Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1879-09-25

ments the entrance to the harbor was
yelled in wreaths of smoke, and
as the batteries of Angel Island,
Black Point, and Aliatraz opened
fire in succession, the whole channel
was soon shrouded in clouds from their
rapid discharges. For some time the
position of the approaching ships could
not be discerned, but shortly before six
| o'clock the outlines of the huge hull of
| the City of Toxic loomed through the
obscurity of the smoke, and the rapidly
approaching shades of evening were
lit up by the flashes of guns, and in a
few moments she glided into full view,
surrounded by fleet of steamers and
tugs, gay with flags, and crowded with
guests; while the yacht squadron
brought up the rear. .festooned from deck
to truck with brilliant bunting. Cheer
after cheer burst from the assembled
thousands as the vessels slowly rounded
Telegraph Hill, and kasetaken up by
the crowds on the wharves and rolled
along the city front. Hats and hand
kerchiefs were waived in the air. The
United States steamer Monterey, lying
IN the stream, added the roar of her'guns
to the general welcome; and the scream
ing Of hundreds of steam whistles an
reached her anchorage. The crowds
that had assembled on the hills and
along the city front, now with common
impulse, began to pour along towards
the ferry landing at the foot of Market
street. where General Grant was to land.
The sidewalks were blocked with hurry
ing pedestrians and the streets with
carriages, conveying committees. The
steamers and yachts made haste to
land their passengers, and in few
minutes the vicinity of the ferry land
ing was literally jammed with people,
extending for blocks along Market
street and the water front. Just in front
of the landing, the entrances to which
were closed and guarded, space was
cleared by the police and marshals in
which hundreds of carriages for the
use of the guests were crowded, and
outside that, line after line of troops
and civic organizations were ranged,
while outside, Constantly increasing
crowds surged and pressed, excited and
enthusiastic, cheering at intervals, and
waiting impatiently for the first
glimpse of the city's honored guest.
Within the gates of the Ferry House
were, assembled gentlemen charged
with the duty of the immediate recep-
ton of Gen. Grant. The board of su-
pervisors ranged on the left of the
gangway, and Gen. Irwin and staff and
the executive committee, consisting of
Governor-elect Perkins, w. III. L.
Barnes, Samuel Wilson, VIM. T. Cole
man, Tiburie Harool, J. P. jackson,
John McComb, John Rosenfeed. Clans
Speckles, John II. Wise, and w. w.
Brepont, taking his position about half
way down the centre of the gangway.
In the meantime Gen. Grant and his
parry on the Toxic, together with the re-
ception committee, Gen. Mcdowell and
staff, and others, had been transferred
to the ferry steamer Oakland. Consid-
erable delay occurred, during which
the crowd outside cheered and shouted
themselves hoarse, and IL seemed at
times as though in their impatience
they would break through the lines
and invade the dock en- nldsse. Dark
ness had fallen, and it was twenty min
utes past seven when the lights of the
ferry boat where seeu approaching the
slip. She moved slowly into position,
a platform was lowered, the band struck
up "Home Again" and amid roars of
applause from the awaiting crowd out
side, who realized the moment had ar
rived Gen. Grant stepped once more up
on the shore of bis native land. AS he
came up the gangway, escorted by the
reception committee, he was met by
Mayor, Bryant, supervisor, governor and
the staff and the executive committee,
and after brief informal congratula-
tions the mayor addressed him as fol-
lows:
General Grant-as mayor of the
city of San Francisco, [ have the honor
and pleasure to welcome you on your
return to your native country.
Some time has passed since
you departed from the Atlantic shore to
seek relief which long period in your
country's service had made necessary;
out during this absence the people of
the United States have not forgotten
you. They have read with intense in
terest the accounts of your voyages by
sea and travels by land, around the
world, and they have observed with
great pleasure the honors you have re-
ceived in the different countries
which you have visited, and the
universal recognition which your
brilliant career as a soldier and
American citizen has obtained, they felt
proud of you and at the same time of
their country, which you have so ftly
represented; and now, sir you are again
on your native soil, and thousands who
here greet you remember that your
home was once in this city. This bay.
these hills and pleasant homes about US
are familiar to you. Great changes,
it is true, have taken place. The young
city is now rival of cities which were old
when its history began, but men to
whom this marvellous prosperity is
due were in their early days your
personal associates and friends; and
many of them are here today, wait
ing anxiously to take you by the hand
once more. 1t is pleasing incident of
your journey that leaving your coun-
try at the ancient city of Philadelphia,
Mayor Stokley expressed the hope of
that city for safe journey and happy
return. 1t Is now my privilege to ex-
press the joy of San Francisco that the
| hope of her elder sister has been realized
The city desires to receive you as an
old an honored resident and friend re-
turning after a long absence; to extend
| to you such courtesies as may be
agreeable to you, and in obedience to
such desire which extends through all
classes, 1 tender you the freedom of
the city and its inequalities. In the