Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1879-09-26
zen. GRANT STEPPED ASHORE.

After brief and informal congratulations
the mayor delivered an address of welcome,
abiding with pride to the honors received by
Gen. Grant, and rendered him the freedom
and hospitality Of the city. Grant responded
as follows
'Mr. Mayor, accept with pleasure your
invitation TO become the guest of your citi-
zens during my brief stay in San Francisco.
1t will afford me great pleasure to observe
| after the lapse of a quarter of century
the marvellous growth Of your city, Of
which have heard and read so much; and
| have no doubt when | come to see for my
self | will find | had but faint idea of the
changes and prosperity of your city. again
ask you to express to the citizens of San
Francisco my sincere appreciation of the
compliment of this reception"
He was then conducted to a carriage the
Mayor accompanying him, when the various
committees and other gentlemen in atten-
dance repaired TO their own carriages. The
gates of the dock were thrown open and the
vehicles moved forward and took their places
in line. As the carriage containing Gen.
Grant appeared. cheers went up from thou
sands, while the crowd pressed forward and
swayed from side to side i'll efforts TO obtain
passing glance of him With the greatest
difficulty passage was opened, the process
sion formed and the line of march was taken
up, and amid tremendous cheers, the dis
charge of cannon the ringing of bells, and the
screaming of whistles the procession started
up Market street. Bonfircs blazcd at the
street corners and illuminations lit up every
window and the glare of Roman candles and
electric lights made the broad thoroughfare
rs bright us day. The pr occasion included
soldiers and sailors of the late war inclu-
ding eX-confederatcs veterans of the Mexi-
can war rs n guard OF honor; veterans of
the war of 1Sl2; regular troops of the
United States army various military and
civic organizations, state officials, army
and navy officers, United States Judges and
other officials, congressman and city and
county officers The procession was fifteen
blocks long and 1000 persons participated
in it. The procession moved under con-
tinuous archway of flags and banners and
festOons and draperies. Cheers rolled along
the whole line of march and almost drowned
the martial strains from the numerous bands.
The cross streets were also decorated
and in the Chinese quarter from
hundreds of stalls great dragon flags Haunted,
beside the stars and stripes. At the Palace
Hotel magnificent arch forty feet high
spanned New Montgomery street, hll21ncd
with the national colors and bearing the in
StllHllbi NtlAAlllt ~ NHlulll Ut TINS
point the carriage containing Gen. Grant
was drawn up while the procession march
ed in review. cheers rending the air rs divi-
sion after division passed by. ON the con-
clusiun of the review the various organila-
tiunS were dismisscdand Gen Grant conduct
cd To his quarters in the hotel. All thcstreets
leading to the hotel were packed and the !
procession forced its way with difficulty. /
Thousands clamored for admittancc but the |
police denied ingrcss To all but those holding |
special permits Within the court was bril- /.
lianily lighted and dcnSely thronged. As .
Gen. Grant hurried To his room chorus of l
five hundred voices sang an ode Of welcome. I
As soon rs the review was finished and the /
various divisions had dishanded, the soldier
and sailor veterans of the late war repaired
with Il battery To the sand Lots and salutcs
were fired After the chorus was rendered,
ten. Grant. in response To repeated calls,
appeared ON the balcony and bowed 10 the
crowd Immediately retiring The still en-
husiastic populacc thronged the court and
refused Ia leave. Finally the mayor an
nonunccd that rs soon as the General had
finished dinner he would show himself
zen. Grant shortly appeared, and amid deaf
ming and long -continued shouts the mavor
allied the crowd To order, and the General
chair was again greeted with
of cheers. When the noise sub
ided. he said:
Fellow citizens of San Francisco After
twenty-five years of absence | am glad To
meet you and assure YOU of my cordial
hanks for the kind greeting You have given
ne. shall stay in your city long enough
u greet You more fully"
The General then withdrew amid prolonged
md tremendous cheering and the croWdrcluc-