The San Francisco call., 1897-02-23
San Diego and Her Guests
Observe the Nations
Holiday.
The Goddess of the Fete Presides
Over a Gala Demonstration
At Night.
Fighting Msn of Army and Navy
Review by R a Admiral
BeardS:ee.

SAN DIEGO, CAL, Feb. 22.--As the big
clock in the courthouse tower rang the
hour of noon to-day there was a flash of
flame anu smoke from the port side OF the
flagship cruiser Philadelphia and a mo-
ment later deafening report rang out.
II was the first OF the salute of twenty
one guns from each OF the ships of the
North Pacific squadron now in port in
honor OF the first President of the United
States, whose birthday San Diego to-day
celebrated with the grandest water carni-
val ever witnessed on this coast.
The scene on the bay as the PhiladeI-
phis fired her first shot was one OF gran
deur and sublimity. Not a cloud in the
blue sky obscured even for a moment the
warm rays of southern sun.
The wind blowing gently from the west
ruff1ed the surface of the water into a
million wavelets each separate crest dia-
mond-tipped and sparkling with natures
| own Jewels. On the broad bosom of the
bay floated the mighty machines whose
construction was designed for war rather
than for peaceful celebrations.
Ten thousand flags, pennants and BAN
ners fioated In the wind. Just off the
Santa Fe wharf lay the big flagship Phifa-
delphia, the flower of the fleet, with the
ad mirals pennant floating gracefully from
her masthead.
To the westward, up the bay, was the
big monitor Mon;ery, magnificent arch
running from bow TO stern, its apex touch
ing the topmast and its ends dipping into
the sea. From this arch fiuttered a
hundred pennants, while all around
"a
lanterns and electric lights, ready to do
their part in the brilliant spectacular dis
play that opened with the nightfall Be-
yond the Monterey lay the British cruiser
Comus, with flags and pennants
| flying, and 200 sturdy men and
true upon her main decks, ready at the
word of command to fire royal salute in
democratic waters in honor of the man of
all others who was responsible for the
severance of the ties which bound this
| nation to theirs.
To the eastward, in succession, lay the
monitor Monadnock, the United States
steamers AIbatross and Corwin ana the
gunboat Marion, all their rigging deco
rated IN gala attire and with flags flying
at every masthead.
The men were dressed in their neatest
holiday uniforms: the bands OH the
decks discoursed their most magnetic
music; the wharves were lined with spec
tators, all straining their ears to catch the
sound of the first order, or their eyes to
see the first puff of smoke from the big
guns.
At 11:59 o'clock all was as silent as
farmhouse at midnight. The next moment
@ off hrid - he II
phia stepped forward and gave a COM
| mand to the gunner. Flash! boom boom !
and the vast crowd on shore cheered and
yelled as though a real battle had been
fought and America had won the victory.
The shot from the Philadelphia was
answered by broadside from the Comus,
and minute later the firing became gem
eral for q mile along the water front,
where the vessels were anchored. Then
the dense white cloud of smoke lifted, and
the crowds dispersed 10 their dining-rooms
and those OF their neighbors.
At o'clock those not on milit tarv duty
returned and Assem- bled along D street to
witness the great street parade, which
started promptly at . o'clock from India
and d streets, under the leadership of
Grand Marshal Colonel A. G. Gassen.
1t had been generally expected that the
crew Of the British gunboat Comus would
march in the parade, permission to this
e fleet having been received by Captain
Dyke from Admiral Palljser of the Pacific
squadron.
At noon, however, final message was
received from Sir Julian Pauncefote, Brit
ish Am bassador at Washington, stating
that, while no international breach OF
etiquette would be committed, still the
fact of permitting foreign troops to
march on American soil as an armed
force was unprecedented, and it was not
deemed advisable to permit it to be done.
Captain Dyke reluctantly conveyed this
intelligence to Mayor Carlson and Grand
Marshal Gassen, and there being no help
for it they were compelled to submit.