The Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Or.) 1862-1899, 1879-09-26
GENERAL GRANTS RECEPTION.

Very few men, in our nation, have
been the recipients of such grand re-
ceptions as Gen. u. S. Grant. The
demonstration in honor of his arrival
in San Francisco, last Saturday, was
one of the grandest displays ever
made in that city. The procession
embraced all the military and civic
societies of that great city, and SO
dense was the throng that it was
with difficulty passage way could
be opened for The same. The follow
ing extract from a dispatch to the
Oregonian will give something OF
faint idea of the Generals reception:
Amid tremendous cheers of the crowd,
discharges of cannon, ringing of bells, and
screaming of whistles, the procession start
ed up Market street. Bonfres blazed at
street corners. illuminations lit up every
window, and the glare of Roman candles
and electric lights made the broad thoroughs
fare bright as day. Under a continuous
archway of flags, banners and festooned
draperies, the procession moved up Market
to Montgomery, and turned down the latter
street. Crowds blocked the sidewalks.
Cheer after cheer rolled along the whole line
of march, and almost drowned the martial
strains of the numerous bands. Broad en-
signs, tossed in the night wind, glowing
with the light of fires, the glare of rockets
and fire balls A slight mist lowering over
the city reflected the light of the fireworks
and illumination until the heavens seemed
ablaze. Not only the streets ON the line OF
march, but cross streets between Market
and Montgomery avenue, were brilliant with
decorations. Even the Chinese quarter
seemed to have the infection and from hun
dreds of staffs the great dragon flag faunt-
ed it's fantastic blazonry, beside the stars
and stripes Continuing the march the pro-
cession moved through Montgomery to the
avenue, then to Kearny street. Here if
possible, the crowd was still more dense
and enthusiastic, and the display of fire.
works, electric lights and every conceivable
means of illumination was of increased bril-
liancy.
On arriving at Market street, the process
sion moving up a few blocks, counter march
ed to the Palace Hotel. Here magnificent
arch, forty feet in height, spanned New
Montgomery street, blazoned with national
colors and bearing the inscription "Wel-
come to Grant" AT this point, the carriage
containing General Grant was drawn up,
while the procession marched in review,
cheer after cheer rending the air as division
after division passed by. On the conclusion
of the review, the various organizations
were dismissed and General Grant was con-
Quoted to his quarters in the Palace Hotel,
which had been specially prepared and furn-
ished for the reception. All the streets
leading to the Palace were packed with
dense throngs, through which the procession
forced its way with great difficulty. Thou
sands We're clamoring for admittance but
the cordons of police at all entrances de-
MED ingress to all but those holding special
permits to enter.
At 10 o'clock the wide doors were thrown
open and the barouche containing General
Grant was driven within the building. He
Immediately dismounted and crowding his
way through the packed mass of human be-
ings was hurried to his room. As he alight-
ed Madame Fabbri and a chorus of 500
voices opened from one of the balconies with
an ode Of welcome. The crowd rushed after
Gen. Grant when he dismounted leaving
the singers for moment at most without
an audience, but being stopped in their mad
chase by force of police who blocked the
way, they returned to the court being reas-
sured by the announcement that the general
would appear on one of the balconies after
he had time to lay Oft his overcoat. After
the chorus was rendered General Grant, in
response to repeated calls, appeared on the
balcony on the fourth floor and bowed to
the shouting crowd, Immediately retiring.
Still the enthusiastic populace thronged the
court and refused to leave. Finally, Major
Bryant announced that as soon as the gen.
eral had finished his dinner he would show
himself. In a few minutes, Gen. Grant ap-
peared amid deafening, loud and continued
shouts. Mayor Bryant called the crowd to
order, and the general mounting chair
which was passed over the heads of the sur
rounding crowd, was again greeted with a
succession of cheers. When the noise sub
sided he addressed them as follows
"Fellow citizens of San Francisco After
twenty-five years absence am glad to meet
you and assure you of my cordial thanks for
the kind greeting you have given me. ]
shall stay in your city long enough to greet
you more fully"
The general then withdrew amid prolong-
ed and prodigious cheering, and the crowd
| at length reluctantly scattered.