The San Francisco call., 1910-03-02
THOUSANDS GREET
RETURNING LADS
Major Peixotto's Conquering
Heroes Back After Long
Stay in Antipodes

After an absence of nine months in
Australia and the Hawaiian islands 40
members of the Columbia Park boys
club returned on the steamer Alameda
yesterday at noon Their home com
ing resembled somewhat the return of
the soldiers from the Philippines. after
the war, as far as enthusiasm goes.
Some 1000 citizens, headed by Mayor
Mccarthy and those members of the
club who stayed at home, were on Fill
bert street wharf when the steamer
made fast.
Before any one left the ship Mayor
Mccarthy went aboard and congratu-
lated Major Sidney S. Peixotto. under
whose guidance the tour was made, and
the boys on their undertaking and
their safe return.
The Journey had been made without
one days sickness. The boys de-
frayed their own expenses by dramatic
and vaudeville productions. football,
baseball and various other athletic
sports. In this way they earned more
than 100000 and were able to meet
all indebtedness except the steamer
fares. which will amount to more than
$4,000.
DELAYED BY FOG
Mothers, friends and relatives and the
second band of the Columbia Park
boys club gathered on the wharf at
an early hour. But dense fog de-
layed the big steamer. in entering the
Golden gate. 1t was nearly noon be-
fore the quarantine officers let the
Alameda pass, and it was fully ! o'clock
in the afternoon before the vessel was
docked. For willie it looked as If
those gathered were doomed to disap-
pointment. There was a case of measles
on board and there was some talk of
sending the vesseI.to Angel island.
As the returning heroes steamed up
the bay the Pacific fleet was putting to
sea- For little while, and especially
from the crowded end of Spear street
wharf, it resembled the arrival of the
fleet The second boys band on the
wharf played "America's and Home,
Sweet Home" while the boys ON the
ships decks announced. by reeds and
brass that there would beaa hot time
when they. got ashore. The Alameda
cut across the formation of the fleet
and after being carried somewhat out
of its course by the current was finally
brought alongside by the aid of a tug
that was sent for in a hurry.
MOTHERS EMBRACE SONS
Mayor Mccarthy having con gratulat-
ed the lads, they formed in marching
line on the wharf. Mothers were cry.
ing and embracing. their boys, while
younger sisters and brothers were
anxious for the curios and "spoils's
brought back.
The triumphal march finally started.
Following the stars and stripes were
flags that had been, presented the boys.
First was the Fiji flag. presented. by
Everard In Thur; flag of New South
Wales, presented sby Lord and Lady
Chelmsford; South Australian flag, pre-
sented by Sir Hort Day Bosanquet;
West Australia, presented by Sir w.
Strachan; Tasmania, presented by Sir
Edward Braddon; Queensland, present
ed by Sir William Macgregor; New Zea-
land, presented by Mrs. T. A. Williams
of wellington; flag sof the new Aus
tralian commonwealth, presented by
Alfred Deakih, prime minister of Aus
stralia, and the Hawaiian flag, presented
by Governor Frear.
With two bands playing the boys
marched along Embarcadero, street to
Market street, out Market to Valencia,
out Valencia to Sixteenth, then to Six
teenth and Guerrero to the clubrooms,
where they disbanded. Mayor McCar-
thy rode in the procession
AUSTRALIAN LADS VISITING
Cecil Martin and Eric Cullen Ward.
Australian boys, came with the party.
They: are both expert Rugby football