Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1879-09-26
GEN. GRANT LANDS AT SAN FRAN
CISCO.
4 brilliant and Enthusiastic Welcome

4 brilliant and Enthusiast Welcome
The city Fairly Wild with Delight
gorgeous IIIuminaiiOns and Dec
orations -Honiires and Fireworks
The Thunder OF Cannon. the Cheers
OF the PopulnCc. the Scream OF steam
Whistles. the uusic of BANDS. and
the Ringing OF Bells. All Unite in
the Chorus Of Welcome.
New YORK, Sept ga special from
San Francisco SAYS it is reported that the
steamer City Of Toxic. with Gen. Grant
abroad, is sighted off the Heads
San Francisco. Sept. Immediately
on receipt of the news that the steamer CITY
of Toxic was nearing the port last evening.
the reception committee. Frank NJ PaXley,
General Miller and p Il. Cornwall, started
IN tug to meet the incoming steamer Sew
cral miles outside the Heads the tug met the
Toxic coming in. The tug drew alongside
and the executive committee, quaran-
tine officer and customs officials and num-
Der of representatives of the press board
ell. No ceremony was observed except
a general shaking of hands and after
the committee announced the object of their
visit and informed General Grant of the re-
ception prepared for him the conversation
became general Soon after the government
steamer Mcpherson came alongside and
Major General Mcdowell, commanding the
division of the Pacific. accompanied by his
staff, boarded the Toxic, and reiorned his
old comrade in arms The general commit
tee of arrangements, with several thousand
invited guests. assembled on the Pacific mail
steamer China, and number of smaller
steamers, while tugs took the squadrons of
San Francisco and Pacific yacht clubs in tow
OF tod Il he,
City of Toxic. Men, women and children
sought positions from which views of thenaval
pageant could be obtained Every eminence
commanding the channel was black with as
sembled thousands, and the sea wall at the .
north point and every pier head was covered
with spectators. The sun was declining in
the west as the steamers and yachts, CAV
with bunting, moved down the channel but
the bay was hathcd in sunlight. From every
flag staff in the city flags were flying, and
the shipping along the city front was bril-
llantly decked with ensigns, festooned flags
and streamers. The impatient crowds that
covered the hill tops stood with straining
eyes to catch the first glimpse of the Toxic
AT half past five a puff of white smoke arose
from the seward front Of the earthworks
| back of and above Fort Point, and the boom
ing of heavy gun announced the steamer
near at hand. Another and another boom
followed in rapid succession. Fort Point
next joined in the cannonade and the battery
at Lime Point added its thunders to the
voice of welcome. In few moments the en-
trance TO the harbor was yelled in wreaths
of smoke, and as the batteries of Angel
Island, Black Point and Alcatross opened
fire in succession, the whole channel was
soon shrouded in clouds from their rapid
discharges. For some time the position of
., /, IL. 1. Il.
but shortly before six the City of Toxic glided
into full view, surrounded by steamers and
tugs gay with flags and crowded with guests.
while the yacht squadron brought up the
rear, festooned with brilliant bunting. Cheer
after cheer burst from the assembled thou
sands as the vessel slowly rounded Telegraph
Hill and the sound was taken up by the
crowd on the wharves and rolled around
the city front while hats and handkerchiefs
waved in the air. The United States steam
er Monterey added the roar of her guns to
the general welcome, and the screaming of
hundreds of steam whistles announced that
the City of Toxic had reached her anchor
age. The crowds assembled on the hills and
along the city front now with common i'm
pulse began to pour along towards the place
where Grant was TO land. The sidewalks
were blocked with hurrying pedestrians and
mittees. The steamers and yachts made
haste to land their passengers, and in few
minutes the vicinity of the landing was lit
orally jammed with people extending for
blocks. A space was cleared by the police
and marshals in which hundreds of carriages
for the use of guests were crowded, and
outside that line line of troops and civic
| organizations was ranged, while outside, con
| stantly increasing, surged and pressed an
| excited and enthusiastic crowd, cheering at
intervals and waiting impatienty for the
first glimpse of the honored guest. Within
| the gates of the ferry house were assembled
the gentlemen charged with the duty of the
| immediate reception to Gen Grant. The
board Of supervisors ranged on the left of the
gangway and Governor Irwin and staff and
the executive committee, consisting of Gov
ernor elect Perkins, and other prominent
citizens occupied the right Mayor Bryant
taking position about halt way down the
centre gangway. Gen. Grant and party
with the reception committee, Gen Nc
DOwell and staff and others were transferred
TO the steamer Oakland. Considerable delay
occurred during which the crowd outside
cheered and shouted themselves hoarse and
it seemed at times as though, in their impa-
thence, they would break through the lines
Darkness had fallen and it was twenty min
utes past seven when the lights of
the Oakland were seen approaching
the slip. She moved slowly into position,
the platform was lowered, the band struck
up Home Again" and amid roars of APP
plau So from the crowd outside,