staff COrrespoldent)


ABOARD THE L. :. S. MARY
LAND, Enroutc to Uayauil, Erua
dor, Nov. 30.-King Neptune, ruler
of the sea, assumed command of the
Maryland today as the gray flag
ship of the Pacific fleet nosrd into
the equatorial zone carrying Prcsi-
drnt-elcc Herbert Hoover on his
goodwill tour to the Latin Amcri-
can nations.
Mr.. Hoover, "shell back who
has his engraved certificate from
King Neptune = court, heartily
joined in with the sway of the
mythical sea emperor : power over
those on board who were crossing
the equator for The first time
Neptune. mindful of the particu-
lar magnificcnce of the Maryland
and her passengers made his ccre-
mony one unsurpassed in the history
of old sea.dogs - and the President
elect sat on the quarterback and
chuckled.
Those who 90 down to sea in
ships-as passengers or crew-and
pass over the equator for the first
time must submit to the dictum of
Neptune S royal court. 1t is decreed
that nephytes before the tribunal
must face the sentence of n ducking
in canvas tank rigged on derk. Be
fore the ducking, the initiates must
submit to hazing.
Hoover has seen II of King Nep-
tunes courts more than anyone
on board with the exception of Com
mander 4. r. Beauregard, his naval
aide, who has seen 16 of them.
The entire show was highly hum
Drous.
Scribes Take Part
Up over the clipper bow of the
hattleship, Neptune and his staff
clambcrcd - disturbing the peace
of morning rest period.
Neptune and his court paradcd the
deck, with the battlcship's band in
the lead -- playing doleful dirges.
Newspaper correspondents who
brought formal clothes on the tour
followed coffin which Neptune
brought on board -- their tall silk
hats defving the brcczcs of the gulf
The "Pollywogs > - those who
have never crossed the equator -
were warned to join the parade.
Although the equator will not be
passed until > O'Clock this after
noon, Neptune was about his work
carly with some 1000 "PoIlwogs y
to be initiated.
After the solemn parade about
the decks, Neptune called his court
to order on the fore deck under the
muzzles of the 16 inch guns. Nep-
tune sat beside his queen, Aphrodlte
and the royal baby 'Blabnipplc.
Court attendants included doctors,
BARRIERS and undertakers.
Neptune Is Boss
The "Pollywogs" assembled in Il
circle before the court. They were
called mp to answer charges set
forth in subpoenas from DaVey
Jones, served yesterday.
Charges of mutiny and attempts
to cvadc court decrces were set forth
and the victims attempted futile
answers.
Neptune frowncd upon all "Pol-
lvwogs' and sentenced them to var
ious penalties which included chains,
haircuts and the lookup.
The victims were seized and oil,
soft soap, and other ingredients
were used in a lather for n shave.
Then, the "Pollywogs" all were
duckcd in tank rigged on deck
for the purpose - going in clothes
and all.
Some of the "Pollywogs' includ-
ing officers, were chained all night
and pirate members of Long
John 50 band chased others up the
rigging and cage masts of the Mary
land to the crows nest where an
acrobatic display was demanded and
performed for the throng on deck
below