The San Francisco call., 1896-02-10
ALONG THE WATER FRONT,
Mayor Sutro and Party Visit
the Italian Cruiser
Colombo.
A RIVAL PASSENGER BUSINESS.
Strong Sentiments of an Italian
American Citizen-Arrival of
the Australia.

Az" III tuIs port. 1ue ursb w dIl1Ne Oh
board was Mayor Sutro, accompanied by
Collector ]. H. Wise, Supervisor G. L.
Taylor, ]. T. Rogers the Mayors secre-
tary, and several newspaper men. The
party was escorted by Editor Albert P.
Morbio OF L'ItaIia, who represented
the Italian Consular office. 1t was the
Mayors official call upon Lieutenant
Savoy, or Prince Luigi as he is generally
known, and Collector Wise went along to
represent the Federal, and Supervisor Tay-
lor the municipal part OF the body polite
in this port.
Chief Justice Beatty went as far as the
wharf, and had to return home, leaving
the reporters to represent the judiciary.
The Colombo's steam launch took them
ont to the big war vessel. They were re-
ceived at the gangway by the ships Off
GERS in full uniform and the melody of
Hail, Columbia" by the brass band. 1t
plays well, that band, though they are a
part of the sailor crew of the ship, and
scrub decks and haul ropes when not fin
gering their comets and basshorns.
Captain Bertollni received the visitors
on the quarterback and conducted them to
his cabin. The Prince was absent, and the
plain skipper of the cruiser had to repre-
sent his royal 'lettenant." The converse
ton was in English, except when the cap
tdAil 1OSJ LIS III ludt LOuSu6
and drifted into French, whittier only the
Mayor and Editor Morbio could follow him.
The cabin of an Italian man-of-war and
the apartments of royal lieutenant are
not princely affairs. A plebeian ensign in
United States cruiser would "kick" for
finer room. Plainness marks everything
fore and aft in the Colombo, and evidently
Italy puts but little of her matchless art in
her ships. However, there appears to be
comfort there, from the commanders
ample cabin to the clean white cots in the
'sick bay" and the long, slim six AZ
inch Observation-Disclosures they call
them-look formidable.
In the cabin can be seen q reminder of
an old Italian custom-a large, richly
carved wooden ring in an ornamental case.
When Venice, the iong-ago Queen OF the
Sea. annually welded Adriatic jeweled
ring was thrown into the waves. When
Italy launches ship a wooden ring is
heaved overheard to bind her nuptials
with Neptune, and is afterward recovered
to remain in her as a sign of her marine
matrimonial relation.
A glass of wine with Commander Ber-
tolini, an invitation to Prince Luigi and
his brother officers to visit the heights
next Friday, which the Italian captain ac-
cepted, and the Mayor led the way over
the gangway and into the launch. the
guard presenting arms and the sailor band
pay 1AS dSdAA 4ldIl
In the afternoon the ship was visited by
the public, who came under the auspices
of the Italian Benevolent Society. The
association had employed the Alert and
the launch Amy to carry the people out to
the cruiser at 80 cents the round trip. A
great number went out to the Colombo
and her decks were crowded with visitors
till sundown.
The officers were most assiduous in their
efforts to entertain the visitors that fairly
swarmed all through the vessel. The
band played for them, and the days pleas
ure was an open-air concert and bay ex-
cursion in one.
tory to everybody, for by an agreement
with the officers of the benevolent society
Captain Bertolini would not permit out
side boats TO land at the gangway of his
ship. The tugs Mlllie and Ethel and
Marion took off load of people and were
obliged to bring them directly back to the
wharf amid the howls of their passengers
for the return of the fare.
This was done at loss to the boats, as
only one kind of tickets had been given
out at 80 cents for adults and children
half-fare. On the return the boys gave
their half-fare tickets to a number of men
who collected half-dollar thereon. The
tug mems money from the sale OF the tick
cts soon ran out and there was trouble,
indeed. Those who had not received their
return fare threatened to throw some body
overheard, and the deficit had to be made
up from the tug officers private funds.
A number of hs ermen came off in their
boats. bringing their families. They were
not permitted to board the ship, and then
there was War in Italy.
The fishermen stood in their boats and
protested that 1t was an outrage that they
could not visit a ship from their native
land. They gesticulated and abused the
ship, her officers and the society IN choice
Italian. The sounds of the loud and not
unmusical voices reminded one of q scene
among the boats in the bay of Naples, and
the bright, clear, warm day helped out the
idea.
One big, handsome fellow, with fine
voice, was the leader of the protestants.
He mingled nationalities and navies in his
TRADE, which, translated, was somewhat
in this line:
"You may take your old hulk and go
to - in her. We build better ships every
day right over on that shore than Italy
owns. We are American citizens even if
naturalized, and we have American money
in our pockets and we don't care a sou for
your old ship"
His oratory only provoked laughter from
his good-natured countrymen on board
the Colombo.
Speeches, songs, good dinner and a
brass band were all employed yesterday by
the Society OF Italian Veterans in enter
tanning the petty officers of the Italian war;
ship Colombo. The dinner was given at
Garibaldi Hall and was a great success in
every particular. The local Italians and
their guests fraternized and spent several
hours most merrily.
There were places laid for over 100 peo-
pie. About twenty-five of these were Of
hcers OF the man-of-war. There were a
few of the notables Of the Italian colony,
not veterans, present as guests. B. Cheli,
president of the Italian Veterans, pre-
sided at the head of the table. At his side
sat Italian Consul Grmaldi and ChevaIier
j. Calegaris. The other guests were ar
ranged IN the order OF their rank.
An address of welcome was delivered by
Consul GrimaIdi, which was received with
cheers and bumper of wine for Italia
Chevalier Calegaris followed in an elo-
quent speech, and President Cheli assured
the visitors of the love and confidence OF
their California brothers. DR.. Vaccari,
Captain l.. Baglietto and others spoke
Songs were sung and even after the table
had been cleared the guests fingered, told
stories. sang choruses and swore eternal
friendship.