Year: 1879

the City Of Toxic was struck the Executive
Committee having charge of the demonstra-
ton We're in session at the Palace Hotel
warmly discussing the question of carrying
out the programme Tomorrow, in case Of the
steamers arrival in time, on deferring it until
Monday. The first stroke of the bell ended
this discussion. 1t was three quarters of an
hour later than the limit that had been pre-
viously determined but it was at once resolved
to carry out the demonstration immediately
The reception committee of five hastened to
| the the mail dock and put out seaward with
out delay to expedite the movements Of the
City of Toxic, while the various other COM
mittees and guests betoOk themselves TO their
posts on ship-board or at the landing. In
view of the lateness of the hour all precOll-
certed limits of time will be contracted. The
fotlla of steamers and yachts will leave the
city front at a quarter past four and it is ex-
pected that a landing will be effected by half
past six OF seven. The line of march will
then be taken up and a general illumination
will compensate for the absence OF sunlight


AS soon as notice was received O. the approach
OF the City of Toxic the news flashed all over
the Pacific coast, and this evening dispatches
are pouring into tine office of the California
Associated Press from the interior cities and
towns of California and Nevada announcing
the news was received with demonstrations
only second to the reception in the city; flags
| flying, streets decorated, guns and anvils
booming, parades, bonfres, fireworks, and
every token of joy ahd enthusiasm.


Immediately Oh receipt of intelligence that
| the City of Toxic was nearing the port the
Reception Committee, consisting Of Frank
| M. PiXley, ex-senator Cole, General Mill. r,
and p. b. Cornwall, repaired to the tug Mil


lie Griffith, lying with steam up at the Pacific
Mail dock, and at once started to meet the
incoming steamer. The Griffith stood we'll
out to sea and several miles outside the heads
met the Toxic coming in. The tug drew
alongside and the Executive Committee,
quarantine officer, customs officials and a
number of representatives of the press board
ed. No ceremony was observed except a
general shaking of hands, and after the Com
visit and Informed General Grant of the re-
ceptlon prepared for him the conversation
became general as the City of Toxic contin-
ued her course. Soon after the government
| steamer Mcpherson came along side and
Major-General Mcdowell, commanding the
Division of the Pacific, accompanied by his
staff boarded the Toxic and rejoined his old
comlade in arms. While this was transpiring
the General Committee Of Arrangements with
several thousand invited guests, assembled
on board the large side wheel Pacific Mail
|
ers, while tugs took squaorons of the San
Francisco ana Pacific Yacht Clubs in tow
and started down the channel. In the mean
time it seemed as though the whole popula
| tiOn of the city. men, women and children,
had sought positions from which view of
the naval pageant could be obtained. Every
eminence commanding the channel was black
with assembled thousands, Telegraph Hill
being q mass of human bodies. The heights
beyond Presidio, Clay Street Hill, sea wall
at North Point, and every pier head was
covered with spectators.


The sun was declining in the west as the
steamer and yacht gay with bunting, moved
! down the channel. The clouds hung along
the western horizon of Mount Tamalpias, and
| the distant mountains north of the bay were
yeiled in mist, and Mission hill and the sea
ward heights of the peninsula shrouded in
fog, but the channel was unobstructed, and
the bold outlines of Golden Gate rose sharply
against the sky, with the bay itself, with the
islanI shores of Alameda and Contra Costa
b6thed in the sunlight. From every flagstaff in
the city flags were flying, and the shipping
along the city front was brilliantly decked
with ensigns, ftstoons, flags and streamers
The impatient crowds that covered the hill
tops stood straining their eyes to catch the first
glimpse of the City of Toxic. A hundred
times the cry was raised, sThere she comes, y
as chance arrivals came in view between the
heads; it was half past five O'Clock when a
puff of white smoke from the seaward from


off the earth works back of and above Fort
Point was seen, and the booming of heavy
guns announced that the steamer was near i
hand. Another and another followed in rapid
succession, Fort Point next joined in the can,
nonade,, firing with both casemate and barbette
guns, and the battery at Lime Point added its
! thunders to the voice of welcome. In few
moments the entrance to the harbor was veiled
in wreaths Of smoke, and as the batteries OF
i Angel Island, Black Point and Alcatral
opened fire in succession, the whole channe


was soon shrouded in clouds from the rapil
discharges. For some time the position o
approaching ships nuid not he discovered, ,bl


shortly before six O'Clock the outlines of til,
huge hull of the City Of Toxic loomed through
the ol)Scurity of the smoke and ranidIy an