The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1898-05-23
NOW ON THE SEA.
California Troops Embark on
City of Pekin.
Expect to Sail For Manila To-
morrow Morning.
PEOPLE JAM DOCKS.
Police Unable to Keep Back the
Crowds.
Pathetic Scenes and Incidents
of the Farewell.
PEOPLE JAM DOCKS.

San Francisco, May 23.-Calttornla
said goodbye to her first regiment OF
volunteers this morning,as they march
ed gaily forth from the Preside to
start on their long journey to Manila.
The men left camp at o'clock and
marched to the Pacific Mail dock, where
the big steamer City of Pekin lay ready
for them. By noon the soldiers were
all on board and before night every
thing will be in readiness for their de-
parture.
The farewell demonstration by the
people of San Francisco will long be
remembered by the soldiers of the
First regiment. Every street leading
from the Preside to the Pacific Mail
dock, a distance of about five miles,
was lined with people who, after the
soldiers passed followed in their wake
and marched with them to the docks.
1t had been announced that camp
would be struck at o'clock this morn
ing and long before that hour, there
were thousands of citizens at the Pre-
sidio to see the sight. Promptly at
o'clock the bugle sounded and all the
tents went down together. Then for an
hour the troops were busily engaged in
rolling them up and loading them on
trucks.
At o'clock the regiment was formed
into line and headed by it's band
marched out through the big stone
gates of the Preside and the journey of
conquest had commenced.
AT Van Ness avenue the entire police
force of San Francisco was in waiting
and fell in ahead of the soldiers. The
latter were in heavy marching order,
carrying blanket rolls and loaded KNAPP
sacks on their backs. The men march
ed along at a swinging gait and as they
turned in to the broad thoroughfares of
Van Ness avenue they presented a
splendid appearance.
At Pacific avenue. the naval reserve.
signal corps and national guard, staff
officers were in line and presented arms
as the soldiers went by. Then they too
marched to the dock. AS the regiment
proceeded through the residence dis
trict on it's way down town, the crowd
grew thicker and thicker. There was
were waved franctically and people
along the line as they recognized some
friend among the soldiers, reached out
and grasped him by the hand to say
goodbye. When Market street, the main
business thoroughfare was reached the
crowd was enormous. People on their
way to work fingered to see the soldiers
pass. The cheering of the crowd grew
in volume and nothing like the sight on
Market was ever seen here before. Many
weeping women followed along after
the soldiers as though 10th to let them
out of their sight, and even men were
not ashamed to show their emotion.
AS the marching men neared the wa
ter front, bombs were fired, steam whis
for making a noise was put into full
operation. The jam at the dock was
something terrific. IN vain the police
and the mounted signal corps attempt
ed to keep the crowd back. They would
not be denied and rushed on to the
dock in the wake of the soldiers. Ar
rived at the dock, the volunteers were
marched on board, the transport with
out delay. 1t took considerable time
for each man to be consigned to his
quarters but this task was accomplish
ed with but little confusion.
After the soldiers were once on board
the ship, the police with difficulty
cleared the dock and the gates were
shut. All day, however, a big crowd
hung about the dock in the hope of get
ting one more glimpse of the men who
are going to sail 5000 miles to fight for
their country.
The First regiment of California vol
unteers is commanded by Col. James
F. Smith and consists of Loss officers
and men. Tomorrow the Second regi-
ment of Oregon volunteers, one bat
talon of Fourteenth infantry, United
States regulars, and a detachment of
California heavy artillery will board
the steamship City of Sydney and it is
probable that the Pekin and Sydney
will depart in company when supplies
are taken on board.