The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1908-05-05
CROWDS SILENT IN
PATHETIC FAREWELL
Fleet Steams Out of Monterey
HarbOr, While People
ThrOng Piers
mime Eyes Have Seem" Says
Veteran as Armada Fades
Into Haze

sPECIAL DISPATCH "a THE {

SELl4AL DISPATCH TO THE CALL
MONTEREY. May Monterey has
seen the feet come and go and as the
welcome was gladstone. so was the
departure pathetic. For months the
town has thought Of the fleet. talked
OF the feet and waited for the fleet.
II was the great event OF the decade
and now il has come and gone and is
nothing but q historic memory.
To those Of the cities the arrival
and departure Of the war vessels,
though momentous, is not necessarily
an event Of all engrossing Importance.
Things are soon forgotten in the roar
and excitement Of the money mart. IN
the glamor and dash of urban life;. buI
IN this little town. moving along in
the easy tenor OF historic Quaintness.
the coming Of the feet meant some
thing more than the sight of white
hulks outlined against the deep blue
Of the sky and sea, more than the
spectacular crash of guns
MEANS QUICKENED LIFE
It meant the awakening life
brought by 10000 men telling strange
tale sof the wonderful world outside.
e sudden glimpse into a paradise of
brilliant uniforms and beautiful women
and. above all, stirring Of the wells
OF patriotism seldom experienced It
IS difficult 70 understand this spon-
raneous Outburst OF love and pride for
country and flag such as swung Mon
tcrey 10 the very skies in the last few
days.
! have seen a city mob read the news
OF glorious victory; I have seen a vast
audience stampede itself into a furore
at the words OF a great speaker. but
never before cid I so well understand
the greatest depths OF American pa
triotism as when I observed the crowds
on Monterey pier watching the ships
silently gliding out 10 sea.
MINE EYES HAVE SEEN,
Mine eyes have seen the glory of
the Lord" murmured an aged veteran
OF the Grand Army of the Republic. He
raised q shaking, withered hand in
salute as old glory dipped its farewell
His words expressed the sentiment.
They had seen. What was before a
vague understanding had become
reality. Theirs was the JOY Of know
ing.
The vessels weighed anchor at 2-3o
o'clock Long before that time the town
poured itself along The beach and TO the
ends OF the pier awaiting their de-
parture. Il was a silent crowd and the
only sound which broke the quiet Of
the afternoon was the tinkle Of a piano
played by q young woman on the piazza
OF the boat club.
Near her was group OF girls gaz-
~
What the visit Of the navy had meant
10 them they alone knew. The monot-
ony OF their lives had been broken by
one brief whiri Of grandeur. by one glo-
riOusly intoxicating moment of life in
ali its joyOusness.
The deet had come in its brilliancy
OF golden braid and enthusiastic Off
GERS. with fetes and attention and
courtesies. perhaps also with those
whispered words which every naval
man" speaks. and now Il was going.
Probably never again would there be
such g spectacle, never again such q
bail 81 Monterey.
set SAIL SAY FLAGS
From the nlizzenmast Of the Alabama
there suddenly futtered a group Of
flags ana almost al the same instant
the ships began 10 glide through the
quiet waters. When YOU go sailing
over the sea-" the girl at the piano
hammered out the refrain and the
silence IN the crowd became the more
intense
a lonely whistle from factory on
shore shrieked dismal goodby. The
Illinois swung shoreward TO take up
its position in the rear Of the flagship.
Honey boy. don't you sigh. I'll be
waiting. the girl al the piano con-
tinued the popular air.
Alas. il was the girls who were
signing. The sailors on board the out
going ships had become accustomed TO
dances and balls and were anticipating
. the greeting at san Francisco. The
dismal whistle ashore called once
more and then repeatedly sent its
voice over the waters. petulantly de-
handing an answer from the warships.
II was in vain.
IN SILENT DIGNITY
IN dignity and in silence the eight
moved out to sea, one long line Of
white and black standing out vivid and
grim on the sunlit water. AS the
onlookers watched they disappeared
into the haze. The girl at the plano
ceased 10 play and looked earnestly
after the retreating specks. Monte
reg turned homeward from the de-
serted harbor to again resume the life
IL knew before il woke last Friday
morning and found the white ships at
It's gates.
The admiraTs tender of the. Yank-
ton alone remained behind. It will
wait In the hsrbor until Admiral Evans
arrival and viii set out 10 join the fleet
Immediately after he steps on board
Just prior to leaving Monterey Ad-
miral Sperry spoke in q highly eulogis-
tic strain Of Admiral Evans. The coun-
try said he. does not know nor I'M
oerstano Admiral Evans intense devo-
ton 70 the service we VINO nave DeeH
with him before have had ii seriously
impressed upon US"
WILL BE IN PARADE
As many Of the officers at the Mon
terey preside as can obtain leaves
Of absence viii go TO San Francisco to
participate in the festivities there. Five
companies Of the Twenty second infan-
Try stationed here viii join the remain
der Al the regiment at Fort Mcdowell
Tuesday and the entire command will
take part IN the parade.
Crowds Of visitors who attended the
festivities al Monterey left on the az
ternoon train for Santa Cruz with the
intention Of aiding IN the welcome
there and ultimately going with the
feet 10 San Francisco.
BRUTALLY BEATS HORSE
Harry Ryan. driver for a liquor firm
in. Golden Gate avenue, was arrested