The San Francisco call., 1899-08-25
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the news; and fruit disappeared like the
festive June bug before the rapacious
turkey gObbler. Some one remarked to
grlmy private, who was losing his race
in an immense peach, on the dangers OF
stomach trouble. Never fear, replied
the half-dressed soldier, nothing grown
on California land viii hurt us
AS soon as the mists of night COM
menced to fade all hands turned to and
watched for the first glimpse OF land.
At last it became light enough for the
outline of the coast to appear; ana wren
the Marin County hills daWned fresh and
fair on the vision of the soldiers a shout
arose that seemed TO rend the mists apart
as though 10 allow the day TO more
quickly approach and afford TO the eyes
Of the wanderers an unObStTucted view
Of their own fatherland. With the dawn
Ing he visitors commenced 10 arrive.
They came out OF the entrance Of the
harbor in every available sort of a craft:
Anything that would float was pressed
breakfast Of fruit bread and coffee. The
regular army rations were thrown over
board to the gulls. They We're too near
home 70 relish canned beef All preFa-
ratioas for going ashore had been com
Dletcd days before. They had com
menced the day they left Manila and
circled round and round the big ship the
troops. crowding the deck and rigging,
gave themselves up TO the ecstacy OF
their homecoming. Campaigning, with
all its hardships and privatiOns, was at
an END. Grim visaged war had sm0othed
his wrinkied front. and the lads who had
carried the old grizzly TO victory on many
a hard-fought field. abandoning all else,
turned themselves loose to Caper TO the
music Of their sweetheartS voices. Away
above the regimental flag fiOated from the
masthead where it had been hoisted 70
welcome the first ray Of sunlight while
the band played the national hymn and
al stood with uncovered head 10 Watch
on deck all was mirth and laughter. The
volunteers work was al an end ana happl-
ness reigned supreme.
up her anchor and started slowly and ma
jestiCally toward the harbor, whose en-
trance was already gay with bunting
floating from the hundreds OF craft OF all
sorts and sizes. which were coming out
10 meet and escort her in. Meeting e
Sherman at point opposite the 1 Il
House the long line of gaily decorated
yachts ard steamers CiTCled around ana
around her their bands playing inspiring
airs and their thousands OF passengers
waving flags and handkerchiefs ana
shouting q welcome that was truly royal.
The boys remained silent They Just
looked on as though stunned by an oVa-
tion which has probably never before peen
cQualed in the entire history OF their
also was silent. I also was stunned.
Not by the great acclaim; not by the TOOL
ing whistles, booming guns or cheering
hundreds of thousands. Misfortune hdd
benumbed me. l was prisoner on TINS
gala daV. Once inside the gate, Jne uOC-
Tor came on board. He removed the quar-
antfne upon the ship and put an extra one
on Honig Britt and myself. 1t took me
shape Of a special guard for each one OIL
US I told mine that / had been soldier,
and asked him if he would take my parole.
He said that whatever | had been, L was
now a reporter and he would not. This
answer increased my misery hundred
fold by wounding my professional pride.
There is some excuse for him, however.
He was a stranger to me and may have
imagined I represented another paper.
once inside the Heads and through with
the doctor the big ship proceeded up the
bav escorted by everything that could
be made 10 float. her progress past the
wharves signaled by everything that could
be made to speak a welcome, from
steam whistle to flute, from a brass
hand to a gazoo, from cannon to Il
pOpgun. The city had emptied itself on
fle bav and along the front, and it seemed
to US on the transport that there was not
every man. woman and child in that
mighty throng was doing his or her best
10 add to the general clamor.
All this time the troops were quiet.
Their awe had been overcome. but they
had been ordered TO bear themselves with
dignity. and they Obeyed the order 20 the
letter That is, they obeyed it until the
vessel arrived off Folsom street and
dropped her anchor.
Following the anchors splash a dead
silence fell upon the entire ships com