The San Francisco call., 1895-05-18
.FORESTERS ON THE Bay |
Their Excursion to Mare Island.
A Day of Delightful
Enjoyment.
SEVEN HUNDRED TOOK PART
Cheers and Salutes of Guns and
Whistles Greet Them Y
Everywhere.

A merry assemblage of some 700 men,
women and children boarded the steamer
Tamalpais at the foot of Clay street yes
terday morning. 1t was composed of the
delegates to the subsidiary high court of
the Ancient Order of Foresters of the Pa
cifc Coast prominent local Foresters, their
families and friends. The occasion was
the last social function in connection with
the session of the subsidiary high court-a
trip about the bay and visit to Mare
Island.
Had the day been artiicially created it
would not have proved more satisfactory.
The air was warm, there was scarcely a
breeze and only barely perceptible ripple
on the waters surface.
Laurel trees, evergreens, vines and flow
ers were used to decorate the steamer, and
the Foresters' band contributed to the fes-
tive character of the outing.
On leaving her moorings the Tamalpais
headed up the bay, and after passing the
making a landing, and started for the
navy-yard. As she passed the anchored
vessels in the bay they dipped their flags,
while the tugs, ferry-boats and steamers
that were encountered saluted the eXcur-
sionists with three blasts of their whistles.
As the British ship Thistle was passed her
crew gathered along the port rails and
gave the Tamalpais three hearty cheers,
which were responded to in kind with in
tereSt.
Before Angel Island was reached the San
Rafael, the flyer of the bay, was sighted
giving stern chase to the excursion
steamer, which she soon overlook and left
in her wake with an ease that was as sur
prising as it was disappointing to the
nartu tho Tam inaiS who
pected to be witnesses to spirited race.
In passing Alcatraz the ladies on the
fortified island waved their handAerchiefs,
and the soldiers expressed their good
wishes for the passengers of the steamer
by a chorus of cheers.
The Tamalpais was saluted with three
guns from the yacht Luriine, and in like
manner from the lighthouses of the Pacific
and San Francisco Yacht clubs off Sausa-
Ito. To these the band made response by
playing some of its choicest selections.
In this manner the trip up was en-
livened every few minutes. After the
Raccoon Straits were passed, the tug Ac-
tive was met, and her whistle blew the
usual three blasts. Then came three
sonorous clangs from the bell of the light
house on one of the rocks known as the
Two Brothers. At South Vallejo lay the
Amador, and she, too, sent forth her greet
ing in three shrill blasts.
OnOrlly d1ter Une cruiser olympia was
sighted at anchor off Mare Island. Her
crew took up the spirit of the occasion,
and cheered the Tamalpais most Justify as
she went by. This was the signal for the
band on board the visiting vessel 10 strike
up 1.-The Req, White and Blue" and the
chorus was shouted by every one on board.
As the Mare Island landing was neared,
"The Star-spangled Banner" was played,
and, amid its strains the excursionists
trooped up the gangplank to the dockyard
landing, which was made at about 2:15
P. NJ. The invaders were given an hour on
the island, and soon the machine-shops,
the drydock and other buildings and
| objects of note were being inspected and
viewed with great interest.
The twisted bronze propeller of the
Nipsic and the fgurehead of the Kearsarge,
two of the ill-fated warships that were
wrecked in the great Samoan hurricane,
had fascination for large groups, as well
as the guns from the Hartford.
Although the cruisers Olympia and Bos-
ton and the gunboat Bennington were
lying in the stream, and the uncompleted
Monadnock, the revenue cutter Thetis and
the United States Fish Commissioners
steamer Albatross were moored along the
wharf, no one was allowed aboard of them,
a state of affairs which caused much dis
appointment.
Promptly at 80 P. NJ. the start for home
was made. Dancing and singing helped
to while the time away agreeably. until the
Tamalpais reached her landing at night
Everybody had most enjoyable day,
not single accident or untoward incident
occurring to mar the occasion.