Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1898-05-25
OFF FOR FAR EAST.
All San Francisco Turns Out to
Bid California Troops
GOOdby.

San Francisco, Cal, May 23-CalifOr-
MIA said goodby TO her First regiment of
volunteers this morning as they marched
gaily forth from the Preside to start on
their long journey to Manila. The men
left camp at s 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
by night everything will be in readiness
for their departure.
Farewell will be Remembered.
The farewell demonstration by the peo-
pie of San Francisco will long be remem-
bered by the soldiers of the First regi-
ment. Every street leading from the
Preside to the Pacific Mail dock, dis
lance 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 an
nounced that camp would be struck at s
o'clock this morning, and long before that
hour there were thousands of citizens at
the Preside to see the sight. Promptly
at O'Clock the bugle sounded and all the
tents went down together. Then for an
hour the soldiers were busily engaged III
rolling them up and loading them on
trucks. AT s o'clock the regiment was
formed into line, and headed by its band,
marched out through the 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 car
rying blanket rolls and loaded knapsacks
on their backs. The men marched along
at a swinging gait and as they turned
into the broad thOrOughfare Of Van Ness
q VI hoy tod C,y11o
ance. At Pacific avenue the naval re-
serve, 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
A Continuous Roar of Cheers.
AS the regiment proceeded through the
residence district on its way down town
the crowd grew thicker and thicker
There was one continuous roar of cheers,
flags were waved frantically, and people
along the lIGe as they recognized some
friend among the soldiers, rushed out and
grabbed him by the hand to say goodbye.
When Market street, the main business
thorOughfare, was reached the crowd was
simply enormous. People on their way
to work fingered to see soldiers pass. The
cheering of the crowd grew in volume
and nothing like the sight on Market street
was ever seen here before. Many weep
ing women followed along after the sol
diers as though loathed to let them out of
their sight and even men were not
ashamed to show their emotion.
AS the marching men neared the water
front, bombs were fired, steam whistles
blown and every device imaginable for
making a noise was put into full opera
ton. The jam at the dock was some
thing terrific The police and the mount
cd signal corps attempted TO keep the
crowd back. They would not be denied
and rushed onto the dock in the wake of
the soldiers. Arrived at the dock, the
volunteers We're marched on board the
transport without delay. 1t took consid-
cradle time for each man to be assigned to
his quarters. But this task was accom-
plshed with but very 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 getting one more
glimpse of the men who are going to sail
5000 miles to fight for their country.
The First regiment of California volun-
teers is commanded by Col James F.
Smith and consists of 1886 officers and
men. Tomorrow the Second regiment of
Oregon volunteers, one battalion Of infan-
try, United States regulars, and a de-
tachment of California heavy artillery
will board the steamer City Of Sydney
and it is probable that the Pekin and
Sydney will depart in company when sup
plies are taken on board.