The San Francisco call., 1899-09-24
ALAMEDA BOYS
GET A ROUS|NG
WELCOME HOME
The City Aglow With
Enthusiasm.
NOISE, MUSIC AND LIGHT
Electric Display by the Municipality
Was One Of the Prominent
Features Of the Occa-
sion.

ALAMEDA, Sept 2s-This city extend
ed welcome tonight to the members Of
the First California Regiment whose
homes are in Alameda, and all the town
turned out to do justice to the occasion.
The cheers Of the citizens as the boys
marched through the main streets, es-
corted by Company G, N G. c.. rent the
air. while the glare Of red fire burning
from every housetop and every street cor
ner dimmed the electric lights that
sparkled all over the city, and the bang
Of flreerackers and bombs almost eQualed
the noise from Deweys guns when they
were engaged in reducing the Spanish
fleet at Manila Bay.
The reception was an admirably man
aged affair. There was a spontaneous
outburst of approval from all quarters
when the celebration was suggested, and
the determination to impress upon the
boys that the welcome was sincere and
that the city was really glad that they
were home again from the war per-
vaded the atmosphere of the Encinal City.
Welcome was In the air. The perfume of
the flowers breathed a welcome, and the
citizens went home hoarse from shouting.
The programme consisted of a public
demonstration at the Thompson grounds
and banquet to the soldier boys at Arm
ory Hall.
The parade formed on Park street. The
Alameda concert band led the way, fol-
lowed by the committee, which had been
intrusted by the citizens with arranging
the details of the reception. Next came
Company G, in command of Captain NJ.
w. Simpson, acting as ar escort Of honor
to the returned heroes. The volunteers
TO whom the welcome was extended con-
sisted of the following members of the
First California Regiment: Major Charles
L. Tilden, Captain j. w. Dumbrell, Ser
geants B. Hawks. B. II. Hawks, J. c.
Louis, J. P. Marshall, o. C. Meyer, F. L.
F. A Bordeweli, Rushton Mcconnell, Ed
The march was along Park street to
Central avenue, to High street, to the
Thompson grounds, where the first for
the boys who had worn the blue.
surging mass of humanity filled the
streets through which the procession
soldiers and headed for the Thompson
grounds. The scene there was most pic
turesque. The vast throng gathered be-
meath the tall, spreading cypress trees in
front Of stand erected under a giant
oak, Incandescent lights sparkled from
amid the branches, giving the place, the
huge American flag. worked in electric
lights. blazed far above the speakers
stand sta l., The exercises here were brief but
abounded in outbursts of enthusiasm.
The electric display was one Of the feat
ures of the celebration. 1t was the ctys
donation and was arranged by the city
electrician, G. A. Weise.
AS soon as he could be heard above the
shouting of the wildly glad crowd, Chair
gramme. He said:
No spot in all the world is so dear to the
heart and cherished as home. When war
was declared these boys of ours tore away
from loving arms to answer the call of patri-
otism. They are back to with record of
duty well performed and with the glory of be-
ing honorably discharged from their country's
service. These boys have been wined and dined
since they returned to California's shores, but
1t remains for the people of their own Alameda
to extend the welcome that viii touch their
hearts and bedim their eyes with tears Of Joy
Colonel Charles A. Sumner delivered
the address Of the evening. He spoke as
follows:
every man, woman and small boy OF Alameda
Words are almost an intrusion on this atmos-
phere, SO sensitive with welcoming enthusiasm
Every shot these boys fired. every saber fash
was for country greater than the Roman
Empire and civilization that is the acme
of the age
Star Spangled Banner" a biograph dis
played war scenes that fired the patriotic
crowd and the soldier boys were ordered
to fall in and march to the banquet hall.
Armory Hall was dressed in a gala earh
Of the National colors and the choicest
productions of Alameda's flower gardens
Arches of posies and evergreens were ar
ranged over the banquet tables and from
them blazed incandescent lights covered
with multi colored paper Charles T.
Weller presided as toastmaster The list
of toasts and those who responded fol-
lows; Our Country" Hon. E. w. Mas
Taylor; The Volunteers Major G. T.
Tilden; Our Honored Dead" responded
to with taps, the audience rising and in
silence; our Ut, State" Hon. Joseph r.
During, the progress of the festivities
orchestra.