Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1879-09-22
His Cordial Reception.

SAN FRAScIsco, September 90 The City of
Toxic has been sighted twenty miles out
The ringing of bells and hostng of flags an
nounced the approval of the city. The City
of TOkia has started the city from the spell
of suspense that has prevailed for the last
| three days, aud transformed the idle scenes
about the streets into excited and hurrying
| crowds. Bells are ringing, steam whistles
screaming. and the laundering of cannon
reverberating over the hills and harbor.
Thousands of men, women end children, ON
foot and in carriages and on horse back are
pouring in from every direction, eager to
catch the first glance of the incoming ship,
bearing the guest for whose reception so
great preparations are being made and whose
arrival has been so anxiously anticipated.
Crowds are hurrying towardssthe wtarves
where steamers and yachts that will take the
party in nautical pageant are lying. The re-
ception committee and tug Mllen Griffith
will leave at once from Pacific Mail dock to
intercept the steamer outside. and arrange
her arrival in the harbor to conform with the
preparations for the reception in accordance
with the preconcertcd plans.
The reception is not likely to take place
| today. the hour being so late, and execu-
live committee is now in session to deter
mine whether it shall come off tomorrow or
be delayed until Monday. The first strike of
the bill ended discussion, it being three
q Iarters of an hour later than the limit that
mad been previously determined, but il was
at once resolved to carry out the demonsrat-
tions. A committee of five fastened To Mail
dock and put out seward without delay to
expcdiate the movements of the City of Toxic.
while various other committees and guests
betook themselves to their posts on ship
board or at the landing. In view of the late
ness of the hour all preconccrted limits of
time will be contracted. A flotilla of steamers
and yachts will leave the City of Toxic at
I. 10 o'clock and is expected here at 6. 30 or I
O'Clock. The line of march will then be
taken up, and general illumination will COM
pensate for lack of sunlight. Immediately
upon receipt of intelligence that the City of
Toxic was nearing port. the reception com
mittee, consisting of Frank NJ. Pixley, ex-
Senator Cole, Gen. Miller and =. B. Con-
wall, repaired to the tug Mllen Griffith. ly-
ing at Pacific Mail dock, and at once started
to meet the incoming steamer. The Griffith
stood out to sea and several miles outside
The Heads met the City Of Toxic coming in.
The tug drew alongside, and the executive
committee, quarantine officers, customs Off
ellis and number Of representatives of the
press went on board. No ceremony was OBJ
served except general shaking of hands, and
after the committee announced the object of
its visit and informed Gen. Grant of the
preparations mpde for him. general con-
versation followed, and the City of Toxic con
tinued on her course. Soon the government
steamer Mcpherson came alongside and
Maj. McDonal, commanding Division of Pa
citc, accompanied by his staff boarded the
steamer and rejoined his old conrade in
arms. While this was transpiring the gener-
al committe had made arrangements with
rnl th.,u nd in t.A nd
Dled ON the large Pacific Mail steamer China
AMI a number of smaller steamers. while
tugs took squadrons from San Francisco and
Pacific yacht clubs in tow, and started down
the channel. In the mean time it seemed as
though tie population of the city. men, wo-
men and children, had sought every position
from which to view the naval pageant that
could be obtained. Every eminence com
manding the harbor was blocked with assem-
bied thousands. Coming up the harbor
every gun at the forts and on the vessels
opened with heavy and continuous salutes.
and smoke completely obscured the whole
reet About o'clock the steamer reached
ner anchorage. The streets to the ferry
were jammed for blocks with people, all
cheering. A long line of carriages at the
ferry for invited guests then fell in line.
headed by troops and succeeded by ngpro-
cessiOn Ut GIVE organizations. Gov. Irwin
and staff occupied the front of the ferry way.
with the Mayor and city autl critics in the
rear.
Gen. Grant with Gen. McDowall and staff,
and reception committee. embarked on
Terry steamer ut Oakland ferry, and reached
the landing about 7.3O. the band playing
HONS gain" as Grant once more stepped
on his native land. The Mayor greeted him
and made congratulatory speech. re-
ferring to the interest felt in the travels of
the General in foreign lands, and the kind
reception tenderd him there, and said San
Francisco desired to receive him as an old
and hOnored resident and friend. and as such
rendered him the hospitality and freedom of
the city. Gen. Grant briefly returned
thanks.
Amid great enthusiasm the procession es-
corted Gen. Grant to Palace Home.
Gen. Grant. in response to repeated calls,
appeared on the balcony of the fourth h,or,
aud bowed to the shouting crowd and imme-
diately retired. The enthusiastic populace
thron ged the court and refused to leave
Finally Mayor Bryant announced that as
soon as Gen Grant finished dinner he would
show himself. In few minutes Gen. Grant,
amid deafening and long continued cheers.
appeared. Mayor Bryant called the crowd
to order, and Gen. Grant, mounting chair,
said:
Fellow citizens of San Francisco: At
ter twenty-five years absence | am glad to
m, ct you, and issue you of my cordial
thanks for the kind greeting you have given
me. shal stay in your city long enough to
greet you more fully"
The General then Withdrew, and the crowd
~ lauuth raluctauflv scattered.