
This certificate
about the equatorial crossing baptism became the most important document
next to the passport and seaman's book during my sea trips. Today the name
"Kugelfisch" has its full meaning to me....(Kugelfisch = ball-fish) |
We already mentioned that I was so
imprudent on board the "Anna Katrin Fritzen" to explain that I had already
crossed the equator several times without baptism. So
there I stood, without a presentiment of what was to happen, as No. 1 on
the list of the Baptism Committee. On a voyage from the Caribbean
to Australia, it came to pass. On the afternoon of the equatorial crossing,
the sea god Neptune and his wife Thetis emerged, and placed the ship
under his reign. Us candidates must be abstinent before the ceremony,
that is, we must not smoke or drink alcohol. If caught with a bottle of
beer, we were taken into custody by the Board-Police, taken to the stern,
and must throw the beer bottle overboard and call "Auf Wiedersehen" for
at least ten minutes while watching the bottle bobbing and blinking in
the water. An hour before the Baptism, the sun was an incandescent
red, spreading on the horizon. With the red glow came a terrible
smell, so one must puncture a can of air spray with a nail and spray in
a small room for ten minutes to "neutralize" the smell. Spruce needles
and boat varnish - a good mixture. We
were joined together with chains and brought before the Minister. He gave
a flaming speech about our bungled lives and misdeeds, and recommended
the doctor to examine the Candidates. The doctor and nurse seized the patient,
put him on the operating table, and tied him down with chains. |
The baptism
candidate will brought before the Minister who
gives a speech about his
many misdeeds. Look at the
"submissive bearing" of the candidate. In the
background,
Neptune, the king of the seas with his wife Thetis. The hatch
cover must be damn hot, Thetis is just pulling her feet out of
the water
bucket.. |
I was diagnosed with stomach
ill-humor with extreme bad breath, and a funnel was stuck in my mouth and
the medicine poured in. The vile brew (medicine) was left-over soup
left three days in the warm sun, decayed fish, and waste water, seasoned
with Tobasco and Maggi. It was clear that as the funnel was drawn out of
my mouth, that with the intake of this disgusting brew, I was the sacrificial
victim. "Ah," said the doctor, "the bad breath has escaped."Presently
the barber worked on us. He washed our heads in shampoo, then applied
shaving cream with yellow dye, and variously shaved our heads and cut hair.
After the Baptism, I had innumerable yellow clumps that would not wash
out, and went to Australia in a half-bald condition. The
actual christening ceremony verged on being barbaric. I was held in place
under water in the swimming pool so long that I had almost no air left.
As a signal that I couldn't take it any longer, I held up my hand with
a finger up. The Bathmaster took it as a signal that I was ready,
let me out, and gave me one can of beer. That was decreed not enough!
After a short time to take air, I was again gracelessly re-baptized. (submerged)
This was repeated until I had at least six cans of beer. |

Operating
preparations: The doctor and
his nurse with white coats "covered with
blood"
examinating the patient. The patient
is lying on the operating table, a
ladder.
The patient will very soon lose his grin. |
Thus was the Equatorial Baptism at
that time.Today we cannot say whether it has any meaning, is sense or nonsense.
For us young people, it was a self confirmation or understanding of the
limits of actual humanity. I do not know if this custom is also practiced
in the merchant marine and navy of other nations, and will be pleased to
receive a small E-Mail about your experiences.
eMail: |
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