St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1879-10-03
San Francisco's Welcome to Grant.


world that General Grant has returned
to his native land, but your readers may
enjoy hearing some of the details OF the
reception from an eyewitness.
For days the work of decorating the
city went on, while hands were busy
hanging out the bunting, ears were
strained to catch the signal that the in
coming steamer was in sight. Wednes-
day the period of expectation began.
The steamer might be signaled any
hour. Thursday the interest deepened.
Friday, people thronged into the city
from distant places, and interest in
creased to excitement, but still the
getty of Toxic" did not appear. All
the better, said the San Franciscans,
for Saturday will be more conven-
lent holiday. ...
But the day waxed and was fast
waning. Hope deferred was fast max
ing the heart sick. The suburban resi-
dents were rapidly returning homeward
when, suddenly, at half-past three
o'clock, the fire alarm sounded. Thou
sands of people stopped to listen. One,
two, three eleven. Eleven once,
eleven twice, eleven three times. A
shout went up. One name was upon a
thousand lips. Other bells took up the
signal. Eleven thrice repeated. Church
bells ruDg their welcome notes. Fire
steamers, by concerted arrangement,
sped through the city screeching wild
notes of joy. All the city flocked out
into the streets. Tens of thousands
hurried to the hills that overlook the
Golden Gate. Thousands tiOcked to the
city front, where steamers, tugs, schoon-
ers, slOops and yachts, all brilliant with
flags aud streamers, were waiting to
carry invited guests out to Fort Point
to meet and escort the incoming steam
er. Meantime Oakland had caught the
craze and was being deserted. Interior
towns, hearing the news by telegraph,
flung out their banners, and with can
non and music had their own glad
jubilee.
Meanwhile, the feet returned, in the
center of it all being the "City of To-
kio," upon whose deck stood ''the fore
most citizen of the nation" returning to
his native land after his triumphal pro-
gress of two years around the world.
Cannon to the right of him, cannon to
the left of him thundeIed forth their
welcome. Fort Point, Alcatraz and
Angel Island opened their batteries,
not gently, but lovingly. There was
music upon the water, there were cheers
upon the land, and all in honor of
citizen of the United States, who once
was a tanner, but in later years sue
cessful General, whose skill, and perse-
verance, and courage turned back the
hosts of organized rebellion, and pre-
served the nations unity. 1t was the
General rather than the exPresident
whom the people welcomed.
When near the city, General and Mrs.
Grant and others of their party were
transferred to ferry boat, and landed
at Market street wharf This was at
six o'clock. 1t was already growing
dark, but nearly two hours were ex-
pended in getting the procession under
way. At length column made up OF
police, cavalry, infantry, civic societies,
government officials, statesmen poll
ticians, committeeman and the like
some in gay uniforms, some in simple
black, some with nodding plumes and
others with cap or hat, began to move
through the streets. In the center of il
were General Grant and Mayor Bryan
in all open barouche, drawn by 81,
beautiful black horses. Following then
were Mrs. Grant, Ulysses, Jr., and FREQ
, Grant in another baIouche. Never wa
, the city so deliberately attired. Market
Montgomery and Kearney streets, wer
more profusely decorated than on tn
) Centennial Fourth of July. San Fran
cisco never does anything unless it ca
2 do it extravagantly. The ten thOusan,
D dollars appropriated by the city gov
e eminent for this celebration will nee
J to be supplemented by thousands more
= before the last bills are paid.
1 But this is not the place to moralizt
The procession is moving to the musi
: of dozen brass bands. Blue lights al
e shooting their stars into the heavens
It every step of the way. Bonfres o
e Market street, electric lights here an
= there Illuminating whole blocks
is buildings, brilliantly lighted houses an
lie shops, all combine to make the scene
d remarkable one; while the dense ma
TT of humanity in the streets below, al
lie the eager cOuntenances in the widow
above, show the interest of the multi
er tude in the scene and its central pc
n sonage. 1t was after ten o'clock befo
of the pageant eliminated in the passai
DO of the General under a magnifice
triumphal arch that spanned New Mon
h, gomery street between the Grand al
s, Palace Hotels, and his entrance into t
70 court of the ''Palacen where a pick
Dy choir of two hundred voices, station
of in the galleries above, sung a welcomi1
ode. 1t was midnight before the be
n had finished his dinner and retired
n rest. 1t was after midnight before t
nd last of the immense crowd had desert
lef the streets.
k" The Sabbath dawned upon gu