The herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1893-1900, 1898-05-24
CITY Of PICKING LADEN
WITH THE FIRST DETACHMENT
FOR MANILA
ANOTHER STEAMER WAITING
For the Men and Munitions to Com
plete the Conquest Of the
Philippine Islands
Associated Press Special Wire

Associated Press Special Wire
6AN FRANCISCO, May 23.-It was Just
I o'clock this morning when the first notes
of the reveille sounding through the camp
awoke the men from what may be for
years their last sleep upon the Preside
reservation. Hardly had the notes Of the
trumpet died upon the early morning air
before the camp took on an aspect Of life
and animation. Around headquarters the
officers were busy getting their personal
effects packed, while in the company
streets the soldiers were engaged in get.
ting their haversacks packed. their blan-
kets rolled up and their canteens filled with
water. This was the work Of but few
moments and then the loading of the camp
equipage on drays was begun and COM
plsted in twinkling.
At $3.50 the call for breakfast was
, sounded and the men and officers alike fell
to with a hearty zest. Despite the at
tempted gayety of all there was a general
depression that made itself felt from the
colonel down, and the meal was not jolly
one.
BY 6 o'clock large crowd had gathered
to see the regiment start, and when 6:35
o'clock, the general call for striking camp
sounded and the white tents fell, the crowd
cheered, while from the camps of the Sew
enth and Sixth regiments came back q
counter wave Of honest lung power that
attested the good will and wishes of the
less fortunate soldiers who live In daily
hope that their summons to the front may
come without delay. Company 2 won the
IS prize for being the first company to fold
up their tents.
Then Colonel Smith ordered his majors
to form their battalions, and q few minutes
later he emerged from his tent and handed
to the color sergeant Of Company B the
stand of colors that were presented to the
regiment by the chamber Of commerce.
This was the signal for the regiment to be-
gin its march, and the First, under Major
Boxton, filed from the camp for regimen
tai formation. Then followed the Second
under Major Slime, while Major Tilden
closed in upon the left with the Third. AS
soon as the formation had been completed
Colonel Smith gave the order to march,
and the soldiers, with measured tread and
steady swing, passed out of the gate of the
Preside at exactly twenty minuets to 8.
The crowd cheered, hats were thrown in
the air and the women waved their hand
kerchiefs and small flags, while as last
word of parting and token of comrade-
ship there came from the soldiers that were
left behind three rousing cheers that made
the welkin ring.
is The scenes along the route to the ferry
were indescribable. The coming of the
regiment was announced by blasts from
many whistles, while the crowd that lined
the sides of the streets cheered and
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voices, like sea of mighty sound, rolled
along in advance of the tramping column.
Several halts were made to rest the men.
who were in heavy marching order. At
every stop some one would rush from the
crowd to clasp the hand of a soldier for
parting word, while more than one mother,
with tears streaming from her eyes,
seized the opportunity to kiss her son good
bye. Many citizens kept on foot with the
troops along the line Of march to the Pa
ciic Mail dock, where vast throng was
In waiting. When the troops appeared
there was cheering and waving of flags.
The boys In blue, with Colonel Smith at
their head, awakened the widest enthusi-
asm, and while men and women shouted
their voices were husky and the tears ran
down their faces. Along the dock the SOL
der boys went at rout step. And down
after them went men, women and children.
At the end of the dock the men came to a
rest and the women opposite the Picking.
who had been waiting for many hours,
rushed to embrace their dear ones.
Some OF the soldiers sang the songs of
their camps, but while they sang others Of
their comrades cried.
It was o'clock before the men had en-
barked. The First regiment band on the
after deck played the "Star Spangled Ban
ner" and the Picking moved away and came
to anchor in the stream
Marched on Board
SAN FRANCISCO. CAL, May 23-Cali-
fornia said goodbye 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 8 o'clock and marched
to the Pacific Mail dock, where the big
steamship City of Picking lay ready for
them. By noon the soldiers were all on
hoard and before night everything will be
In readiness for their departure.
The farewell demonstration by the peo-
pie Of San Francisco will long be remem-
bered by the soldiers of the First Reg-
ment. Every street leading from the
Preside to the Pacific Mail dock, a dis
tance 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 clock this
morning, and long before that hour thous-
ands Of citizens had focked to the Preside
to see the sights. Promptly at o'clock
the bugle sounded at the Preside and all
the tents went down together. Then for
an hour the soldiers were busily engaged
in rolling them up and loading them on
trucks. At o'clock the regiment was
formed into line, and headed by its band.
marched out through the big stone gates
of the Preside, and the journey of CON-
quest 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 knapsacks ON
their backs. The men marched along at
swinging gait and as they turned into
the broad thoroughfare of Van Ness ave-
nue. they presented a splendid appearance
At Pacific avenue, the naval reserve.