The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1899-08-25
WELCOMED THEM HOME
California Does the Right Thing
by Her Volunteers.
MAGNIFICENT SPECTACLE
The Bay Alive With Craft Gailv
Decked Out With Flags and
Bunting-How the Sherman
Was Escorted to Town.

front to-day was the most attractive
portion of San Francisco. 1t was liter
ally black with people from one end to
the other. Every pier was crowded
with excited people and Telegraph Hill,
which commands a magnificent view of
the Golden Gate and the harbor, was
crowded with spectators anxious to
catch glimpse of the Sherman as she
| neared the harbor. All eyes seemed to
be turned westward. From every quar-
ter of the bay, yachts, launches, tugs
and bay craft of all descriptions made
| their way through the water, all con-
Verging towards one point, the Sher-
man.
The order for the tug boats and bay
steamers to leave their positions was
issued by Commodore Spreckels short
ly after noon, and one by one they
could be seen moving from their docks,
their proWS turned toward the Golden
Gate. The pleasure craft were crowded
Telescopes, field glasses and cameras
and the inevitable flag seemed to be
the burden of the people. AS the fleet
became greater by the addition of each
new boat the commanders became eau
tlous and the wonted speed of the YES
sells was cut down to a tantalizing gait.
The boats seemed to jostle one another
and on more than one occasion it ap-
peared to the watchers on shore that
collisions We're imminent. Their hu-
man cargoes all gathered on the shore
side of the vessels and the slant of the
vessels toward that side caused some
alarm. but fortunately there We're no
accidents of any moment. The boats
took their appointed positions as if by
magic. Everything was done so
smoothly and with so little apparent
effort, that it looked as if the fleet had
been schooled to the perfection point,
but in reality the fleet had no more
instruction than that contained in the
printed circulars issued to the COM
manders of the vessels participating.
The noise created by the steam sirens,
calliopes, the ringing of bells and can
non drowned all other noises incident
to the occasion. The passage of the
welcoming fleet down the bay toward
the ocean seemed for the moment to
appease the watchers on shore, but
suddenly eyes more keen than others
sighted the Sherman and an escort of
tugs nearing the harbor, and then all
interest in the gaily decorated yachts
was for the time lost. Every face was
turned toward the ocean, Nearer and
nearer the big white steamer came and
closer and closer the two fleets came
together. The strings of yachts and
tugs reached the turning point opposite
the fort first and took up their places
leaving broad ribbon of water be-
tween the lines for the Sherman to pass
through to the head of the pageant
AS the Sherman approached the Gate
the land batteries belched forth in
national salute and the bay steamers
took up the signal with their sirens
Pandemonium reigned. Nearer and
nearer came the welcome vessel and
last pushed her PROV into the space
left for her and such a scene occurred
as has never been seen on this coast
before. Flags dipped. flags were waved,
whistles screamed, cannon We're fired,
trumpets We're blown and megaphoneS
and magic glasses were turned on the
delighted soldiers who crowded the rail-
ing of the great steamer. The signal
was given to the fleet of yachts and
tugs to get under Roadway just in time
for them to fall into the wake of the
transport, which of course was given
the place of honor.
Slowly the fleet moved along with the
transport. 1t seemed as If every float
ing thing on the bay had been pressed
into service. The fleet gathered
strength in numbers as it arrived well
inside the bay. 1t was a grand sight
and one never to be forgotten. The
gallant Californans on the transport
seemed wild with delight over their re-
ception. They cheered and cheered,
waved flags and handkerchiefs and caps
and even their coats in their excite
ment. AS the fleet swept past the sea-
wall the din became more and more
deafening and the waving of flags more
frantic. The people We're mad, but
never before have Californians had the
opportunity to welcome their kin from
the wars.
If they really lost control of them
selves for the time excuses are plenti-
full, but under all this great feeling of
gladness are memories, dear to all, of
those poor brave fellows who have
given up their lives and their all for
the defense of their flag. The realiza-
ton of their loss has not been lost for
all time: 1t is but buried under the ava
lanche of joy which to-day greets the
brave sons who have been spared to re-
turn to their homes to once more take
up the duties of domestic life where
they were cut short by the call of
their country for their aid.
AS the fleet neared the transport
dock, the Iowa let go her batteries and
the curling smoke as 1t left the cannon
mouth presented a sight which few of
the watchers on land and water had
ever seen before. Just before the an
Choir of the Sherman was dropped, Com
modore Spreckles gave the signal for
the escort to dispense, and the first de- |
tail of the days celebration was over. |
The Sherman will lay off the trans |
port tonight and tomorrow morning |
she will be moved into her position |
alongside the pier and the boys will be |
taken ashore for breakfast, after which |
they will march to the Preside, where |
they will be given a furlough of "a |
hours.