Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-02-07

The documents we're signed by Davy
Jones and Neptunus Rex.
Words cannot do justice to the scenes
, that took place on the forecastle of the
good will battleship the next day. Those
who had doubted that King Neptune
tortures to be inflicted" on groveling
landlubbers were destined to be dis
Illustrated. King Neptune and his rowdy
retinue know no restrictions and bow
to no SuperiorS on battleShip. The
presence of SO many civilians spurred
them to even greater efforts. King
Neptune has a particular aversion to
civilians, and especially If they happen
to be newspaper men.
Unable to escape his majesty's wrath,
early on the morning of December /
six correspondents presented themselves
on the quarterback in formal morning
coats, striped trousers and silk hats
and were marched to the forecastle to
meet their fate. The fore part of the
ship had been transformed overnight
into a nightmarish rendezvous for Nep-
tunes fantastically dressed mob Of at
tendants and subjects. A throne" had
been constructed in the bow upon a
canvas-covered platform, to one side Of
which was an ominous- looking tank
built of boards and lined with tarpaulin.
The high hat boys found that they
were to act as honorary pallbearers for
Marine lieutenant who had been laid
out in a "casket," borne by six polly
wog sailors. The casket was to be
carried in a long procession that was
to open the ceremonies of the day. 1t
was noted that other members of the
mission had been selected as victims"
also. Allan Hoover, son of the Presi-
al R~~ 1,aI
routed from his room, taken to the fore
castle and placed in a wooden stock,
consisting of a heavy plank, through
which projected his head and hands.
Others had been handcuffed and
Smeared with black grease.
Honor Guests View Proceedings.
rresident-elect and Mrs. Hoover took
seats on the quarterback and the parade
around the ship began. When the
weird procession had completed its
rounds King Neptune and Davy Jones
escorted MFR. and Mrs. Hoover to the
throne" and the cruel rites began.
The cringing neophytes were ap-
pretended in all parts of the ship by
bowling gangs of royal policemen"
stuffed with sawduSt, and, on being
turned over to the court, were smeared
from head to feet with black grease and
paint, stripped of portions of their
clothing, beaten with the cloth clubs,
made to drink of bitter potion con-
cocted by the royal bootlegger," SUBJ
jected to an electric operation for ap-
pendicitis," smeared some more over
face and hair, forced to kneel on an
electric plate to kiss the toe of the
royal baby" and, finally, dumped
backward on collapsible bench into
the grimy tank of water.
In the tank, shoulder-high In water,
were half a dozen blackened wretches,
who took great glee in dousing the
gasping victims each time they came up
for air. Getting out of the tank was
an ordeal in itself, for two burly she'll
backs lay in wait at the edge of the
tank to "paddywhack' the painting
pollywogs as they climbed over the side.
That was not ALL Once out of the
tank the initiate had to run gantlet
of club-swinging royal cops" and last
of all, to dash through stream of water
spurted under pressure through large
fire hose.
Seven hundred members Of the crew.
all but handful of the ships officers
and every member Of the goodwill
party, with the exception of Mr.. and
MIS-. 11UOVEl, faIilUdSodOOl TICbCIACl dll0
Miss Fesler were forced to submit to
Neptunes "displeasure." 1t was an
ordeal that, happily, comes once in
lifetime. Minor casualties were numer-
GUS, and some of the victims were days
getting vestiges of the paint from their
heads
Take Medicine without Complaint.
Every one took his medicine" with
out complaint, however. eager to win
that most coveted Of all diplomas-the
elaborate certificate attesting that the
bearer is full-fledged shellback, for
ever afterward immune from equatorial
inquisition.
The certificates given the initiates on
the cruise Of the battleship Maryland