The San Francisco call., 1909-10-24

The life of San Francisco in all its
gorgeous romance and coloring. since
first Don Gaspar de Portola gazed from
atop the barren sand dunes upon the
smiling waters of the bay. through the
years Of smiles and songs of Spanish
dominance. through days OF gold and
grit Of 4s. TO the latest moment when
Nergilia. queen Of beauty. led her sub
jects in the dance Of folly, was por-
trayed in magnificent pageantry
through the citys streets last night.
The shades of the wonderful past stood
, forth for public gaze The deeds of
daring. the half forgotten achieve
ments, the strange figures from all the
world and back again, who fitted in
startling manner across the pages OF
the citys histOry-all were' gathered
from the days that were and given the
cheers, the shouts and admiration of
their descendants. The very soul OF
the city was barred, and il was but
seemly that the whole should be under
the wondrous witchery Of the white
moon Of California
CITY THAT WAS PASSES
The city that was passed before the
ewes Of the city that is. One thing
the possession Of history lacked. and
that was the achievements of the sons
Of san Francisco today Little need,
however there was for an allegorlcal
float to picture the achievement OF the
last three years. That fact, fresh and
vivid in the minds OF the thousands,
stood forth not in tinsel and glory OF
uafnt and light but in the solidity OF
the lanes Of surrounding buildings, IN
the streets and in the throng.
The pictures followed one another. a
story in every float. a tale in each
quantity clad figure. And it was the
spirit OF san Francisco asserting user
when the bufoons capered around the
characters Of Huntington. Croker and
Stanford as they hammered the last
transcontinentaI railroad spike. ol
when the clowns tumbled a round the
half built mission with its FRANCISCAN
fathers. the spirit which. has never
failed TO mingle gravity and gayety
smiles and tears. work and pleasure
san Francisco passed through Sar
Francisco and san Francisco cheered-
and laughed.
CROWD BAFFLES POLICE
An hour before the procession start
ed the police lines snapped in half .
dozen places along the route Thou
sands upon thousands, banking thf
sidewalks. lowing in solid masses uT
the side streets, pushed. fought-ano
laughed. TIE procession was due Il
start at $50 p m but at that time
Market street from Sixth TO Third was
one immova ble mass Of humanity IT
vain did police bludgeon ly and police
authority yell hoarse command. The
crowd was too great. II took an houl
for the police 10 clear the way and
this only after every mounted police
man on the force was commandeereo
into service.
The mounted men would move il
Indian file along the lines and then see
ing the block ahead would spur up int
line The clstteCing hoofs woulC
smash down upon the mass. Some
group would give and the masses woult
be pushed back Again and gain was
the maneuver repeated. Women faint
ed and frightened children hung IL
trembling terror TO their parents. The
clang of the ambulance wagon wa:
heard above the din Of cheers, boom
ing and bands. And San Francisco
while il made room for the faintina
woman and patted the cheek Of th'
frightened yoUn ngster-laughed.
CHIEF COOK HEADS MARCH
The procession began to move al
9-30 Ahead rode Chief of Police Cook
in an automobile, followed by sever
other machines containing members OF
the committee and others. the purpose
being Tor the solid lines of automobiles
to clear the lines. The parade proper
was led by Grand Marshal Paul T. Car
roll, mounted on the famous horse
Napona Boy, and carrying the $1,000
saddle especially manufactured for the
Portola festival
Carroll remained cool and calm
through the entire storm and stress
of the evening. When the lines broke
he pulled out his watch and smiled
When half distracted committeeman
murmured questions into his ear ht
answered back without show Of an
noVance
somehow or The other the crowds
flooding the streets We're coaxed
threatened and cursed back to theil
proper places and the parade began.
With fanfan of cavalry trumpet the
Dragons clattered at the head of the
line and Immediately after came Dor
GasDar de Portola in a carriage witt
his wife and two friends 1t was his
farewell trip through san Francisco
and the gallant old soldier of Spain
lifted high his hat entering into the
spirit OF the moment with all abandon
and e$ace as ever did cavalier Of old.
lie knew he was there as a picture
and never once did he fail TO keep the
effect. a consummate actor could not
have carried off the honors and ac-
claim with greater art
DIN. SWEEPS OVER coNcLAvE ).
The crowd around him rocketed witt
xells. The huzzas ran down the street:
ike continuous boom of big guns, in
tercepted al 5ntervals with cracking
vollev of handclapping. The shouts
swept up Market street in a hurricane
and men and women rose and thun
dered their acclaim. 1t was difficult
TO imagine that IL was all make be
lfsve. that the representations were
naught but shadow shapes taken from
the shelves Of time for purpose Of Z
public holiday. The enthusiasm swepl
inc realities aside. Dreams and sha-