Year: 1879


The Reception Committee Board the City


of Tokio-General Hand-ShakinG and


Congratulations.


Immediately on receipt of the intelli-
gence that the City OF Toxic was near
ing port, the committee of reception,
consisting OF Frank NJ. Pixley, ex-Sena-
tor Cole, General Miller and p. b. Corn
wall, repaired to the tug Miller Griffith,
lying with steam up at the Pacific Mail
dock, and at once started TO meet the
incoming steamer. The Griffith stood
well out to Sea, and several miles out
side Of the heads met the Toxic coming
in. The tug drew alongside, and the
executive committee, quarantine officer
and customs officials and a number OF
representatives OF the press boarded her.
No ceremony was observed except
general shaking of hands, and after the
committee had announced the object of
their visit, and informed Gen. Grant of
the reception prepared for him, the con-
versatiOn became general as the City OF
Toxic continued 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 rejoined
his old cOmrade-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 steamer
China and number OF smaller steam
ers, while tugs took squadrOns OF San
Francisco 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 posi-
tions from which view of the naval
pageant could be obtained, every emf
nence commanding the channel being
black with the assembled thousands.
Telegraph Hill was living mass of
human bodies, and the heights beyond
Presidio, CLAY street hill, the sea wall
at the North Point and every pierhead
were covered with spectators. The sun
was declining in the west as the steam
ers and yachts, gay with bunting
moved down the channel. Low
clouds hung along the western horizon.
Mount Tomalpais and the distant noun
tains north OF the Bay were veiled in
mist, and Mission Hill and the seaward
heights of the peninsula were Shrouded
in fog, but the channel was unobstruct-
ed, and the bold outlines OF Golden Gate
rose sharply against the sky, while the
Bay itself with the Island shores of Al
media and Contra Costa, were bathed
in the sunlight. From every flag staff
in the city flags are flying. and the ship
ping along the city front is brilliantly
decked with ensigns, flags and stream
.ers. The impatient crowds that covered
the hill tops stood straining their eyes 10
catch the first glimpse OF the Toxic. \
hundred times the cry was raised,
There she comes.' as chance arrivals
came in view between the Heads.
Ii was half-past five o'clock when
a puff of white smoke
from the seaward, from off the earth
works back and above Fort Point, and
the booming of the heavy gun an
nounced the steamer near at hand and
another followed in rapid succession.
Fort Point joined in the cannOnade and
the battery at Time Point added its
thunders to the voice OF welcome. In q
few moments the entrance to the harbor
was veiled in wreaths OF smoke and as
the batteries OF Angel Island, Black
Point and Alcatraz opened fire In sue
cession the whole channel was soon
shrouded in clouds from their rapid