Rensselaer Union, Volume 12, Number 2, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 25 September 1879 — GENERAL GRANT AT SAN FRANCISCO. [ARTICLE]

GENERAL GRANT AT SAN FRANCISCO.

tire toll." BlWl * **" H *” The following particulars of the pubHe demonstration at San Francisco in honor of General Grant, on his arrival at that city, are given in the Associated Press dispatches of the 20th: The first tap of the bell and hoisting of the fiag ou the Merchants’ Exchange announcing the approach of the Cite of Tokio startled the city from the spell of suspense that has prevailed for the last three days, and transformed tpe idle throngs that were lounging about the streets into excited and hurrying crowds. Immediately on receipt of the Intelligence that the steamer was nearing port, the Reception Committee repaired to the tug Milieu Griffith, lying with steam up at the Pacific Mail Dock, and at once started to meet the ineoming steamer. The Griffith stood well oat to sea. and several miles oataide the heads met the Tokio coming in. The tug drew alongside, and the Executive Committee, quarantine officer, and customs officials and a number of representatives of the press boarded the steamer. No ceremonies were observed, except a general shaking of hands, and, after the committee had announced the object of their visit and informed General Grant of the reception prepared for him, conversation became general as the City of Tokio continued her course. Soon after the Government steamer McPherson came alongside, sad Major-General McDowell, commanding the Division of the Pacific, accompanied l>y his staff, boarded the Tokio, 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 a number of smaller steamers, while tugs took the squadron of the 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 positions from which a view of the naval pageant could be obtained. Every eminence commanding the channel was black with the assembled thousands. Telegraph Hill was a living mass of human bodies. Tne heights beyond Presidio, Clay Btreet Hill, the sea-wall at North Point, and every pler-nead was covered with spectators. The sun waa declining in the west as the steamers and yachts, gay with bunting* moved down the channel.

From every flagstaff in the arty flags were flying, and the snipping along the city front was brilliantly decked with ensigns, festooned flags and streamers. The impatient crowds that covered the hill-tops stood straining their eyes to catch the first glimpse of the Tokio. It was half-past five o’clock when a puff of white smoke from seaward earthworks back of and above Fort Point and the booming of a heavy gun announced that the steamer was near at hand. Another and another followed in rapid succession. Fort Point next joined in cannonade firing with both casemate and barbette guns, and the battery at Lime Point added its thunders to the voice of welcome. For some time the position of the approaching ships could not be discerned, but shortly before six o’clock outlb.es of the huge hull of the City of Tokio loomed through the obscurity of tne smoke, and the rapidly approaching shades of evening were lit up by the flashes of guns, and in a few minutes she glidc-t into fun view, surrounded by a fleet of steamers and tugs gay with flags and crowded with guests, while the yacht squadrou brought up the rear festooned from deck to truck with brilliant bunting. Cheer after cheer burst from the assembled thousands as the vessels slowly rounded Telegraph Hill, and, taken up by the crowd on the wharves, rolled around the city front. Hats and handkerchiefs were waved in the air. The United States steamer Monterey, lying in the stream, added the roar of her guns to the general welcome, and the screaming of hundreds of steam whistles announced^that the City of Tpkio had reached her anchorage. Within the gates of the ferry-house were assembled the gentlemen charged with the duty of the immediate reception of General Grant—the Board of Sujicrvisors ranged on the left of the gangway, and Governor Irwin and staff and the Executive Committee, consisting of Governor-elect Perkins, W. H. L. Barnes, Samuel Wilson, W'illiam T. Coleman, Tiburcio Parrott, J. P. Jackson, John McComb, John Koscnfcld, Claus Sprcckels, John H. Wise, \V. W. Montague, occupied the right, Mayor Bryant taking ills position about half-way down tbo center of the gangway. In the meantime Gcm-ru) Grant and his party on the Tokio, together with the Reception Committee, General McDowell and stall and others, had been transferred to the ferry steamer Oakland. * Considerable delay occurred, during which the crowd outside cheered and shouted themselves hoarse, and it seemed at times ns though in their impatience they would break through the lines and invade the dock cm uvtx*e.

Darkness had fallen, and It. was twenty minutes past seven when the lights of the ferryboat were seen approaching the slip. 81ic moved slowly Into position. The platform was lowered, the band struck up “Home Again,” and, amid the roars of applause from the waiting crowd outside, who realized that the moment had arrived, General Grant stepped once more upon the shores of his native land. He was then introduced to Mayor Bryant, who welcomed him in a few appropriate remarks to which the General responded as follows: Mayor Dryant: I thank you and the city of San Francisco for this cordial welcome, and I feel great pleasure In returning: to California after a quarter of a century's absence. I shall be glad to participate in the procession. Amid the most tremendous cheers of the crowd, discharges of cannon, ringing of bells and screaming of whistles, the procession started up Market street. Bonfires blazed at the street comers, illuminations lit up every window, and the glare of Roman canales ana electric lights made the broad thoroughfare bright as day. Under a continuous archway of fiags, banners and festooned draperies, the procession moved up Market street to Montgomery, and turned dow n the latter street. Crowds blocked the sidewalk. Cheer after cheer rolled along the whole line of march, and almost drowned the martial strains of the numerous bands. The light mist hovering over the city reflected the light of the fireworks and illumination, until the heavens seemed ablaze. On arriving at Market street the procession, moving up a few blocks, countermarched to the Palace Hotel. Here a magnificent arch, forty feet in height, spanned New Montgomery street, blazoned with the National colors, and bearing the inscription, “Welcome ,to Grant.” At this point the carriage containing the General was drawn up, while the procession marched in review, cheer after cheer rending the air as division after division passed by. On the conclusion of the review the various organizations were dismissed, and General Grant was conducted to hii quarters in the Palace Hotel, which had been specially prepared and furnished for his reception. At ten o’clock the wide doors were thrown open, and the barouche containing General Grant was driven witbin.the building. He immediately dismounted, and, crowding his v*ay through the packed mass of human beings, was hurried to his room. As he alighted, Madame Fabri and a chorus of five hundred voices opened from one of the balconies with the “ Ode of Welcome.” The crowd rushed after General Grant when he dismounted, leaving the singers for a moment almost without an audience, but, being stopped by the force of police who blocked the way, they returned to the court, being reassured by the announcement that the General would appear on one of the balconies after he had had time to lay off his overcoat. After the chorus was rendered, General Grant, in response to repeated calls, appeared on the balcony of the fourth floor, ana Dowed to the shouting crowd, immediately retiring. Still the enthusiastic populace thronged the •ourt and refused to leave. Finally Mayor Bryant appeared, and announced that as soon as the General had finished his dinner he would show himself. In a few minutes Genetal Grant appeared, amid deafening and long- 1 continued shouts. Mayor Bryant called the crowd to order, and the General, mounting a chair which was passed over the heads of the surrounding crowd, was again greeted with a succession of cheers. When the noise subsided, he addressed them as follows! Fkiaow-Citxmhß ofßa!»FrawcißCO: After twenty-five years' absence, I am glad to meet you. and assure you of my oordial thanks for the kind greeting you have given me. I shall stay in your city long enough to greet you more fully. The Genesal then withdrew, amid prolonged and tremendous cheering, and the crowd at length reluctantly scattered.