The San Francisco call., 1896-01-01
WELCOMED nN|NETY-SIX"
How San Francisco, in the
Open Air, Ushered in the
/. !. >:....> New Year. = /. :: :....
Fish. Horns, Trumpets, Salutations,
:".: II. Steam and Lung Power Create Z:
..== :..:. ~. Wild Pandemonium. -:: :. +: !.

:: Never before in the history of San Fran
cisco have so many people assisted in the
popular and: pandemoniuln-li like down
town, demonstration of bidding adieu to
the old and welcoming the new year as
thronged the mile and half of thorough
fare extending from Jones and Market
streets. along the latter. street to Kearny7
and thence to the confines of Barbary.
Coast. '::::.:< ! =.
= In such.numbers did they turn out that
the ample width OF. the sidewalks of these
streets were inadequate TO accommodate
and there was considerable overflow
into the street.. -. -: =:
The turmoil of the combined efforts OF
men, women and children was one long
and continuous roaring and. shrieking
clamor from all sizes and styles OF: horns,
gongs, rattles and any kind of device that.
could be made to create "a, noise. - *
Old age and infancy alike were: infected
with the carnival spirit that was abroad.
Ordinarily sedate young ladies Wed with
the most boisterous hoodlum in their eff
forts to do their share in creating the deaf
en1ng uproar. This condition of things
began about 10 P. NJ, and rapidly grew in
intensity and volume until the New Years
advent was marked by the midnight hour,
when it reached its height. -. -.
No less than $4,000 people were abroad,
the great outpouring being largely due to
the attractions to our outdoor promenade
created by the beautiful moonlight night
All manner of pranks were indulged in,
and the victims in all cases showed the
greatest good nature, nobody dreaming Of
resentlng what at any other time and any
other occasion would be deemed the great
est impertlnence.
A few of the instruments that contrib
uted an ear-splitting chorus were ishhorns
from "a few inches in length to six feet or
more, many of them decorated in the most
fantastic manner; conch shells, cavalry
trumpets,, drums, big rattles, bagpipes,
hurdygurdleS, COW bells, dinner bells,
gongs, frying pans, oil cans, skillets, grid
irons, tinpans and many indescri able but
effective rural disturbers. One ambitious
group engaged wagon, anC from sus-
pended sheet OF tin contributed generously
TO the din. Another vehicle was utilized
for the amusement of a crowd who labored
lndustrlouSly on q huge triangle to give
Father Time clamorous send-off.
Up one side of the street the intermin-
able procession went and down the other
unwearying and unremitting in their noisy
efforts. ANY attempt at conversation was
simply i'm DoSsl BILE.
One of the most notable exhibitions was
large papier-mache horn, about eight feet
long, and with the larger aperture ct least
foot in diameter. This was carried by
four frolicSome young men, each in turn
taking a turn at literally blowing his
horn"
Another feature was an oil-can brigade,
about twenty strong, headed by horn
corps.
Even the cyclists were not able to resist
the spirit of revelry that was abroad, and
those who were unprov1ded with the pc
culiar screeching whistle they use as sig
mails did not disdaln to resort to the hum
bic and sonorous horn.
Robert Wieland, instead of his usual
dainty cane, sported a six-foot horn, and
his whereabouts was readily indicated by
the volume OF noise he added to that of his
fellow-revelers.
B. ]. Hyland, the well-known capitalist,
headed q band of about thirty, fully
equipped with horns.
G. j. Gardner, who was q candidate for
| the Assembly on the Populist ticket, was
as noisy as the noisiest.
H. Hermann blew his horn with una
bated vigor during his entire two hours
promenade, taking occasional reSplteS, OF
course, TO wet his whistle.
A group of jack-tars from the Phlladel-
phia displayed their patriotism in keeping
cornet in pretty steady blast, while a
party of ladies and their escorts had
merry time with Chinese fiudies and cym-
bals
At the stroke of midnight the revelers,
with almost one accord, lined up facing
the street, and then went up a din that
was almost deafening, and which was
augmented by the blowing of steam
whistles from the downtown factories.