The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1897-05-23
GREETED BY CHEERING
THOUSANDS.
Wild Demonstration When the
Locomotive Comes Into
View.
VISITING THRONGS JOIN IN
THE CELEBRATION.
Far Into the Night the Citizens and
Their Guests Continue the
ReVel.

HANFORD, CAL, May 22.-The San
Francisco and San Joaquin Valley Rail-
road has come to Hanford, and the event
has been celebrated all day and is still,
now late at night, being celebrated with
the most extravagant manifestations of
Joy. The people of the whole country
focked into and overrun and almost
Swamped this live little city, not to speak
of the hundreds who came by the special
trains from points as far distant as San
Francisco. The Stockton Com mercial AS
socIation and the Chamber of Commerce
and the Hundred Thousand CLUB of
Fresno, sent large delegations of represen-
tative business men, all of whom wore
badges distinguishing their several allie
giances. Fortunately the skv was over
cast and light breeze lent itself to the en-
couragement of the general joy. 1t is
very well, that it was so, for the crush
upon the streets, in the very thick of
which were hundreds of women with
babies in arms, many of whom had trav-
eIed far to make part of the big demon
strat;on, must have been otherwise at
tended with serious results.
1t was big, big day in Hanford, and it
could possibly desire that the people Of
Kings County appreciate at its full what
t e Valley road means to them.
The dawn was greeted with the booming
of cannon, calling the people of the city
up to prepare for the coming of the multi
tude. And it was none too early, for the
sun was not up before the first wagon of
the distant rancher or vineyardist turned
into the main street and took its post in
front of the park. BY 9 o'clock so many
had followed in its track that the line of
teams extended all round the park and
on into neighboring streets, while their
freight of men and women and children
were already crowding the sidewalks. And
still they came by every description of rig,
by bicycle, on horseback and on foot.
Where the newly made railway crosses
Seventh street the anticipated first train
was expected to stop, and there the crowd
centered. The executive committee, city
officials and other prominent citizens
were there in their private rigs or on foot
to receive the officials of the road. The
company of uniformed Knights of Py-
thias was drawn up in line to serve as an
escort 10 them and to the two com panies
of the National Guard from Fresno which
were on the train.
Shortly after O'Clock a fleck of smoke
on the northeastern horizon set a small
boy to crying, There she comes!' People
are cautious about small boys, and they
waited, watching all excitement. The
spot grew and grew and became a dark
ribbon strung across the wide acres of
Lucerne vineyard.
There was no doubt about it now, but
still the people held themselves in re-
straint. Then a plume of white steam
sprang straight toward the sky from the
nose OF the engine that was now in easy
view. There was a pause between the
sight and slower travelling sound, and
there fell upon the ears of the waiting
multitude the long, strong, vibrant scream
of the engine of the first passenger train
of the VALLEY road laundering down into
the city of Hanford.
1t was like yell of triumph. It sounded
to the people like victory's essay to spell
the word emancipation" and they broke
into great cheer.
Men were waiting at the cord of every
steam whistle in town and at every bell,