The San Francisco call., 1904-04-29
Noisy Whistles
Sound Their
Welcome.
Multitude
Cheers From
Vessels.

! COlOI " the event. anu dO lAAC 0SCN-
structure dipped its body to the water
every knee was bowed as the proud
swell heaved and surged among the
craft congregated to bid her welcome.
One quick shot from the battleship
Ohio was the signal for the aquatic as
sembly to break loose with their sirens,
! whistles, trumpets, megaphones and
every known device for producing
sound. Flags by the thousands waved
in the air, cheer upon cheer mingled
with the din, and as the California set
tied herself in the calm waters of the
bay she seemed to accept the welcome
as clearly due her majestic beauty.
Long before the hour set for starting
the latest addition to the navy on her
way to fame and glory every cOnceiv-
able craft had taken position outside
the danger line, and with anticipation
their human cargOeS awaited the great
event. Anchors were out, lines were
fastened around piles, while some Of
the larger craft rode upon the flood
tide with tenders out port and star
board, ready to ride the great swell
produced by the coming Of the Califor-
mia.
Amid the shrek Of whistles, the roar
of guns and the cheers Of thousands OF
human voices the ship took the water.
and as her tightly locked rudder cut
the bay for the first time a swell went
forth that lifted every craft from its
position, snapped shore lines as though
they were string. dragged anchors and
tumbled about the fleet afiOat as though
IT were so much cork.
Not one accident occurred on the bay,
though the swell produced by the maid
en- dip of the cruiser was excessive and
craft upon craft was packed along the
line as tight as the proyerbial sardines
in a box.
EXCURSIONISTS HAVE VIEW.
Thousands of people took advantage
of the excursion boats to get a close
view Of the event. The ferry-boatS
Piedmont, San Pablo and Amador were
loaded to the guards with human be-
ings. The stern wheeler H. j. Corcoran
came down from Vallejo with Native
Sons allow and aloft. The steamer Car
oline, bedecked with flags. had hun
dreds of excursionists' aboard, as did
the Chilkat the A. H. Payson, the Re
lance. Sea Fox. Sea Rover. Dauntless,
Ada Warren. Water Nymph, Governor
Irwin, Priscilla, Helen S of Berkeley,
General Frisbie. MiIlen Griffin. Union.
Defiance, Captain Weber, Pomo and
scores of other minor craft. The Gov
ernment tug Slocum, upon which the
Governor and other officials came down
to the dock and secured a position on
the danger line, was one of the first
crafts to receive the swell created on
the bosom of the bay by the birth OF
the California. The Governor Mark
ham, with the Harbor Commissioners
and few friends aboard, also had a
position along the line.
AS the new cruiser yielded to her an
chors and came to a floating standstill
small craft shot to her side and enthu-
siastie young America placed his hands
along her steel sides and fingered the
plates with admiration. Some enthu-
cfo CT aIa kk,o%
scratched their names upon the red coat
of paint.
From the deck of The Call launch
Meteor the scene was one to instif
patriotism in the heart of every human
being. To the east of the dock from
which the California slid without a
hitch the battleship Ohio lay. That
it was ship could only be told by the
long noses of her forward guns, for
every inch of available space was oc-
cupied by human beings.
The lighthouses adjacent to the dry
docks were crowded to their utmost
with men, women and children
anxious to see the California enter the
water. The floating drydocks to the
west where some Of the craft were
moored, were seething masses Of hu-
mantiy, and with one voice a cheer
rent the air as the California came
down the ways and sprang into the
the pride of the modern navy. Bands
played national airs while the steam
ers and launches footed Jig time with
their whistles and sirens and the
cruiser California rode peacefully at
anchor.
POLICE ON GUARD.
Prior to the cracking of the bottle
of California wine acrss the bow and
the knocking of stays from under her
keel, harbor police patrolled the danger
line with their launches and kept back
the crowd of boats and steamers. Red
flags along the piles showed just how
far any craft might come, yet some
ventured farther inside than the
minions of the law thought safe. In
such cases the trespassers were reIe-
gated to the rear or at least snugly
along the line of demarkation.
From Berkeley came the little launch
Helen S with a happy party Of young
folk bedecked with flags and their
shrill voices in highest pitch As the
first tremor of the ship became ap-
parent up went their voices in one
wild shrek, which was onI--- drowned
by the continued toot of whistles and
boom of guns. Fishing sloops and
their crimson sweatered occupants
maneuvered and with the forethought
obtained from experience kept bows
headed for the swell that was bound
to follow the slide of the cruiser. The
young ladies, who were perched on the
roof of the cabin aboard the Helen s.
frantically clutched their companions
any everything else upon which they
could make hold. 1t was the same
aboard every other craft in the harbor
! hold on tight and bend the knee, with
the swell coming from the first dip
of the cruiser which bears the name
of the State of the Golden West.
Yacht clubs were out in force with
all their bunting flying and their col
ors at the peak. Signal cannons were
loaded and extra cartridges were at
hand to insert the second after the
| first shot of welcome mingled it's crack
with the din. Round after round
belched forth and the patriotism of the
/ yacht clubs of California portrayed
itself in noise and powder smoke.
MANY PICTURES TAKEN.
1t is said photography tells the
/ truth. If ever misstatement is made
regarding the optical comprehension
, of the doings of yesterday. prior to
and subsequent to the cruiser Cali
| f0rnia f1xinG fn