The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-08-04

launch Mascotte like a grand marshal
rushed up and down the course to place its
followers in trim for the review. Every
body was all excitement, and those who
were of Importance in carrying out the
programme excused themselves and went
off somewhere to recover their nerves and
get perfectly calm so as to be in condition
at the critical moment. There must be
no mistakes, no bitches, no blunders.
Finally everything was in readiness, and
from out of the lulf before the beginning
rang long blast from the Mascotte's whis-
tie as the line of boats took on Life and be-
gan to move.
Everybody left the course, and in few
minutes the entire procession was moving
down the waterway and every craft, from
the Mascot to the tiny war canoe in the
rear, was blowing and blazing out its fire
and its brilliancy.
The first five minutes of the parade were
almost noiseless except for the ruff ruff OF
the gasoline exhaust valve and the rush
ing of the feathers" at the bows of the
boats. Everybody was at attention" but
suddenly, like the bursting out OF pent-
UP Joy, the whistles began to blow and
hundred small cannon poured out volley
of barks.
Each boat was punctual in burning its
red and green fire, and when the leaders
had reached the old Dollart, the stakeboat,
g course was taken 10 the left and the
whole line of boats appeared as one long
chain of different colored lights writhing
and twisting around their reflections in the
quivering water.
The beauty of the scene was startling,
and the effect swept over the mighty
throng of spectators like a great wave of
happiness. Cheer after cheer and boom
after boom shook the air and roman can
dies dropped showers of tints over the
whole concourse.
When at last the procession reached its
starting point the boats broke ranks, and
then began mixing up of color such as
was never before witnessed on the Pacific
Coast. Gayly dressed ladies were well
coined to the launches, and mandolins
and guitars were brought out. Strains of
with All Her Faults" "Oh, Promise
Me-" "Love's Sorrow" and other familiar
airs were waited across the thickly boated
waters that seemed 20 be alive with rehec-
lions and bright-colored ribbons.
Immediately after the parade the pyro-
technic display from Valentines Island
was begun. The first feature was a gigan-
tic shower of colored balls, that whistled
into the air and burst into million pieces.
Like brief fash of tinted lightning it lit
up the scene and showed sea of upturned
faces that covered the hillside and blocked
the observation points. Both bands kept
up continuous strain of music, and the
arks and houses along the shore were
crowded with guests. Not single house
on the island was dark. The little lodges
and the big mansions dispensed good cheer,
and those who got within gunshot of Bel
yedere encountered it.
Promptly at 10 o'clock, as prearranged,
every inhabitant Of the place set off
quantity of red fire. and it was then that
the perfect picture was framed in by
wall of darkness made deeper by the
bright light within. The situation was
like dissolving panorama. Without warn
Ing tug would shoot out of the night, flash
across an opening, handkerchief would
be huttered like puff of steam and the
picture would be gone.
There is no more to tell. It was beauti-
full, idyllic and credit to Belvedere and
her people. To many it was an all-night
affair, and only the light of day drove the
magnificence Of the night picture from the
sea and made it one of the unforgotten
memories in spectacular history.