Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1928-10-24
BY RUSSELL OWEN.
Special Dispatch to The Star and the
York TfrneE

York Times.
ABOARD THE wHALER G. A. LAR
SEN, with the Byrd Antarctic Expe-
dition, October 24.-Every one on the
Byrd expedition is a full-fedged sailor
man now. They went over the line last
Sunday and came out on the other side
with mud in their eyes and completely
soaked Even Comdr. Byrd took a
header into Neptune's baptismal foun-
tain and crawled out to. get his diploma,
looking pleased but bedraggled. 1t was
a great day and lasted well into eve
ming, for the crew of the Larsen made
the most of their unusual guests.
One prize was collected by the Byrd
crew. Dean Smith, pilot, more than 6
feet tall and nicknamed Babe, the
Blue OK" won the pillow fight and a
nice iackknife. Deans legs are so long
he chung to pole like a leech, his feet
acting as pendulun1s. He has the big
geSt boots in the world. When ski
boots were ordered for him word was
returned by the manufacturers, Boots
now under construction" Laid end to
end, Deans boots would be disable for
bridging crevices.
Festivities began early in the after
noon, when Neptune, accompanied by
doctor secretary, guards and wife,
climbed over the port bow in shower
spray and went aft to call upon Capt
Nilsen, on the bridge. The Norwegians
exercised all their ingenuity on the cos
tunes, and they were weird. Having
taken over the ship for a day, Neptune
went forward, where big tank had
been constructed behind the forecastle.
There was platform feet above with
a tipping plank, on which the victim
sat in state, amazed. and then waiting
for something to hit him bctore turning
sonlersaults Fortunately for the expe-
dition members, Mrs. Nilsen was aboard,
or ceremonies might have been slightly
fougi1er.
Brophy Gets Bedraggled. II
Richard Brophy was business man.
ager. Brophy is somewhat plump. He
was examined by the doctor, given a
dose of medicine, and when he made a
face was given two more: a spot OF
cold water from squirtgun down his
back, followed by daubing his face with
mixture made of soap, -four and
lampblack so the barber could shave
him. Brophy by this time had lost all
semblance of business manager and
looked more like a Hottentot in war
paint, but before he had realized what
had happened he was standing on his
head in 6 feet of water. When he came
up he was plentifully walloped with
mops for good measure.
This was the procedure with nearly
ALL though Balchen, being one Of their
own people. got an extra manhandling.
In retaliation he pulled one OF the
guards into the tank with him. 1t was
a, uf,S6r I1n1u flanwnt,0Ia1u Yaaacrod rfAn
was after crawling from the tank.
Demas tried washing of the red paint
under water. When he came to the
surface he looked like an Indian. The
combination of lampblack and water
was immense.
Five members, including Byrd, had
crossed the line, and they avoided a
shave. In fact, they went in so quickly
that they almost swallowed the tank.
None expected Byrd to be called, as
there was some doubt as to whether
the expeditions leader should be turned
upside down with such a lack of cere-
mony, but when Neptune's secretary
called Richard Byrd" he proved game
and went down to take his place on the
plank.
A few questions were asked him to
establish his former crossing, and then
4SlCO, 0yIuc Jug, QOWI1 W 11AAo
and climbed up into his lap. Byrd was
patting his head when suddenly his
heels went UP in the air, and the last
seen of him were his distinguished feet
waving in the breeze as he hit the
water with splash. Igloo went with
him, and the first thing Byrd did was
to toss the dog out on to the platform.
The dog is devoted to his master. When
Byrd turned to climb out the other
side of the ladder Igloo thought he was
lost and ran up and down whining
until the commander appeared, drip
ping wet, to receive his diploma.
vanderveer, moving picture nlotog
rapl1er. had been taking pictures OF
these happenings. For once the cam
eraman was given place in the main
event Camera and all, he was seized
and thrown into the tank.
The duckings were followed by potato
and sack races, tug-of-war and other
games, but Babe Smith was the only
victor for the Americans.
Back to Normal.
After dinner there was music and
dancing on the forward deck And
dancing on rolling ship on deck
used to haul whales over was ~ ex-
perience, particularly when go~@ wave
slapped up against the bow and show