The San Francisco call., 1899-08-25

Every yacht and tug contributed its quota
and the vast multitude on the piers were
in ecStacieS of delight.
When the torch was applied TO the bar
rels of tar and other highly infammable
material which formed the cargo of the
old hulk representing the destruction of
Spanish warship, an involuntary cheer
burst from 10000 throats that must have
been heard on the other side of the bay.
The blazing hulk burned for an hour or
more and was plainly visible all along the
water front and from every point of van
tage in the city.
slowly moving tugs and quickly darting
launches was extremely beautiful and full
of action: and the dim outlines of yachts
at anchor a short distance away and an
occasional ferry steamer vending its way
toward its slip formed appropriate ad-
juncts.
The view from the water craft looking
landward was no less entrancing. The
fiery ferry tower was a sort of center
piece around which were grouped lesser
llluminations Strings of colored lanterns
suspended from the pier stringers shone
out over the water like a blazing ruffie
on the city's skirt. Above them the big
are lights on the docks and suspended
over the streets beyond glowered through
the misty atmosphere, while the many
private illuminations along East street
and other sections of the front were
dimly visible. Further back and higher
up in the city an occasional rocket cut q
red streak across the sky.
To the volunteers on the transport the
display in their honor was grand beyond
their power to describe. They laughed
and cheered and exchanged jokes with the
passengers on the excursion boats as they
passed and repassed the transports. but
the defiant ring of the warrior was not
perceptible in their voices. They were
subdued by the intensity of their feelings,
and seemed almost overcome at the mag
nitude and evident sincerity of the well
come they found awaiting them. They
gave plenty of evidence of how thorough
ly they enjoyed the demonstration in their
honor, but their manner was similar to
that of a long-lost child being restored to
his parents and almost overcome by his
emotions.
But the night carnival on the bay was
over a last, and with a parting toot and
cheer for the soldier boys on the trans
port the little fleet of steam craft turned
its prOws shoreward and discharged its
precious cargoes. the docks were gradu-
ally deserted, and the tired but happy
multitude wended its way homeward.
During the evening concert arranged
by the Harbor Commissioners was given
by the band from the training ship Pen
sacola in the grand nave of the ferry
building 1t was enjoyed by thousands
who had been able TO obtain but a
meager and unsatisfactory view of the
demonstration on the water. All the col
ored electric lights which constitute the
interior decoration of the building were
admiration from the visiting throngs.
The beautiful effect of the illumination
of the exterior of the building has been
the subject of a great many we'll deserved
compliments The only display in the city
that will at all compare with it in brill
liancy is the magnificent spectacle pre-
sented by the City Hall with its hundreds
of electric lights encircling its dome and
outlining its great pillars.
Next to those, the display that has been
voted the most beautiful is the electrical
illumination Of the Hearst building at the
corner of Market and Third streets. Mrs
Phebe Hearst has been lavish in her eX-
penditure to secure brilliant and artistic
effect and she succeeded. Long ropes of
electric lights in red. white and blue are
extending from the roof to the first story.
Shields with the names of the battles in