The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1899-09-03
.HE Native Son. and Nat

@7HE Native Sons and Native
Daughters entertained the brave
soldier boys of the First California
Regiment and the California
Heavy Artillery last night at a BAN
ouet in the grand nave of the ferry build
ing and never was a feast more thor
oughly enjoyed or more appreciated than
that, which was in all probability the last
that the gallant volunteers OF the Golden
West will partake of as a body for many.
many months TO come. The banquet was
a great undertaking, and its unqualified
success was entirely due to the untiring
efforts of the ladies, assisted by few-of
the sterner sex who were placed on the
committee and allowed TO assume a GER
tain measure of authority because OF their
supposed superior knowledge Of the re-
Quirements of the occasion. The grand
nave is an ideal banquet hall. with but
single fault, and that consists in its lack
of acoustic properties.
This was in a measure overcome by
placing a band at either end but, IN
fortunately, the speeches could be heard
only by those in the immediate vicinity of
the speakers. This was unfortunate in
that 1t prevented the soldiers from hear
ing all the good things that were said OF
them But if they could not hear they
could see and appreciate as only a soldier
can the substantial part OF the pro-
Just north of the main entrance TO the
grand nave four tables had been arranged
in the form OF hollow square, ana az
these tables were seated the officers OF
the First California, Of the artillery and
such of the invited guests as could be &C
commOdated. The other guests and the
soldiers were seated at long lines or
tables that reached from one end or the
great nave to the other. Excellent music
was furnished by the bands of the Colo
RADIO and Idaho regiments, both Of which
generously volunteered their services.
There was a big crush OF people, tuily
1000, including those at table ana the
hundreds of spectators, being IN the build
ing. The presence of such vast throng
seriously incommoded the work Of the
committee and resulted in more or less
unavoidable confusion. People would per-
sist in getting into the seats reserved for
some one else and others could ind no
seats to get into. Mrs. A; 5. Townsend,
whose open-hearted iberality and grand
work in behalf Of the California Volun-
teers have earned for her the title OF
Mother of the Regiment, was one of
shuttle. George Dryden found her stand,
ing with her friend, Miss Rattigan, off
to one side, and quickly made place for
them al a table, where If they could not
hear the speeches they could at least see
the soldier boys enjoy themselves.
Among the invited guests who failed to
appear were the Governor and Major Gen.
eral Shafter. The latter was in Del Monte.
but no one knew where the Governor WAS.
Frank H. Mills introduced Daniel A;
Ryan as toastmaster, and the latter called
First California Regiment, for prayer,
at the conclusion Of which the work Of
demolishing the chicken fricasse and other
appetizing dishes began.
The speechmaking did not begin until
nearly $50, but once started there was no
hitch in the programme. POSTMASTER
Ryan started the ball rolling with a short
in which, among other things, he
said:
'.The California volunteers constitute
the first army in the history of the United
States to go to a foreign territory for the
purpose of acquiring new possessions, and
call upon the people of California TO
welcome these brave sons of California
back to their country and their homes"
The Governor was down on the pro-
gramme to respond to the State of Cali
fornia,' but as he was not present and
sent no representative Chief Justice
Beatty was called upon to speak to the
sentiment, which he did briefly.
The First Regiment California Volun-
teers" was the toast assigned to Colonel
Duboce who said:
1T devolves upon me to thank you on
behalf of the California Volunteers for
this very handsome reception. 1t hardly
becomes me to say anything about the
California regiment after all youhave done
TO show your appreciation for what the