Year: 1879




The first tap of the bell and the hosting of
the flag ON the Merchants Exchange, announc-
ing the approach of the steamer City of Toxic,
startled the city from the spell Of suspense
that has prevailed for the last three days
and transformed idle throngs that were
lOunging about the streets into excited and hur-
rying crowds. Bells began to ring, steam
whistles to and the thunder of cannon
to reverberate over the hills and harbor.
Thousands of men, women and children, OH
foot, in carriages and on horseback, began to
pour out in the direction of Preside
Heights, Point Lobos. Telegraph Hill and every
other eminence in the vicinity, eager to catch
the first glance OF the incoming ship bearing the
guest for whose reception so great preparations
have been made and whose arrival has been SO
anXiously anticipated. Crowds h4rried toward
the wharves where the steamers and yachts that
were to take part in the nautical pageant were
lying.


AT the moment the alarm, giving notice of
the approach Of the City Of Toxic was struck,
the Executive Committee, having charge of the
demonstration were in session at the Palace
Hotel warmly discussing the question Of





case Of the steamers arrival in time, OF
deferring it until Monday. The first stroke Of
the bell ended the discussion 1t was three
Quarters of an hour later than the limit that had
been previously determined upon, but it was at
once resolved to carry out the demonstration
Immediately.


THE RECEPTION COMMITTEE ON BOARD.


Immediately receipt Of the intelligence
that the steamer City of Toxic was nearing port,
the Reception Committee, consisting of Frank
M. Pixley, ex-senator Cole, General Miller and
r. b. Cornwall, repaired to the tug Millen
Griffith, lying, with steam up ut the Pacific Mail
dock and ut once started to meet the incoming
steamer. The Millen Griffith stood we'll out to
sea, and several miles outside the Heads met
the City Of Toxic coming in. The tug drew
alongside and the Executive Committee, quaran-
tine officer and customs officials and number
of representatives of the press boarded the
steamer. No ceremony was observed except
general shaking of hands, and after the COM
mttee had announced the object of their visit
and informed General Grant Of the re-
ception prepared for him the conversation
became general as the City of Toxic continued
on her course. Soon after the government
steamer Mcpherson came alongside, and Major
General Mcdowell commanding the Division
of the Pacific accompanied by his staff, boarded
the Toxic and reioined his old comrade in arms.


STEAMERS MOVING OUT.


While this was Transporting the General Com
mittee of Arrangements, with several thousand
invited guests, assembled OH board the large
sidewheel Pacific Mail steamer China
and number of smaller steamers,
of f1,aS Sa
and Pacific Yacht clubs in tow and started
down the channel.


In the meantime it seemed as though the
whole population 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
was living mass of human bodies, and the
heights beyond Prcsidio the Clay Street Hill,
the sea wall Mt North Point, and every pier
head were covered with spectators.


THE SURROUNDING SCENES.


The sun was declining in the west as the
steamers and yachts, gay with bunting, moved
down the channel Low clouds hung along the
western horizon Mount Tamaulipas and the
distant mountains north of the Bay were
veiled in II mist and Mission Hill
and the seaward heights of the Pen
insula were shrouded in fog, but
the channel was unobstructcd, and the bold
outlines of the Golden Gate rose sharply
against the sky, while the bay itself, with the
islands and shores of Alameda and Contra
Costa, was bathed in sunlight From every
flagstaff in the city flags were flying
and the shipping along the city front
was brilliantly dcckcd with ensigns, festooned
flags and streamcrs. The impatient crowds
that covered the hlltops stood straining their
eyes to catch the first glimpse of the Toxic.
A hundred times the cry raised, There
she comes," as chance arrivals came in view
between the Heads.


THE ENTRANCE OF THE STEAMER.
1t was halfpast five o'clock when puff of
white smoke from scaward, from off the earth
works back of and above Fort Point, and the
booming of heavy gun announced that the
steamer was near Mt hand. Another and an
other followed In rapid succession. Fort
Point next Joined in tho cannonade,
firing with both casematc aud barbcttc guns,
and the battery ut Lime Point added its thun-
dcrs to the voice Of welcome In u few mo-
mcnts the entrance to the harbor was veilcd in
wrcaths of smoke, and as the batteries of
Angel Island, Black Point and Alcatraz
opened fire in succession the whole channel
was soon shroudcd in clouds from their rapid
discharges. For some time the position of the
approaching ship could not be discovered
but shortly before six o'clock the
outlines of the huge hull of the City
of Toxic loomcd through the obscur-
ity of smoke and rapidly approaching
shades of evening lit up by the flashes of guns
and in IA few moments she glidcd into full view,
surrounded by fleet of steamers and tugs, gay
with flags and crowded with guests, while the
yacht squadron brought mp the rear, iestooned
from deckt truck with brilliant bunting. Cheer
after cheer burst from the assembled thousands |