KING NEPTUNE’S COURT

Hokitika Guardian, 25 August 1925, Page 4

KING NEPTUNE’S COURT

CROSSING THE LINE. a HECTIC NIGHT OX P E X X S YL V A XIA. < King Neptune's court was held with t ■■oleum ceremony on hoard the Penn- <■ iylvania on July 6th when the ship was < crossing the line, and the “greybaeks ’ 1 —those who had never crossed the | collator —were duly initiated. I Jt was done on a grand scale, and < those taking the parts fulfilled their 1 roles more than well. We cannot do hotter than quote excerpts from the i ship’s official record of the event. THE OFFICIAL If ECO Hi). It was the (sth of July, the day tn Neptune’s court. The divisions were marched aft as before and formed in a hollow square abaft of Xo. ■! turret. The admiral, captain and commander were on the quarterdeck as the night before. The marine guard came to attention. .Many ruflles followed and a slow, solemn march. the royal party tins seen moving slowly alt through the massed ranks. Davy Jones led the way in his resplendent uniform. King Xeptune in brilliant green mail with, iiis royal consort on his arm lollowed regally after. The scribe and the ro.vai chief of police led a host id policemen who guarded the royal pair. King Xeptune halted in trout ol the Admiral. “Admiral, I welcome you and this ship’s company to my royal domain. Vou shellbacks are indeed welcome hut these rats, these landlubbers. they shall pay.” “One foot to go, sir. .Mark! flight on, sir,” reported the navigator to Xeptune. “flight on the erpiaioi. “Freak my Hag,” was royally ordered. The red Hag at the main yard was broken, revealing the skull ami cross-bones of Jolly Huger. “Xow we shall proceed with the royal court,” was the decree. The procession moving up the port side ol the deck revealed the rest of tie royal party. Pallet dancers, cannibals, black aborigines, a lag black “baby, the royal doctor, policemen galore and bringing up the rear the hears that were to wreak so milch havoc. I lie procession moved slowly forward and mounted the throne plat form where the rovaltv were seated on beautiful golden thrones. Sailors swarmed tip the mainmast like monkeys the lietter to see the Inn and ns quickly tumbled down when a drove of policemen and savages lollowed with chibs and spears. Laughter rose as the police pursued them over I lie turrets. Then the word came: ■All officers Ibis way. They will go j iirough Hrst.” A roar of laughter greet oil iliis announcement-. Ihe Inn began. INITIATING THE OFFICE lIS. .Much might lie written about the various people that went through the initiation. Ol all the petty officers, perhaps the ease of .Mr Ilueliler, junior aviator, is most typical. M hen brought lie I ore the Final Scribe and passed on to the Royal Judge, his subpoena read, “Making derogatory remarks on King Xeptune and all Shellbacks.’ ‘■This is a special ease,” said the judge. “Give him everything." A Hash of lire on his shoulder proved to he an active devil prodding him with the liery pilchtork. lie was examined 1 1 v the doctor with a stethoscope In determine his hen Ith. A tonic uas prescribed and administered. Horrible biller stulf ! lie swallowed it. An operation was considered the only way to save him. lie was rushed to the operating table and his lace covered with a burlap ether mask. Stripped to t he waist, an incision was made with the electric knife, and he doubled up with laughter. The Itnile was applied until his landlubber disease was removed and he could shout the mystic words “.Shellback” through his laughter. Taken from lhe table, he was hauled before the King. For his vile misdemeanours he was consigned to the stocks, where he met the Royal I’uL as his head went through the stocks. Twelve strokes of the Royal Wand were administered. Hauled again before Xeptunus Rex, he paid his line, and was spared the j.ool, as was the rule. The ease in point of Tony Navarro, Imrly maslor-at-arms, is interesting Marching up the ladder to the platform. lie was met with a hail of blows by those who had long been awaiting this opportunity. The devil touched him wiih his liery fork. He jumped and cursed as though actually stuck. When hauled before the Judge: “A special ease, (live him the works.” Then through the medicine line, the operating table, the stocks, where many strokes of the Royal Wand were ■ applied, ami then to the Harbor's Chair. Ilis face was lathered for a shavo. IX THE RARRKR’S CHAIR. “How you like that, Tony!'” asked limber Israel. Tony opened his mouth to answer "Fine,” hut a brush lull of lather filled his mouth as the chair spun backward. He lit on his head and bumped the bottom. A dozen waiting hears pounced on hint and tool; him for a personally conducted tour of the bottom of the pool. Though he lough valiantly, he did swallow half of the pool, and pulled his water-logged self tij) the ladder. The must severe hazing was given to 'Red" Holloway, who lineiirred tho royal displeasures for organising opposiiion to the lories of Ilis Majestv’s realm, lie was given all the above and more until lie must at last acknowledge bimsell a shellback. What water Navarro had tailed to inhale. Holloway swallowed on his trip through. And Mr “Mnssie” Hughes did kiss the i.ig black bnhv. and lie. too met the Royal Rot. Ti was noticed that, later in the day. the baby had faded. It was a stupendous initiation that Xeptnnes Hex gave us into the solemn mysteries of the Ancienk Order of the Deep. Me hope to visit his domain again, when there are oilier novitiates to receive these mysteries. And now we are shellbacks all.