The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1891-04-26
ON CALIFORNIA HILL.
1t Was the Vantage Point Of
Many Lockers On.
Thousands Obtained From Here Bird's-Eye
View of the City's PyrOtechnic
Display.

TIE bird's-eye view of the grand spectacle OBJ.
tanned from the summit of CAIiforna-street Hin
was doubtless The most magnificent OF any in the
city, allowing, perhaps, for Telegraph HILL Ten
Thousand people realized this, too, for there was
not vantage ground anywhere on its broad sur
face and BAH way down its eastern slopes that
was not finged with anxious spectators.
The high fences creaked and swayed with their
human freight; several nigh mounds in vacant
lots swarmed like ant-hills; balconies. open win.
dows and house-lops were Tricky peoped; vehi-
cles OF many kinds walled the sidewalks, and
none of them were buill for the loads they car
ried.
On California street. from Jones TO Stockton
Sacramento. from Taylor TO Powell and on the
more elevated portions of Pine street the crowd
was so dense at Times that openings had TO be
made by officers for the cars and other vehicles
TO pass; and all the spectators were more or less
excited ana enthusiastic over TIE scene they VIII
messed, though they did not see the President.
THE MARINE ILLUMINATION.
The effect of the marine illumination was amaz
ingiy perfect While against the densely dark
back ground Of the bay il was Impossible 10 dis
Germ any object, not single light burned from
Shag Rock to the Golden Gate that did not play
IT, own good part ia The magnificent panorama.
The outline and locality OF score OF vessels
were plainly visible by the myriaus OF Japanese
lanterns that stTeaned from their mast-heads and
fiinTed their rigging.
Some ingenious marine added wonderfully TO
tie effect Of The scene by forming long string
of lanterns fastened closely together. then max
ing fast one eBd % lie top OF The highest mast
While lie other tOaied IN The breeze. 1t was
literally an Illuminated streamer, and its success
fla lie distant Vi " was remarkable.
The powerful sea ch lights Of the Charleston
seemed every now aud then like dazzling jewels
shooting out Of the sea.
TWO ROCKETS WENT UP.
The Two rockets That went up from the ferry
boat conveying the President and his parry were
plainly seen. and the response was Il wild out
burst of enthusiasm from every point on the hill
that the President must have been very deaf IL
lie dad not hear. The next instant. as II by
Uage mighty stream of fire shot up from the
summit Of Telegraph Hl another from the
Union Iron Works, several fiom AlcatraZ, the
fort the Presidio and the Charleston, and before
their light mad died out The entire city front seemed
TO open like pair of huge jaws and sili ten thou-
sand streams OF ire into The darkness OIL night
Tie blaze continued for Thirty or forty minutes
without fading much in splendOr, then II nar-
rnwed down 10 the tine OF Market street ana
vicinity, and inalIy appeared Ike Tong tram oil
brilliant and variegated nres.
MARKED BY THE coLoRED LIGHT.
The landing OF the distinguished guests aud
tie movement OF tile slow escort I'D Market
street could not be seen from such distaut DO
sition except by the eOlOred light. and Ia twenty
or thirty minutes more Interest Jagged, ana lue
multitude began 10 disperSe.
Ia The fore part of the evening every street-ear
thar went anywhere near CalifOrnia-street hill
frnpa lie suburbs was laden as only cars can
he wien an eager crowd makes mad rush al
ftlem Az hour later those cars went empty, and
everything that moved cross town In The direc-