Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1879-09-25
"WELCOME HOME"
SPOKEN ATSAN FRANCISCO
On the Occasion of Gen. Grants Return to
his Native Land, Last Evening,

| OulSlUS lu0 H0duS. 1u6 urSt TAX
Of the bell, and the hoisting of the fas
on Merchants Exchange, announcing
the approach of the City of Toxic
startled the city from the spell of sus
pense that has prevailed for the last
three days, and transformed the Idle
throng that were lounging about the
streets into excited and hurrylng crowds.
The bells are ringing, steam whistles
screaming, and thunder of cannon re-
veroerating over hills and harbor.
| Thousands of men, women and chill
dren, on foot, in carriages and on horse
back are pouring out in the direction
of the Heights, Point Loboo, Telegraph
Hill, and other eminences in the
vicinity, all eager to catch the
first glimpse of the coming ship
bearing the guest, for whose reception
so great preparations have been made,
and whose arrival has been so anxious
| ly anticipated. The crowds are hurry
ing towards the wharves where the
steamers and yachts that will take part
in the nautical pageant are lying. The
reception committees tug, Mlllen
Griffith, will leave at once from the Pa
cific mail dock to intercept the City of
Toxic outside, and SO arrange her arri-
val in the harbor as to conform with the
preparations for the reception in &C
cordance with preconcerted plans. The
reception is not likely to take place, to-
day, the hour being so late and the
executive committee is now In session
to determine whether it shall come of
tomorrow or be delayed until Monday.
At the moment the alarm, giving no.
tice of the approach of the City of To
kio was struck, the executive commit
tee having charge Of the demonstration
were in session at the Palace Hotel,
warmly discussing the question of car
rying out the programme to-morrow,in
case of the steamers arrival in time, or
deferring it until Monday. The first
stroke of the bell ended the discussion.
1t was three-quarters of an hour later
than the limit that had been previously
determined, but it was at once resolved
to carry out the demonstration imme-
diately.
The reception committee of five
FASTENED to the mail dock and put out
seaward without delay, to expedite the
movements of the City of Toxic, while
various other committees and guests
betook themselves to their posts on
ship board or at the landing. In view
of the lateness of the hour, all procon-
certed limits of time will be contracted.
ed A fiotilla of steamers and yachts
will leave the city front at a quarter
past four and it is expected the land
ing will be effected by half-past six or
seven. The line of march will then be
taken up and the general illumination
will compensate for the absence of sun
light.
Immediately on the receipt of the in
telligence that the City of Toxic was
nearing the port, the reception COM
mittee, consisting of Frank M. Pixby,
ex-senator Cole, Gen. Miller and 2. B.
Cornwall, repaired to the tug Millen
Griffith, lying with steam up at the Pa
cific mail dock, and at once started to
meet the incoming steamer. The
Griffith stood we'll out to sea
and several miles outside the heads,
met the Toxic coming in. The tug
drew alongside and the executive COM
mittee, quarantine officer, customs Of
fcials and number of representatives
of the press boarded. No ceremony
was observed, except a general shaking
of hands; and after the committee had
announced the object Of their visit and
informed Gen. Grant of the reception
prepared for him, the conversation
become general, as the City of Toxic
continued on her course. Soon after,
the government steamer Mcpherson
came along side, and Major-General
Mcdowell, commanding the division of
the Pacific, accompanied by his staff,
| boarded the Toxic, and rejoined his old
comrade in arms. While this was trans
piring, the general commander of ar
rangements, with several thousand in
vited guests. assembled on board the
| large side-wheel Pacific Mail steame Ter
china, and a number of smaller steam
ers, while tugs took squadrons Of San
Francisco and Pacific yacht clubs in
tow and started down the channel. In
the meantime, it seemed as though the
whole population Of the city, men,
women and children, had sought posi-
tions from which a view of the naval
pageant could be obtained. Every
eminence commanding the channel was
blocked with the assembled thousands.
Telegraph Hill was a living mass of
human bodies. The heights beyond
Presidio, Clay Street Hill, the Seawall
at North Point, and every pier head
were covered with spectators. The
sun was declining in the west
as the steamers and yachts, gay
with bunting, moved down the chan
mel. Low clouds hung down the west
ern horizon. Mount Tamalphia and
and distant mountains north
of the bay were yelled in a mist, and
Mission Hill and Seaward Heights Oh
the peninsula were shrouded in
fog; but the channel was unob-
structed and the bold outlines
of Golden Gate rose sharply
against the sky; while the bay itself,
with the islands, the shores of Alameda
and Coatra Costa, were bathed in sun
light. From every flagstaff in the city
fl igs were flying. and the shipping
along the city front was brilliantly
decked with ensigns, festooned flags
and streamers. The impatient crowds
that covered the hill-tops stood strain.
ing their eyes to catch the first
glimpse of the Toxic. A hundred
times the cry was raised: There she
comes" as chance arrivals came in view
between the heads. 1t was half pas
five o'clock when puff of white smoke
over theSeaward from off the earthworks
back of and above Fort Point, and the
booming of heavy guns announced
that the steamer was near at hand
Another, and another followed in rapic
succession. Fort Point next joined IL
the cannonade, firing with both case