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President Resfl 
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In Galapagos : P||[l[NI’SSlliP 
Spends a Quiet Day 
With Church Rites 
On Cruiser 
ABOARD U. S. S. HOUSTON 
IN SULLIVAN BAY, SAN SALVA- 
DOR ISLAND, Galapagos Group 
(via Navy Radio), July 24 (I.N.S.). 
In this protected harbor, where 
Charles Darwin first developed i 
the famous evolution theory, in| 
1835, President Franklin D. Roose- 
velt and his pardty slept aboard 
the cruiser Houston tonight. 
The presidential “yacht” arrived 
at Tower Island, first of the group, 
at 9:05 a. m. today, four hours 
ahead of schedule, and dropped: 
anchor in Darwin Bay, where ' 
church services were held under: 
the direction of Lieut. H. R.l 
Trump. 
After an hour at Tower Island, 
the Houston weighed anchor again 
and in three hours was at San 
Salvador or James Island. 
While the presidential party 
rested throughout the day, Prof. 
Waldo Schmitt, of the Smithson- 
ian Institution, regaled them with 
stories of naturalists who had vis- 
ited the islands in the past. 
C.-' 
-4i 
300 'Pollywogs’ Are Initiated 
in Ceremonies After 
Crossing Equator. 
By the Associated Press. 
ABOARD CRUISER HOUSTON, 
IN GALAPAGOS ARCHIPELAGO, 
July 25. — The U. S. S. Houston, bear- 
ing President Roosevelt on his Pacific 
fishing voyage, cruised toward Albe- 
marle Island today as those aboard 
observed the Navy's traditional cere- 
monies of crossing the equator. 
Soon after the Houston left Its 
overnight anchorage in Sullivan Bay, 
James Island, for the 100-mile run 
to Albemarle Island, “King Neptune” 
and “dignitaries of his royal court” 
boarded the ship. 
Although the cruiser actually crossed 
the Equator in reaching James Island, 
the ceremonies were postponed until 
today to avoid conflict with ship- 
board Sunday services. 
More than 300 “pollywogs” (those 
crossing the Equator for the first time) 
were given the royal works of initia- 
tion after arrival of Neptune and his 
court. 
President Takes Part. 
Stephen E. Early, presidential secre- 
tary, acted as chief of the “pollywogs.” 
President Roosevelt, himself, was chief 
of the “shellbacks,” those who have 
crossed the Equator before. 
Capt. Guy N. Barker of the Houston 
welcomed Neptune and turned over his 
command to the king for the period 
of the ceremonies. 
The “pollywogs” then ran the gaunt- 
let between ranks of “royal police,” 
were treated by the “royal doctor,” 
kissed the “royal baby” and were 
tossed to the “royal bears” and the 
mercy of the “shellbacks.” 
The ceremonies concluded with Nep- 
tune welcoming the initiates to “the 
mystic realm of the deep and the 
royal court of the raging main.” 
The Houston reached Tower Island, 
first of the Galapagos group, at 9:05 
a.m. (ship time) yesterday and 
anchored at the entrance to Darwin 
Bay. The presidential party and the 
ship’s officers and men attended 
church services conducted by Chap- 
lain H. R. Trump. 
Within an hour the Houston w'as 
under way again. It crossed the 
Equator at 12:53 p.m, and anchored 
at James Island, 60 miles from Tower 
Island. 
As the cruiser moved through the 
languid waters of Ecuador’s fabled 
archipelago the President heard from 
Prof. Waldo L. Schmitt of the Smith- 
sonian Institution some of the facts 
scientists have gathered about the 
islands. 
Prof. Schmitt, a member of Mr. 
Roosevelt’s party, said the wholly vol- 
canic nature of the islands, and the 
eccentric plant and animal life found 
on them, have caused them to be 
visited by more scientific expeditions 
than probably any other area of sim- 
ilar size in the world. 
