The San Francisco call., 1899-08-25
The EScoRTA
OEA>A c tT 8

her way majestically up the bay.
Thousands upon thousands of spectators
Russian hills, while other upestimated
thousands crowded the terraced slopes of
the heights, .occqpyy.ing. every point . OF OF
shore down to the waters edge, and
stretching from Folsom street to the
Cliff House.
Every vacant plat Of ground that af-
forded a view of the bay was pre-empted
hours before the transport left her an
| chorage outside the Heads, the housetops
alone being reserved for the favored few.
The embankment surrounding the Spring
Valley reservoir on Hyde street Furnished
| an especially desirable view point, ana
every foot of space thereon was utilized,
until the guards in charge were nearly
driven frantic with anxiety lest some of
on, venturesome to the verge of foolhardi-
ness, should slip down the precipitous IN
cline into the deep water at the bottom
of the great tank. Fortunately no serious
the pleasure of the occasion.
The soldiers doing guard duty at Fort
Mason had a trying time of 1t keeping the
crowds from invading the sacred precinct
wherein are located the officers quarters
and the soldiers barracks and the main
fortifcations In spite 30, OF their .brI utmost o
casionally. only to be brought to a sudden
stop by the stentorian command, Halt.
Come back and go the other way.
The Preside reservation swarmed with
citizens. and this condition prevailed
along the beach to the Cliff House and
beyond. Those at the Cliff House were
the first to get a view of the transport
as she headed in through the Golden Gate.
but they missed the brilliant pageant of
the inner harbors none M Of the the reception @ ion
crowd were left. alone, by themselves
and the temporarily neglected seals.
1t was a patient multitude and its pa
of expectant gazing, the big transport
finally entered the bay and was received
| by the myriads of gayly bedecked yachts
and steamers of the reception fleet. The
| bay craft, accompanied by a few ocean
| going steamers as sort of chaperons
steamed out nearly to Fort Point in
man entered the lane thus opened invit-
ingly for her the saluting whistles and
guns began their discordant but exhil-
Then was witnessed one of the prettiest
sights of the day as the parallel lines %
tugs. with their tows, slowly circled
tions, with flags and streamers flying
| from every mast and spar and guns boom
ing incessantly The sirens on land re-
doubled their blasts in seeming en- 1,s eff0rt 70,
| tance from the scene practically denied
| them.
Cheer after. cheer arose from the vast
| throngs on the heights as the reception
fleet once more headed up the bay, proud
| ly escorting the soldier voyagers of whom
going steamers as sort of chaperons,
all CALIFORNIA Is SO justly ,pIouu, anu the
cheering did not cease until the anchors of
the Sherman ratified from her bow as she
came abreast of Folsom-street dock.
Then the crowds made a simultaneous
rush for the cars, and within an hour the
| heights were again deserted, except for
! their everyday residents. II was a great
day for the landlubbers of San Francisco
as we'll as for those who like to sniff the
| salt sea breeZes from the deck of a
steamer or yacht, and the former had the
advantage of position in this instance.
| Viewed from the shore the bay parade
was a grand, unqualified success.