The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1879-09-22
GEN. GRANT.
His Arrival at San Francisco.
An Immense Throng Gathered to Meet
Their Honored Guest.

SAN Francisco, Sept. 20.-The City of
Toxic has been sighted 30 miles out The first
tap of the bell and hosting of the flag on
Merchants Exchange, announcing the ap-
proi.ch of the City of Toxic, startled the city
from the spell of suspense that has prevailed
for the last three days, and transferred the idle
forms lounging about the streets into excited
and hurrying crowds Bells are ringing, steam
whistles screaming, and the thunder of can
non reverberating over hills and harbor. Thou
sands of men, women and children, on foot in
carriages and on horseback, are pouring in the
direction of Presidents Heights, Point Labas
Telegraph Hill, and every other eminence in
the vicinity, eager to catch the first glance of
the coming ship bearing the guest for whose
reception so great preparations have been
made, and whose arrival has been so anxiousy
anticipated.
Immediately upon the receipt of the intelli-
gence that the City of Toxic was heaving into
port, the reception committee, consisting of
Frank M. Bixley ex-senator Cole, Gen. Mil
Ter and r. B. Cornwall, repaired to the tug
Miller Griffith, lying at Pacific Dock, and at
once started to meet the incoming steamer.
The Griffith stood well out to sea, and several
miles outside the Heads met the City of Toxic
coming in. The tug drew alongside the Toxic
and the executive committee, quarantine
officer, customs officials and number of
representatives of the press boarded the
steamer. No ceremony was observed except
general Misunderstanding, and after the committee
announced the object of the visit and informed
Gen. Grant of the reception proposed for him,
the conversation became general and the
steamer continued her course. Soon after the
government steamer Mcpherson came along
side and Major General Mcdowell, command
ing the division of the Pacific, accompanied
by his staff, boarded the steamer and rejoine
his old comrade in arms.
While this was transporting the general COM
mittee of arrangements, with several thou
sands of invited guests, assembled on board
the large Pacific mail steamer China and
number of smaller steamers, while tugs took
squadrons from the 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
lES M aea eh aeM 81 f es pageant could
be obtained. Every eminence commanding
the channel was black with the assembled
thousands. In coming up the harbor every
gun at the forts and on the vessels opened with
heavy and continuous salutes, and the smoke
completely obscured the whole fleet. About
six o'clock the steamer reached anchorage.
The streets to the ferry were jammed for
blocks with people, all cheering. There was
long line of carriages at the ferry for invited
guests, then a line of troops, succeeded by
long procession of civic organizations. Gen.
Irwin and staff occupied the front OF the inte-
ror of the ferry way, with the Mayor and city
authorities in the rear, also several dlStln-
guished citizens.
Gen. Grant, with Gen. Mcdowell and staff
and the reception committee, embarked on the
ferry ateamer at Oakland. The ferry boat
reached the landing at about 7.30, the band
PLAYING home "Home Again as Grant once
more Stepped upon his native land. The
Mayor greeted him and made congratulatory
speech. He referred to the interest felt in the
travels of the General in foreign lands, and
the kind reception rendered him there, and
there as an old and honored resident and
friend, and as such rendered him the hospitali-
ties and freedom of the city. Gen. Grant
briefly returned thanks.
As soon as the news of the arrival of the To-
kio had flashed over the Pacific coast, dis
patches poured in from the interior cities and
towns of California and Nevada, announcing
that the news was received with demonstra-
lions only second to the reception in this city
flags flying, streets decorated, guns booming,
parades, bonfires, fireworks and every token
of Joy and enthusiasm.
Grant took a seat in the carriage with Mayor
Bryant, and other carriages were filled with
officers, committees, etc. The procession was
formed with great difficulty, crowds cheering
continually as Grant appeared. The veterans
of the Mexican war, who formed the guard of
honor of the procession, included ex-
Union and ex-Confederate soldiers and sailors,
and all distinguished public men in the state,
and amid the greatest enthusiasm escorted
General Grant to the Palace Hotel.
Not only the streets on the line of march but
the cross streets between Market and Mont
gomery avenue were brilliant with decora-
tons. Even the Chinese quarter seemed to
have the infection and from hundreds of stats
the great dragon flag Haunted beside the stars
and stripes.
The procession moved through Montgomery
avenue to Kearney street. Here, if possible,
the crowd was still more dense and enthusias-
tic, and display of fire works. electric lights
lime lights, and every conceivable means OF
illumination increased the brilliancy. On ar
irving at Market street the procession, moving
up a few blocks, countermarched to the Palace
Hotel where magnificent arch forty feet IN
with national colors and bearing the inscrip-
ton, "Welcome to Grant" At this point the
carriage containing the General was drawn up,
after cheer rending the air as division after
division passed by.
On the conclusion of the review the various
organizations were dismissed and Gen Grant
was conducted to his quarters in the hotel,
which were especially prepared and furnished
for his reception. All the streets leading to
the hotel were packed with dense throng,
through which the procession forced its way
with difficulty. Thousands were clamoring
for admittance, but Gordon of police at all
the entrances denied ingress to all but those
holding special permits to enter. Within the
immense court was presented scene OF sur
passing beauty The electric lights and five
hundred gas jets lit up the vast interior, and
the dense throng that packed the court and
filed the balconies and corridors surged to and
fro in anxious expectancy of the coming
guest.
AT 10 o'clock the doors were thrown open
and barouche containing Gen. Grant was
driven within the building. He Immediately
dsmounted and crowding his was through the
packed mass of human beings was hurried to
his room. AS he alighted a chorus of five
hundred voices opened from one of the bal
comics with an ode of welcome. The crowd
rushed after Gen. Grant when he dismounted,
leaving the singers almost without an audi
ence, but being stopped in their chase by the
police 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 off his overcoat. AS soon as
the review was finished the soldiers and SAL
orS and veterans of the war repaired to the
Sand Lots with field battery.
Gen. Grant in response to repeated calls APP
peared on the balcony of the fourth floor and
bowed to the shouting crowd, then Immediate
ly retiring. The enthusiastic populace
thronged the court and refused to leave, when
finally Mayer Bryant announced that as soon
as the General had finished dinner he would
show himself In a few minutes Gen. Grant,
amid deafening and long-continued cheers, APP
peared. Mayor Bryant called the crowd to
order and Gen. Grant mounting chair said:
'Feltow Citizens Of San Francisco: After % years
absence l 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 and the crowd
at length reluctantly scattered.
Appearance of the General-Incidents of
the Return Voyage, Etc.
Grant is looking extremely well and expresses
great satisfaction with the experience of his
trip, and surprise at the tremendous demon
stration that greeted his arrival home. In for
egn countries receptions were something like
matter of course, but on leaving the shores of
Japan he left all thoughts of grand reception
and expected no such greeting as resounding
batteries from every point and numerous
fleet of heavy laden vessels. He especially re-
marked the good health that had attended him
during the trip, and related with evident relish
that he had got rid of his superfuous flesh, as
his weight was 1856 when he left the United
States, and now he pulled down the scales at
159. The whole party was delighted with the
trip from Yokohama, the weather having been
pleasant. Their departure from Yokohama
dal ,,rith ole