Daily globe., 1879-09-22
THE FIRST NEWS,

San FRANCISCO, Sept. 20.--The first tap o
the bell and tho hoisting of the flag on th
Merchants Exchange, announcing the approach
of the City of Toxic, startled the city from the
spell of suspense that has prevailed for the las
three days, and transformed the idle throngs
that were lounging about the streets into ex
oited and hurrying crowds. Bells are ringing,
steam whistles screaming, and the thunder OF
cannon reverberating over the hills and harbor
Thousands OF men, women and children on
foot, in carriages and on horseback are pouring
ont in the direction of Presidio heights, Point
Laboo Telegraph hill and other EN- nences in
the vicinity eager to catch the first glance of
the incoming ship bearing the guest for whose
reception SO great preparations have been made,
and whose arrival has been auxiOusly antici-
pated. Crowds are hurrying towards the
wharves where the steamers and yachts that
will take part III the, nautical pageant are
lying. The reception committees tug, Millen
Griffith, will leave ut once from the Pacific
mail dock to intercept the City of Toxic out
side, and so arrange her arrival in the harbor
as to conform with the preparations for the re-
ceptiOn in accordance with preconcerted plans.
The reception is not likely to take place to-day,
the hour being so late, and the executive COM
mittee is now in session to determine whether
it shall come off tomorrow or be delayed until
Monday.
HURRYING TO AND FRO.
At the moment tho alarm giving notice of
the approach of the City Of Toxic was struck,
the executive committee having charge of the
demonstration were in session ut the Palace
hotel warmly discussing the question of carry
ing 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. 1t was three quarters of
hour later than the limit that had been de-
terminod previously, but it at once de-
termined to carry out the demonstration i'm
mediately. The reception committee of five
hastened to the mail uOck and put out seaWard
without delay, to expedite tho movements of
the City of Tokia, and various other committees
and guests betoUk themselves to their posts on
shipboard or at the landing. In view of the
lateness of tho hour all precOncerted limits of
time will be contracted. The hotilla of steam
ers and yachts will leave the city front at q
quarter past four, aud it is expected landing
will be effected by half past six or seven. The
line of march will then be taken up and Il gem
eral ill, N ma ion will nsate for the alb
sencc of sunlight.
THE FORMAL RECEPTION.
Immediately on reception of Intelligence
that the City of Toxic was nearing the port,
the reception committee, consisting of Frank
M. Pixley, ex-Serator Cole, Gen. Miller and p.
b. Cornwall, repaired to the tug Millen Grit
dock and at once started to meet the incoming
steamer The Griffith stood we'll out to sea-
and several miles outside the heads met the
Toxic coming i'll. The tug drew alongside, and
the executive committee, quarantine officers
and customs officials and .lumber of press rep
rosentatives boarded. No ceremony was OBJ
served except general shaking of hands, and
after the committee had announced the object
of their visit and Informed Gen. Grant of the
reception prepared for him, the
conversation became general as the City of
Toxic continued her course. Soon after the
good steamer MCPHERSON came alongside, and
Major General Mcdowell, commanding the di-
vision of the Pacific, accompanied by his staff
boarded the Toxic and rejoined his old COM
rade in arms. While this was transpiring the
general committee of arrangements, with sew
eral Thousand invited guests, assembled on
board the largo side-whcel Pacific mail steamer
China, and % number of smaller steamers, while
tugs took squadrons OF 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, women and children, had sought po-
sitions from which view of the naval pageant
could be obtained. Every eminencc command
ing the channel black with assembled
thousands. Telegraph hill was q living mass
of human bodies; the heights beyond Presidio,
Clay street hill, the wall at North Point
and every pier head were covered with specta-
tors. The sun was declining in the
west as the steamers and yachts,
gay with beauty, moved down the
channel. Low clouds hung along the western
horizon. Mount Tamal p4is and the distant
mountains north of the bay were vciled in
mist, and Mission Hill and the seaward heghts
Of the peninsula were shr"uded in fog, but the
channel was nnobstructed and the bold antlers
of the Golden Gate rose sharply agaiust the
,Ixx, .In In hn.y .f,,I L
shores of Alameda aud Contra Costa were
bathed in sunlight From every flagstaff in
the city
FLAGS WERE FLYING,
and tho shipping along the city front was
beautifully decked with ensigus, festooned
flags and streamers The impatient crowds
that covered the hill tops stood straining their
eyes to catch glimpse of the Toxic. A hun
dred times the cry raised There she
comes as some chance arrivals came
in view between the heads. 1t was
half past 5 o'clock when puff of
white smoke from soaward from off the earth
works back of aud above Fort Point, and the
booming of heavy gun announced that the
steamer was near at hand, another and another
followed in rapid successi"n- Fort Point
joined in the canhOnade, firing with both case
mate and barbette guns and battery. At last
Lime Point added its thunders to the voice of
welcome. In a few moments the entrance to
the harbor was
YELLED IN wREATIIs OF SMOKE
ana as the batteries of Angel Island, Block
Point and Acatrosc opened fire in succession
the whole channel was soon shrouded in clouds
from their rapid discharges. For some time
inc Position OF the approaching ships could
no1 DC aisoorncd, but shortly before
CLOCK the outliuos of the huge
through the ObscuriJy of smoke and the r.n;d-
ly approaching shades of evening. IT. m bv the
flashing OF the guns and in a few moments she
glided into tull view, surrounded by n Aeet of
steamers ana tugs gay with flags and crowded
WIN sues's' "hlio 'he yacht squadron brought
up the rear, festooned from deck to trnc,. ~;
brilliant bunting. Wv"
CHEER AFTER CHEER
burst from assembled thousands as the vsss,,.
slowly rounded Telegraph Hill and taken m
by the crowd on the wharyes rolled around the
clty front. Hats and handkerchicfs were
waved in the air. The Uuited States stcame,
Monterey, lying in tho stream. added the roa
of her guns to the general welcome. and the
screaming of hundreds Of steam whistles an
nOunced that the City of TOXIC had reached he
anchorage The crowds that had assembled OF
the hills and along the city from
now with common impulse began to pou
along toward the ferry, landing at the foot o
Market street. where Gen. Grant was to land
The sidewalks We're blocked with hurryn
pedestrians, and the streets with carriages con
vsying committees The steamers and yacht
made haste TO land their passengers and in
few minutes the vicinity of the ferry audin
vs.A tISoIassy
JAMMED WITH PEOPLE,
extending for block along Market street an,
the wafer 'front.', just in front of the lau,iino
entrance to which was closed and guard,d
space was cleared by the police and marsbals
IN which hundreds of carriages for the use oi
after line Of troops and civic orpan;zat,ons
were ranged, while outside the constantly in.
creasing crowd surged and passed, excited and
enthusiastic, cheering at intervals, and waiting
guest.
Within the gates of the ferry house we've "a.
sem6ied the gentlemen charged with the duty
OF OF the immediate reception of Gen. Grant
The board of supervisors ranged an The jaft =;
sne gangway and Gov. Irwin and staff and the
executive committee, consisting of Governor.