The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1928-11-30
HOOVER TURNS
SHELLBACK AT
EQUATOR RITES
King Neptune Reigns Over
Shellbacks and Pollywogs in
Ancient Ceremony
ALLAN HOOVER INITIATED
President Elect Crosses Equa.
tor for 18th Time as Mon.
arch's Court Meets

Guayaquil, Ecuador, Nov. S0.--(R-
Rising from the sea with his royal
court, King Neptune today took
charge of this. goodwill ship as it
crossed the equator. His trusted
shellbacks-those who have crossed
the equator before-were with him
to initiate pollywogs-those who
haven't-into the mystery Of his
realm.
President-elect Hoover, shellback
Of shellbAcks, who was crossing for
the fifteenth time, with Mrs. Hoo
yer, and Ambassador Fletcher, who
has witnessed many an initiation,
watched the ceremony from q special
platform built on a forward turret.
Allan Hoover, son of the president
elect, was below them with 80 land
lubbers of the goodwill party who
were waiting their turn with ESQ
officers and sailors who had re-
ceived warnings to appear before
the royal court and receive sentence
and punishment.
King Neptune was accompanied
aboard by Queen Amphitrite, the
royal baby, and ladies and gentle
men Of the court, all in beautiful
court dress with flowing robes.
After a parade around the deck be-
fore the crew, which was drawn up
at general muster, the king sum-
moned his court and embarked upon
his eight-hour task of sentencing
and directing the carrying out of
punishment. A battery of photog-
raphers with the Hoover party re-
corded the proceedings for the en-
tertainment Of those back home and
for postcrity.
Minds Royal Baby
Miss Ruth Fessler of Washington,
secretary to Mrs. Hoover, who is
also shellback, was given the task
of minding the royal baby, who was
impersonated by c. H. Chiaramonte
of San Diego, Calf, a squat, big
chested boxer, wrestler and football
player of the Maryland crew.
H. T. Sears Of New York, an
electricians mate, played Queen
Amphitrite. E. S. Tesar of Balti-
more was in the role Of king, with
c. A. Fulham of San Pedro as royal
admiral and F. N. Beckel Of Phila-
delphia as royal navigator.
The high spot of the whole cere-
mony was the throwing of each can
didate into tank on the forecastle
deck after he had been shaved by
the royal barber. Before that d.
vers punishments had been meted
out, including the swallowing of hor-
rible-tasting pills, having the mouth
washed out with a bitter-tasting
liquid, having oil or graphite rubbed
in the hair, and other forms of dis
comfort, such as appearing in stocks
or taking part in q chain-gang.
Davey Jones Herald
The ceremonies began late yes
terday with the appearance on ship
of Davey Jones as herald for King
Neptune. The ships company was
drawn up on the quarterback as
Davey Jones, played by J. R. Dennis
of Alexandria, Va, a chief boat
SWANS mate, appeared in pirates
garb.
Davey Jones was presented to
President-elect and Mrs. Hoover,
who sat with the captain. As he
shook hands with each of them he
made low bow and wide flourish
with his black cooked hat. To the
president-elect he said:
"Whaleback Hoover, / welcome
you here, and I also welcome Mrs.
Hoover"
Davey Jones then climbed to the
top of ventilator and unrolled q
vellum scroll, on the back of which
was painted a white skull and cross
bones and on the front a proclama-
ton to the ships company from
King Neptune. The proclamation
welcomed the Maryland's return to
Neptune's realm, and added:
Greets Shellback Hoover
ION this voyage you carry guest
whom his majesty has numbered for
30 years among his faithful she'll
backs. Fourteen times has he en-
tered the royal domain, and on this
fifteenth he comes as one to be ex-
allied by people of land and sea to
the highest position among mortals.
"Shellback Hoover, his majesty fe-
dictates you as q potentate almost
equal to himself and bids you well
come.
"Also his majesty's exalted con-
sort, Queen Amphitrite5 deigns to
welcome that gracious lady who her.
self has ventured so often and %
CALAMITY into his majesty's domain.
Forgive the blunt world Of an
old sailor"
While the rollicking show was 60
ing on today the Maryland was
steaming swiftly southwark so as
to arrive at Ecuador at 5 q. m. to-
morrow. Off the coast Of Ecuador
the Hoover party will be trans
ferred to the cruiser Cleveland for
. 6Q-mile trip across the roadstead
and up the river to Guayaquil, where
the president-elect will be the guest
Of President Isidro Ayora. He will
be entertained tomorrow afternoon
and night at reception and dinner.
This will be the first overnight stop
on the goodwill tour, which started
at San Pedro Nov. 10.