The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1891-04-29
SNAP SHOTS.
Peaceful Engagement With the
Exeursi0nists.
The Charleston and Puebla Raked Fore and
aft by Score of Cameras Amateur
Photographers Field Day.

President Fl rrIson stood on the upper deck of
the City of Puebla yesterday facing battery OF
weuty leveled cameras. This was the tribute
of respect rendered by the California Camera
Club, and, il less noisy, it was as complimentary
a piece OF homage as the booming guns which
thundered their salute from fort aud earthwofk
and ship of war;
The club had a long stern chase before they
got an opportunity to turn their friendly weapons
on the Chief Magistrate. IL had been Intended
that they should start on the tug Active at 10
o'clock, and that they should lead the bay pro-
cesson, but some delay at the start upset this
arrangement and 1t was not Till the City OF
Puebla had run out between the heads and had
steamed abreast of Fort Point on It's return tnaL
they ranged alongside
The members Of tile club assembled in good
time at Folsom-str ct Wharf, but 1t was not un-
till 10:45 O'Clock that the captain gave orders to
casl of aud the bell changed 10 20 ahead.
HOLIDAY WEATHER.
1t was a perfect morning, the sun blazing hot
overhead, and gaHzy haze hanging over the
wharf, seemed unrufflsd by The slightest puff OF
WIND. Out in the stream, however, slight rip
pies broke the level surface. and the enslgns aud
festal bunting OF the Charleston ana the mer-
chant shipping which lay of Goat Island Mapped
and huttered merrily enough to show that the
wind was blowing bri,kly through the Golden
Gate
The haze was a matter of practical concern to
the passengers of the Active, and several con-
sIble to obtain perfect pictures. But all doubts
on this point were settled as the tug rounded the
point by the ferry landing. and the breeze from
the ocean was mel face to face.
The period OF waiting was by no means tedi-
Gus, as there was brilliant picture TO charm
the eve whichever way 1t chaneed. But by far
the most striking the Charleston, with her
white null cleaning In the sunshine and strings
of gaye0lOred signal-fags running from tafrall
to truck,
THE STATELY CHARLESTON.
As the passengers Of the Active were watching
her, the stately ship commenced TO move, fOrg-
Ing ahead, at first almost impereepiiby, and
then, gathering way, steamed at half speed to-
ward The entrance of the bay. She had scarcely
passed out CT sight when the City OF PueDla, one
mass of bunting, slowly backed out from Broad
way Wharf. Then the boom of guns came down
the bay, aud. the eye following the sound, the
Rush was seen enyeloped III clouds OF smoke as
she fired The PRESIDENTIAL Salute OF twenty-o
By this time the Active herself had started.
but further delay took place, as she steamed
down The bay, and returning. passed slowly Ia
front OF Folsom-Street Wharf, to enable George
Reed and ether photographers 10 take pic
ture OF the tug and her passengers as a souvenir
OF the occasion.
The photographing party having been taken
on board, lhe start was made In earnest. but
the procession had by this lime got long lead,
and was rounding Black Point. Meanwhile the
salute had been taken up by Alcatraz and Fort
Mason, and every passing ferry boat and tug
added its share to he general volume oil SOUND
MORE SALUrES.
On rounding Black Point the Active began 10
overhaul the procession, which stretched in
long line from Aleatfaz 10 sausalito, where the
Charleston lay of for the City OF Puebla TO pass
and take the lead. Here, as the Presidential
party came abreast OF her, sheet of flame and
cloud OF smoke shot from he cruisers side. The
salute fired. tue charleston fell into her position
Immediately behind The City Of Puebla, and the
six gally decked vessels steamed In orderly array
by this ttnie the Active was overhauIlng the
procession auu gradually dropped lie end vessels
astern. First the Rush was passed, then the
(,OrWin and Haealar left behind The
breeze now freshened and the tug commenced to
pitch into the head seas as tae long rollers came
in from the Pacific. The Camera Club, some OF
them at least, were beginning TO realize that
marine field day has IFS drawbacks, out they
stuck to their cameras and their determination
10 photograph the Charleston.
CAMERAS AT WORK.
On the North Head they got their opportunity
and some excellent views OF the big ship were
obtained. as she rose azlly to the swels, which
made accurate sighting on the quick-pitehlng
tug difficult. Then another excellent subject
presented Itself, as q German full-rgged ship
and the British ship Westgate came in with
every stitch drawing. and the red British ensign
was run down in salute 10 the President.
The Active had now run fairly close to the
City OF Puebla, which, on getting abreast OF the
Cliff House, turned and ian back toward the
bay. Of Fort Point he Active ran close along
side, aud President Harrison was photographed
by every type and size OF camera. Then the tug
fell behind again and The photographers took
snapshots at the muzzles of the Fort Point guns
as they fired their second salute OF the day;
Coming back the procession hugged the Marin
County shore, aud more powder was burned
from the Santa Rosa aud Wilmington as lt ran
past Sausalito and headed for Racc0on Straits.
| Then Angel Island added its share to the noise,
and the photOgI aphers got views or the Charles
| ton aud tile crowded decks of the Puebla, end
on, abeam and from every possible quarter,
the ships circled around San Pablo Bay.
Once more the procession passed through the
straits and rounded Angel Island and then the
tug was lett asteTn again as the vessels steamed
rapidly TO The Union Iron Works.
AT THE LAUNCH.
BY the time the Active reached the scene Of the
launch the leading steamers OF the procession
had already come to anchor. The tail-enders
soon arrived and line was formed opposite TO
Charleston lying outside and the Rush and the
Corwin inside her. The wharves the roofs of
the works. the hills In the back ground, and
every point from which a view OF the launch
could be obtained were occupied by dense masses
of people. On the bay every available craft had
been pressed into service, and tugs, ferries.
yachts, scOws and rowing boats struggled With
one another for position,
Before tile launch took place the President
visited the Charleston, salutes being Hred on his
arrival and departure Some lime elapsed after
he reached the wharf, during which the photo
crap hers stood with their cameras leveled and
their eyes strained for the slightest movement
AT 4:35 precisely there was shout oil =" She's
off," The huge vessel Quivered, the stars and
stripes at her stern dipped and ran up again as
she started sid slowly, then faster, faster,
ducked her stern into the bay, and then righting
as the whole hui took the water, swept maiesti
ally out into the bay. The din which followed.
was tremendous, every steamer saluted with
long blasts OF their whistles and the Charleston
fired Il salute OF twenty.One guns.
Then tile cameras were packed away, and after
q quick run to Folsom street the Camera Club