The San Francisco call., 1899-08-27
SOLDIER BOYS
BANQUETED

II the grand nave OF the ferry building
last night the gallant volunteers Of the
First California Regiment and the two
batteries, B and D, Of the California
Heavy Artillery. were banqueted by the
people OF San Francisco. The feast was
fitting climax TO the brilliant and eX-
citing demonstrations in honor OF the re-
turning heroes which have come thick
and fast for the last four days and
marked the close of the season Of festiv-
ity and JOY such as was never before seen
on the Pacific Coast.
Sixteen hundred veterans sat at the long
tables arranged in parallel rows almost
the entire length Of the great corridor.
and partOOk OF the good things provided
in generous quantities for their deleCta-
ton, listened, flushed and paIpably en-
barraSSed. 10 the euIOSlSUc words OF
praise that flowed in eloquent phrases
from the lips OF the seemingly inspired
orators and did the best they could in re-
turn by cheering at every opportunity.
In the center Of the building. al the head
OF the grand stairway, the tables were ar
ranged in a hollow square, and around
these were seated the officers OF the regl-
ment the invited guests to the number OF
forty and the citizens executive commit
tee. which had the general supervision OF
the entire celebration. The full list of in
vited guests. some Of whom were not pres
ent, however, is as follows:
Major General Shafter and aids Governor
and adjutant general. Major General Dickin-
son and Colonel ClUff. Brigadier General War
field and Lieutenant Colonel Gfesting Briga-
der General Muller and assistant adjutant
ststalt adiutant general. Colonel Mccoy
and adjutant, Admiral Kautz and aid
S5ct4,v3 Mrs. John F. NerTfII president san
Francisco Red Cross Society; Professor c. W
Moores. president Relatives Association; Alex
anter L Badt. secretary; Grand Marshal L.
Aid y. ". Morsenstern. Senator George c.
Perkins Congressman Julius Kahn. Congress
z fT-fa
Harb1r Commissioner Paris Kilburn, HarbOr
Commissioner p. J. Harvey. Harbor Commis-
commodore; William D. English. Harbor Com
Iuitrse. Howard q. Holmes Harbor Commit
Mayor Eaton, Los Angeles. Captain Jacobson
O. The German cruiser Cfeier and aids, Lieuten-
eHt ComnaIaer hughes ana aid ot the Z, ;;
;. 6-s-on. Hon- W W. AoTro". chairman oI
the reception committee: Mayor Phelan and
Messrs- Martin. De Young, Lawrence Dohr-
mann and McPlse OF the executive committee
Il was half an hour after midnight when
the blare OF trUmpets in the street below
announced 10 the waiting throng Of spec
ratOrs on the ferry building that the sol
CIeTs were coming at last. Ihey marched IN
with bUgles blowing and drums beating and
took their seats at the tables. which were
loaded down with edibles and lavishly
decorated with flowers. The officers came
next, and as soon as they had taken the
places assigned them the current was
turned on and the thousand red, white
and blue electric bulbs that lined the
arChed roof in rows flashed into brilliant
nglL. winch caused an Involuntary cheer
10 arise from the soldiers which was re-
peated with redOubled energy when they
saw at either end OF the nave welcoming
words blazing. down al them through red
lamps charged with electricity.
Then a band OF twenty-five pieces
perChed on a stand at the lower end Of the
grand nave struck up America and the
cheering was again renewed. The boys
Cheered everything and every ybody, tnclud-
ing the city. the State. the Citizens
Executive Committee. the ladies Of the
Red Cross, the army and the navy. And
then they fell to and tackled the chicken
and turkey that had grown cold waiting
Tor them 70 come. It was well on toward
morning when the speech making begun
and for that reason the speeches were
somewhat Curtailed.
Mayor Phelan made the opening ad-
dress. warmly welcoming the volunteers
back 70 the city and State and compli-
menting them in eloquent and appropriate
language on their fine, untarnished rec
brief response in behalf Of the volunteers
and others followed in rapid succession
each vOiCing his sentiments in a few
words that told volumes.
L was we'll on toward daylight when
the last toast was drunk and the last
speech made. and then, as the sweet
strains Of Home. Sweet Home" fOated
through the building the gathering broke
up and the end Of the official programme
arranged for the reception TO the vOun-
teers of whom California is so Justly
proud. had been reached. San Francisco
has done full honor to the gallant veter-
ans in a manner betting her station and
according TO their worth as measured by