The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1886-10-01
QUIZ rR1r 10 zee PACIFIC coAsr.


After we got fairly started on our
way, the band commenced playing
some lively waltz and in an incredibly
short time the merry feet were keep
ing time to the music in the graceful
waltz, the more giddy schottische and
the still more lively timeof "Ladies to
the right" in the last change of the
quadrille. We went south from San
Francisco crossing over towards and
along next to the east shore of the bay
for about ten or twelve miles, then
turned and passed up again within a
short distance Of the west shore and
past the wharves where there were l
should judge at least two or three
miles that were lined with steamers,
sloops, tugs, and all kinds of vessels
for the coasting and ocean carrying
trade, which gave us very good idea
Of the vast commercial Importance of
the city of San Francisco. Steaming
on up the bay we passed the Govern
ment Fort, Alcatraz, in the bay where
we were saluted by the batteries at the
Fort, on up to Benicia and then turn
ing northwest around the coast grad
ually changing our course to west, then
southwest until we came to the Gold
en- Gate an entrance from the ocean to
the bay or harbor. We went to the
heads or rough water and then turned
around and came back being apparent
ly afraid to &c out any farther on ac-
count of the tumbling and pitching of
the vessels which was liable toproduce
sea-sickness, which was not to be dcsir.
ed just at that time, as the people of
San Francisco did not evince any dis
position to have us throw up all the
good things We had just partaken of
as it could do no good, unless to feed
their fish little, and would materially
lead toward lessening our enjoyment
of the trip. Sea-sickness is described
by those who have been there about
as follows: First stage: I'm afraid
I'll die. Second: "I'm afraid I wont
die" While passing by the Golden
Gate, our fort at the entrance saluted
us with several guns of their batteries
which were answered with cheers and
the waving of handkerchief from the
steamers. We then wended our way
homeward toward the city, passing en-
tirely around Goat Island between
San Francisco and Oakland) and
which to my mind was the most ma
jestic scene of my life to see those six
large Ocean Steamers led by that little
tug steaming along one after the other
each leaning over a little toward the
island and the vessels being far enough
apart to preserve safe distance, there
by completely encircllng the island, as
the Frenchman would say sit was
schust grond." About p. m. we land
ed at the foot of Market Street San
Francisco thanking those good people
from the bottom Of our hearts for that
days excursion, as the pleasantest of
the many days we had spent in their
midst and enjoyed their unbounded
hospitality.
The following Monday the 9th, was
Oakland's day, and as it was only a
short distance across the bay, the
crowds from San Francisco and sur
rounding country, came in early and by
II o'clock a. m. the streets of the city
were thronged with members or the G.
A. r. and by about IL o'clock the pro-
cession had formed and commenced
marching through the principal streets
where they were greeted with cheer
after cheer from the assembled multi
tudes of patriotic people. After the
parade the different military organi-
cations and Grand Army Posts were
served with free dinners as fine as
could be found in any country. And
allow me to say right here that Oak.
land did herself proud on that day as
well as every day from the time the
Grand Army boys commenced to come
into the State. The Oakland people
and q. A. r. Post of that city combin-
ed their forces to make it pleasant for
the visitors, and kept open house for
at least week or ten days, free lunch,
free California wines, beautiful ladies
to wait upon you were the orders for
each day and it was strictly carried
out to the letter. Never can the boys
forget the good people of Oakland.
The next day the 10th, was San Jose
day and was one of the most delight
full Of the series. Trains left Oakland
and San Francisco about o'clock a.
m. over the broad and narrow gauge
roads, and in sections On each road, car
rying in all about five thousand people,
at San Jose at about 1l:5O
O'Clock a. n. after delightful ride over
one of the most fertile and beautiful
valleys in the State, and the bracing
Ocean breeze giving us an appetite
that seemed to US, must be regarded
with solicitude by the good people of
San Jose if they only knew it. I felt
a great deal like ] could eat and digest
a whole saw mill or a stone quarry
but it seems that the hospitality of San
Jose was prepared to receive just such
hungry set as we were. They met