The San Francisco call., 1910-08-23

and fathers brought their llttle ones
to its side so that the baby fingers
might touch the forerunner of the new
road
CROWD WAITS LONG
The train came in on time at AIS
p. m; but long, long before the crowd
had formed. They lined the streets
from early in the afternoon, but as the
DAY advanced surged by a common i'm
pulse TO the new depot site, where had
been erected triumphal arch There
they gathered and kept on gathering.
Squads Of police charged and battened
and fattened; begged, implored and
commanded TO give room; but the crowd
still kept on gathering. The many
thousands Of tramping, shuffiing feet
raised a volume of dust which envel-
oped the enthusiasts, but none would
give way.
Around the grandstand, reserved for
z special few, the crowd surged, and in
interims of surging, shouted. AS the
appointed time approached the surging
died down, the murmuring, shouting
and talking ceased. All eyes turned to
the east In the grandstand dignified
dignitaries forgot the imposing adorn-
ments Of silk hats and frock coats, and
hoisted themselves upon chairs and
tables.
Down the track, the police band
ing themselves desperately rushed into
the mass and swung back the crowd
and then in feverish anxiety held it
back For about five solid, heavy
minutes the crowd waited silently. The
cloud Of dust gradually began to set
tie upon their heads, and a hot sun
poured into their faces. Suddenly, a
grimy individual balancing himself on
the precarious heights of the roof of
2 factory across from the grandstand
and who had been keeping watch from
his lofty position. gave a maniacal out
cry. He danced up and down and flung
his arms to the four heavens Also
he shouted in great excitement to COM
rades below. His answer came.
WHISTLE STARTS BEDLAM
II came with an ear splitting shrek
from a steam whistle at full blast And
as the whistling rose and.felI, from far
down the line was heard the distant
clang clang of the warning engine
bell.
The silence departed. A smashing
roar went up. The brass bands tore
their way into the din. Automobile
horns, street car gongs, anything and
everything which would create a noise
was brought into play. The massed
thousands lining Washington street,
unable 10 see, knew by the spontaneous
shout that the longed for moment had
arrived. and catching the shout sent il
rocketing down the street. Block by
block ii was caught up and hurled
along till IT reached the center of the
city and there gathered in greater
volume than ever.
Into the wave Of shouts slowly moved
the train, policemen before it clearing
$3.50 WAY. The engine bell swung and
fell with steady clang and gently.
.3midly The monster engine crept along
the unfamiliar path. its Nbrasswork
shining and the paint on its face pro-
claiming the newness of-it.
SHOWER OF FLOWERS
Bit by bit it passed through the
throng. From each side came a shower
OF flowers, which grinning brakes,
negligently balancing on the cow
catcher. caught and pinned in their
erimy shirts. In brand new lettering it
carried its name: No. 90.
-.Ninetytwoi" shouted he crowd.
Come on. ninetytwo."
As the engine passed under the tri-
umphal arch the shouting cracked forth
with redoubled vim A few feet beyond
two girls held a string of flowers across
the track, and as it passed the flung
upward, and the garland settled upon
the iron brow.
The moment il came to halt from
the crowd there broke forth men and
women with more flowers. Michael
Boyle, the engineer who brought the
train in, poked grinning countenance
through the window and was immedi-
ateiy made the target for yolley OF