Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1879-09-24
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Gen. Grant Finally Reaches San Fran
cisco Immense Enthusiasm ---T The

Gen. Grant Finally Reaches Sam Fran
cisco --- Immense Enthusiasm The
Reception.
SAN FRANCISCO, September 2O.-The
first tap of the bell and hosting Of the
flag on the Merchants Exchange an
nouncing the approach of the City of
Toxic startled the city from the spell of
suspense that has prevailed for the last
three days, and transformed the idle
throngs that were louuging about the
streets into excited and hurrying
crowds. The bells are ringing, steam
whistles screaming, and the thunder Of
cannon reverberating over hills and har-
Dor. Thousands of men, women and chill
dren, on foot, in carriages, and on horse
back, are pouring out in the direction Of
Presidio Heights, Point Lobos, Tele-
graph Hill and every other eminence in
the vicinity, eager to catch the first
glance of the incoming ship bearing the
guest for whose reception so great pre-
partitions have been made, and whose
arrival has been SO anxiously anticipated.
Crowds are hurrying toward the
wharves, where the steamers and yachts
that will take part in the nautical
pageant are lying. The reception COM
mittee's tug, Millen Griffith, will leave
at once from the Pacific Mail dock to in
tercept the City of Toxic outside, and
so arrange her arrival in the harbor as
to conform with the preparations for the
reception. Hta- ....
At the moment the alarm giving no.
tice of the approach of the City of Toxic
was struck, the executive committee hav-
ing charge Of the demonstration were in
session st the Palace hotel warmly dis
cussing the question of carrying out the
programme tomorrow in case of the
steamers arrival in time, or deferring it
until Monday. The first stroke of the
bell ended the discussion. It 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 Immediately. The
reception committee of five fastened to
the Mail dock and put out seward with
out delay to expedite the movements Of
the City of Toxic, while various other
committees and guests betook themselves
to their posts on shipboard or at the
landing. In view of the lateness of the
hour, all preconcerted limits of time
will be contracted.
The fotilla of steamers and yachts
will leave the city front at quarter
past four, and it is expected that the
landing will be effected by half-past six
or seven. The line of march will then
be taken up. and the general illumina.
ton will compensate for the absence of
sunlight.
Immediately on receipt of the intelli-
gence that the City of Toxic was nearing
Of Frank M. Pixley, ex-senator Cole,
Gen. Miller and S. B. Cornwell, repaired
to the tug Millen Griffith, lying with
steam up at the Pacific Mail dock, and
at once started TO meet the incoming
steamer The Griffith stood we'll out at
sea, and several miles outside the Heads
met thu Toxic coming in. The tug drew
alonside, and the executive committee,
quarantine officer, and custom officials,
and a number of representatives of the
press
BOARDED THE STEAMER.
Nc ceremonies were observed, except
general shaking of hands, and, after
the committee had announced the object
of tneir visit and informed Gen. Grant
of the reception prepared for HIM, con-
vepation became general as the City of
Toxic continued her course. Soon after
tn, government steamer Mcpherson
cane alongside, and Maj. Gen. Mellow
Ell, commanding the division of the
Pcific, accompanied by his staff,
barded the Toxic and rejoined his old
cmrade in arms. While this was trans
pring the general committee of arrange
nnnts, with several thousand invited
glests assembled on board the large side
Wheel Pacific Mail steamer China and q
nmber of smaller steamers, while tugs
tok the squadron of the San Francisco
aid Pacific Yacht clubs IN tow and
sarted down the channel. In the mean
tme it seemed as though the whole
ppulation Of the city, men, women,
md children, had sought positions from
which view of the naval pageant could
b obtained. Every eminence COM
Ianding the channel was black with the
ssembled thousands. Telegraph hill
7as living mass of human bodies.
1heheights beyond Presidio, Clay street
ELL, the sea wall at North point, and
very pierhead were covered with spec
ators. The sun was declining in the
rest when the steamers and yachts, gay
nth bunting, moved down the channel.
low clouds hung along the western hori-
on. Mount Tamalpais and the distant
mountains north Of the bay were yelled
in mist, and Mission hill and the seward
heights of the peninsula were shrouded
in fog, but the channel was unobstructed
and the bold outlines of the Golden
Gate rose sharply against the sky, while
the bay itself, with the island shores of
Alameda and Contra Costa, were bathed
in sunlight. From every flagstaff in the
city flags were flying, and the shipping
along the city front was brilliantly
decked with ensigns, festooned with
flags and streamers. The impatient
crowds that covered the hill tops stood
straining 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