The Forrest City times., 1898-05-27
JOURNEY 0F CONQUEST.
The First of the Troops to Embark for the Military Occupation
 of the Philippines.
FAREWELL TO THE FIRST CALIFORNIA.
A Demonstration by tho People of San Francisco that VIII Long be Remem- bered by the Departing Soldiers-Thou- sands Followed the Regiment to the Point of Emba rkatiOn.


 sands Followed the Regiment to the
 Point of Embarkation.
 SAN FRANCISCO. May 24.-California said good-by to her first regiment of volunteers as they marched faily forth from the Preside to start on their long journey to Manila. The men left camp at eight o'clock and marched to the Pacific Mail dock, where the big steam CT City of Picking lay ready for them By noon the soldiers were all on board. and before night everything had been slowed and all was in readiness for their departure.
 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 Presidio 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 point of embarkment.
 It had been announced that camp would be struck at eight o'clock in the morning, and long before that hour there were thousands of citizens at Presidio to see the sight. Promptly at seven o'clock the bugle sounded and all the tents went down together. Then for an hour the soldiers were busily engaged in rolling them up and load ing them on trucks. At eight o'clock the regiment was formed into line and. headed by it's band, marched out through the big stone gates of the Presidio and the journey of conquest had commenced.
 At VanNess avenue, the entire DO. lice force of San Francisco was in wait ing, and fell in ahead of the soldiers. The latter were in heavy marching or der, carrying blanket rolls and loaded knapsacks on their backs The men marched along at a swinging gait, and as they turned into the broad thorough fare of VanNess avenue, they pre- sented splendid and thoroughly sol dierly 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 resi- dence district on it's way down town, the crowd grew thicker and thicker. There was one continouous roar of cheers, flags were waved frantically, and people along the line, as they rec ognized some friend among the sol. diers' rushed out and grasped him by the hand to say good-by.
 When Market street, the main busi. ness thoroughfare. was reached the crowd was enormous. People on their way to work fingered to see the sol dlers pass. The cheering of the crowd grew in volume, and nothing like the sight on Market street was ever seen nere before. Many weeping women followed along after the soldiers as though loath to leave them out of their sight, and men were not ashamed to show their emotion.
 AS the marching men neared the wa ter front, bombs were fired, steam whistles blown and every device imag- inaole for making a noise was put into iuil operation. The jam at the dock was something terrific. In vain the police and the mounted signal corps attempted to keep the crowd back. They would not be denied and rushed onto the dock in the wake of the sol diers
 Arrived at the dock, the volunteers were marched on board the transport without delay. It took considable tune for each man to be consigned to ms quarters, but this task was accom- pnshed with but very little confusion. after the soldiers were once on board the ship the police with difficulty cieared the dock and gates were shut. Tuesday the Second regiment of Ore goh volunteers, one battalion of the rourteenth infantry, United States regulars, and detachment of Cali iornia heavy artillery will board the steamship City of Sydney, and it is prooaole that the Picking and Sidney VII depart in company as soon as sup pues are taken on board.
 me organization of the second ex- Pedition to the Philippines will not be ueternined until the arrival of Gen. wesley Merritt, who is in command of 'he whole expedition, and who will ieaeh this city at the end of the week.
 The steamer Zealandia is due to ar- .i'e here from Honolulu to-day. The "ork Of unloading her cargo will be rushed and the vessel will probably be turned over to the government Thurs uay night, and the work of transform ;;ng her into troop ship will commence immediately.
 ihe steamer China is expected to ar .se rom the orient on Sunday. She ~ in De ready for use as a transport by 'ne end of the following week
 Aoout eight more large steamers will s required to transport the necessary soiulers to Manila, but no more vessels ase been chartered, though number
 une steamers are available.