Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1879-09-25

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Angel Island, Black Point and Alca-
traz opened fire in succession,
the whole channel was soon
shrouded in clouds from their
rapid discharges, For some time the
position of the approaching ships could
not be discerned, but shortly before 6
O'Clock outlines of the huge hull of the
City of Toxic doomed through the OBJ
security of the smoke and the rapidly ap-
proaching shades of evening were lit up
by flashes of guns, and in few moments
she glided into full view, surrounded by
feet of steamersl and tugs gay with
flags and crowded with guests, while the
yacht squadron brought up the rear
festooned from deck to truck with bril-
liant bunting. Cheer after cheer burst
from the assembled thousands as the
vessels slowly rounded Telegraph Hill,
and taken up by the crowd on the
wharves, rolled around the city front.
Hats and handkerchiefs waved in the
air. The United States steamer Mon
terey, lying in the stream, 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 anchorage. The
crowds that had assembled on the hills
and all along the city now, with COM
mon impulse, began to pour along to.
wards the ferry landing at the foot of
Market street, where Gen. Grant was to
/ land. The sidewalks were blocked with
hurrying pedestrians, and the streets
with carriages, conveying the commit
/ tees The steamers and yachts made
haste to land their passengers, and in
few minutes the vicinity of the ferry
landing was literally damned with peo-
pie, extending for blocks along Market
street and the water front Just in front
of the landing, the entrances to which
were closed and guarded. Space was
cleared by the police and marshals, in
which hundreds of carriages for the use
of the guests we're crowded, and outside
of that, line after line of troops and civic
organizations were ranged, while outside
the constantly-increasing crowd, surged
and pressed, excited and en-
thusisstic, cheering at intervals,
and waiting impatiently for the first
glimpse of the city's honored guest.
Within the gates of the ferry-were as
sembled the gentlemen charged with the
duty Of the immediate reception of
Gen. Grant, - the board of supervisors
ranged on the left of the gsngway, and
Gov. Irwin and staff and the executive
committee, consisting of Governor
elect Perkins, w. II. l.. Barnes Samuel
Wilson, William T.. Coleman, Tiburco
Parrott, J. P. Jackson, John McComb,
John Rosenfeld, Claus Spreckels, John
II. Wise, W. W. Montague, occupied
the right, Mayor Bryant taking his pc.
sition about halfway down the center
of the gapgway.
In the meantime Gen. Grant and his
party on the Toxic, together with the
reception committee, Gen. Mcdowell
and staff, and others had been transferred
to the ferry steamer Oakland. Consid-
cradle delay occurred, curing which the
crowd outside cheered and shouted
themselves hoarse, and it seemed at
times as though in their Impotence they
would break through the lines and in.
wade the dock en- masse.
Darkness had fallen, and it was twenty
minutes past when the lights of the
ferry-boat were seen approaching the
slip. She moved slowly into position.
The platform was lowered, the band
struck up "Home Again" and, amid
roars of applause from the waiting
crowd outside, who realized that the
moment had arrived, Gen. Grant stepped
once more upon the shore of his native
land.
After a brief welco ming address by
the mayor, responded to with exceeding
briefness by the general, an immense
procession WAS formed. Amid tremendous
cheers of the crowd, discharges of
cannon, ringing of bells, and screaming
of whistles, the procession started up
Market street. Bonfres blazed at the
street corners, Examinations lit up every
window, and the glare of Roman cand es
and electric lights made the broad
thoroughfare as bright as day. Under a
continuous archway of flags, banners
and festooned draperies, the procession
moved up Market street to Montgomery,
and turned down the latter street.
Crowds blocked the sidewalk. Cheer after
cheer rolled along the whole line of
| march, and almost drowned the martial
strain of the numerous bands. Broad
ensgns tossed in the night wind, glow.
ing with the light of fires and glare of
rockets and fire balls. The light mist
lowering over the city reflected the light
of the fireworks and illumination, until
the heavens seemed ablaze. Not only
streets on the march, but the cross streets
between Market and Montgomery ave
nue., were brilliant with decorations.
Even the Chinese quarter seemed to
have the infection, and from hundreds
of stats the great dragon flag Haunted
its fantastic blazonry beside the Stars
and Stripes.