Show FUN RULES AS LAND LUBBERS CROSS EQUATOR U. U S. S S S. l MISSISSIPPI July 7 AP AP-A AP A colorful bit of lar pageantry was witnessed by of officers officers of- of ana ano enlisted men men of the United Sta States es fleet when when the war war- craft cran en r route ute to Australia approached approached ap ap- ap- ap the the- equator a trying tim time 1 for the Uninitiated uninitiated un un- initiated the tho landlubbers who had lot hot previously pre crossed the equator Dav Davy Jones the evil figure who rules over the sea demons climbed aboard the craft and served each landlubber with witha a summons to appear appear appear ap ap- ap- ap pear before his master King Nep Nep- tune Beneath a tropical moon find and amid a display of fireworks and searchlights s King Neptune with flowing beard c carrying his trIdent trident tri trI- dent boarded the ship and paraded th the deck decle As All he established his throne on the port side of oC the quarterdeck quarterdeck a black flag lag with a figure fig fig- ute ure ute of oC skull and crossbones was hoisted witty a flying fish which hung high on on the halyards 0 Then the rulers of the seas meted out punished to the tho landlubbers I who ventured near the equator forthe tor for the first time The ducking stool slaps with sticks and painted faces were the sentences meted out I by th the mythical ruler who rule ruled for the day Tho The ceremonies marked the first crossing of the equator by the fleet since 1921 The fleet crossed at 10 a. a m. m Ion l Monday ay |