Great White Fleet photo-Crossing the Line Ceremony

This photo is from a sailor's scrapbook from the museum's collection of the 1907-09 voyage of the Great White Fleet. The officer is Rear Admiral Richard Wainwright, who is about to be dumped head first into a pool of salt water during the Fleet's first "Crossing the Line" ceremony. The flag officer was one of thousands of officers and sailors welcomed into Neptunus Rex's realm during the voyage. Wainwright was a war hero for his efforts during the Spanish-American War and one of the Fleet's senior officers. Nonetheless, Neptunus Rex shows favors to no one...