The San Francisco call., 1898-05-26
SAILED TO MEET THE SPANISH FOE

the cheering soldiers on the big ships.
 The first visit was paid to the City of Peking. The tug ran close along men of the First California crowded to catch the news and talk to their visi- tors from the shore. Cheers were given for Colonel. Smith, Lieutenant Colonel Duboce and the jors of the respective battalionS.
 The next .all made was on the steam ship Australia, where men of the Four teenth Lifted States Infantry and Ore gon Volunteers responded to the greet ings of the officers on board the Mark ham. Lieutenant Cloman, U. S. A, commissary of subsistence, was singled out for an ovation. He ca:--e to the rail and received three cheers from his fel- low soldiers on the tug. Cheers were likewise given for tke Oregon boys, for the regulars and Captain Geary. The tug then steamed alongside the City of Sydney and cheered the brave men aboard of that ship. The band played the Star Spangled Banner" ''Ameri- ca" "Auld Lang Syne" and Red, White and Blue"
 Meanwhile the fleet of visiting tugs and steamers was constantly increas- ing In number until the ships preparing to sail for the Orient were surrounded by saluting craft. The music of count less bands the noise of numerous whistles, the shouting and cheering, to- gether with the responsive voices from the ships, made such a volume of sound that individual greetings could not be distinguished from the chorus of salu- tation.
 The man at the wheel on the Mark ham had his eye on the anchor of the Peking and exclaimed to his companion holding the whistle cord:
 When you see the ring of the an chor blow the whistle for all that's out" Presently some one remarked There goes the blue peter" and short ly the anchor ring came above the water. This was the signal for turn ing loose all the whistles on the waters of the bay and the land of the penin- sula. Instantly tugs made haste to get in line for the start toward the Golden Gate. The Peking, released from her moorings, drifted a half ships length, and then the stately vessel set her course for the sea and soon acquired speedy headway.
 The superb steamship Australia gave the flagship a chance to get fair start before giving an exhibition of her own speed. The style and go displayed by the Australia before the salutes of AIcatraz had been counted convinced the spectators that she could easily lead the fleet to Manila The City of Sydney came along in good form but did not give an exhibition of fast run ming for the pleasure of onlookers.
 The State tug Governor Merkham in tended to sail close to the flagship and fire a salute in honor of the flag at close quarters, but the excursion steam CT Ukiah cut in, and the salute had to be fired at longer distance than the adjutant-g general had estimated The volunteers aboard the Picking respond ed to the salute with prolonged cheers Hardly had the smoke of the Mark hams guns vanished when Alcatraz paid a booming compliment of eleven guns to the outgoing fleet. Cheer after cheer from the men aboard the Peking acknowledged the compliment from the picturesque island battery.
 When Fort Point was reached the escorting tugs and steamers, finding the pace of the fleet too fast for small craft, came about and sailed for the nearest home port.
 And so, as the sun was declining on beautiful day in May, the first column of American soldiers for war in the Orient sailed through the Golden Gate
 HUGH NJ BURKE.