The San Francisco call., 1908-05-07
BIG SHIPS CLEAN
IN GOWNS OF GOLD
Wonderfully Beautiful Illumina=
ton of Fleet Gives Impress
sion of Fairyland
Flashing Searchlights Attract
Tens of Thousands to Bay
Front at Night

! AS though in response to the waving
wand of some elfn green, the stately
ships of the fleet shed their robes OF
/ white last night and appeared suddenly
! resplendent in gowns of gold.
In another instant they had joined
in mad dance of light, sending great
white beams far into the skies, out
across the water and over the city
1t was dizzy whirl of darting rays
that delighted the eye and soothed the
senses.
For half an hour it continued, and
as the powerful lenses penetrated the
mist laden clouds they painted rain
bows of the night in the arches of the
heavens.
Gradually the mist lowered and the
Kaleidoscope colors melted into sort
pink. 1t was a scene of enchanting
1 beauty that fired the imagination. Chill
dren, as they gazed. asked their moth
ers if that was where the fairies
played.
The entrance of the fleet during the
day was a demonstration of might. a
moving exemplar of power. AT night,
as it stretched it's length from the
ferry toward Hunters point, brilliant
with myriad of glowing incandes-
cents, it stood for art. for romance and
for poetry The rhythm of its soft
| tOicQ HOle IOunQ ei cCllO III IAiC oO'iS .
that sang In the hearts on shore
| AS the hands of the big clock on the
ferry tower reached s. 27 battleShips
and cruisers were suddenly outlined In
golden bulbs against the night 1t
was as though it had been done by a
single hand at single stroke. A long
"Ahi' was whispered on the hills, and
ere 1t had died away the half hundred
searchlights had begun their brilliant
display. Straight up into the sky the
shafts were sent, and then they swept
lower and lower until they dazzled the
eyes on shore and traced silver paths
upon the waters of the bay.
AT times the big lights We're trained
on the buildings of the city, again or
the peaks and then upon the sea. They
crossed and where they met their
united brilliance Illuminated the scene
| beyond the power of the strong rays
of the SUM- They outlined broad
stretches of white across the sky until
the gathering fog blocked their paths
After half an hour of the riot of light
the display~came to an end, the ships
remaining silent and at rest in their
golden dress. Far into the night the
lights continued to shine, while thou
sands gazed in admiration from the
cities about the bay.
| The wharves were lined with people
! WHO pressed IOTWdIQ " 7tLt COSC vi
the piers to enjoy the scene. Fifty
thousand persons gathered on the
water front while the hills held as
many more. Mob hill, in the vicinity
of the Fairmont. was the scene OF
greatest activity, where the opening
ball of the festivities was an addition
fal attraction.
T. SearchHghts from the hig hbutldings
lof the city flashed responses to the
Vessels at anchor in the bay. The st
Francis hotel outlined in alternate
Nights <of red, white and blue, played
a powerful beam upon the bay The
| tall Whittell building. every window
rejecting a bright light, sent a CHEEKY
/ lwelcome to the bluejackets Of the fleet
| The Call building glowed with the
same greeting.
I While thousands looked from the
| hills other thousands paraded the
streets and made carnival of the oc-
casion. Band concerts In the squares
and special window displays in the
! shops gave the city the same gay
| spirit of animation as 1t knew on fes-
tive occasions of yore. In fact. San
Francisco looked more like itself last
night than it has since-well, in long
time.