The San Francisco call. [volume], September 09, 1900, Image 31

About The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913

Image provided by: University of California, Riverside; Riverside, CA

                
WITH the waning of her forty-ninth year of statehood California began to celebrate
her entrance into a second half century of prosperity. There was all the charac
teristic Califorhian lavishncss in the wealth of color, the gleam of lights, the glare
and thunder of fireworks and the shifting, shuffling tide of people that filled
the streets and ebbed and flowed in the r1o\v of the lamps.
The city is full of visitors. Since Friday they had been coming in from the
north and south and east, until it seemed as if the streets would hold no more: but still thev
came, and there are nwc to come, for this will be the proudest birthday of the century, and
no true son of California can afford to miss the feast. iV. ! -
The Pioneers had a little celebration of their own during the afternoon, where by
speeches and patriotic songs the blood was set coursing the faster through the veins of the
State-builders, and they cheered the name of California — the child of their toil, their adven
turous spirit and their citizenship. The parlors of Native Sons already in the citv received
their friends during the afternoon and earlv evening, for the Native Son is nothing if not so-
Ctable, and he multiplies his pleasure by seeking companions to help him enjoy himself.
And then *\s darkness fell and the swinging lines of lamps commenced to sparkle, every
one sought the streets, and then the water front and the hills that look out over the bav. for
it was on the bay that the great celebration would, really, open; And like a statclv minuet,
danced in ; the. light of a giant torch, it did open, the vessels changing, winding, turning and
passing and rep issing each other in the glare of flaming barges, like dancers on a ballroom
floor. The vessels were aglow with Chinese lanterns, nnd so outlined in the moonlieht they
made a rare picture — one beyond brush and palette and nainter's art.
The bav parade was marred by the sinking of the May Flint, a big coal-laden ship that
fouled the steel beak of the Iowa. The Flint was sailing in. and when just ahead of the
Iowa the wind failed her. She wavered in the tide a few minutes and then drove down
upon the battleship. She struck the warship's ram and it entered her side. like a dagger. It
was not known then how badly she was injured, but after she was freed it was found she was
sinkinc. She drifted afoul of a lumber schooner and ail on board the Flint scrambled on to
her. Then the Flint drifted away again and went down.
the skies; watch the million sparks of
fire as they fell and illumined the path
of scores of vessels plowing through the
bay. San Francisco and its friends
crowded the main thoroughfares of the
town. Lights Mazed and flashed from
every point where the eye could see.
Market street was sin avenue of light.
Thousands of electric bulbs biased forth
their illumination to light up the brilliant
decorations with' which the streets were
adorned. The standards of gay color; the
flagi of the Union and of the State, and
the myriad silhouettted laces of people
hurryirs to and fro, gave testimony to
how San Francisco is celebrating the. fif
tieth birthday of California.
The Native Sons ( of California have:done
their work well. The streets last night
were a revelation of beauty. Nothing had
been left undona to make' the. city a pic
ture such as it had not been ever before.
When darkness came the people of San
Francisco and the tens of thousands of
visitors who had come. to see the'celebra
tion of the semi-centennial of Callfornian
statehood" triroofced' the 'streets. From
every point they crowded into the main
thoroughfare of the city, until Market
street was one black mass of moving men
and women, until the walks were inade
quate to contain the throng ajid the street
Itself was usurped to nccommodate the
moving crowd that progressed toward the
water front. There from the heights, upon
the wharves, from every point of vantage
they watched the brilliant spectacle that
inaugurated San Francisco's tribute to
California.
Ships of every description moved in
stately procession around the bay. The
blackness of the night was Illumined by
the fires of iridescent light that shot
from stationed ships. Rockets, bombs,
vari-colored lights, burst into the air. A
fire ship stationed in the harbor gave
forth Its brilliant illumination and then,
at a signal, was transformed into a blaz
ing pile. Around the bay. the procession
of ships passed. Now and again. a bril
liant light in tho harbor would illumine
the vessels as they passed and show them
adorned in. all the gayety of color, and on
every eld o on emblem of national life* . s
Now and again from the city heights
would come j:h'eer after cheer as the ships
passed, to signal what ¦ the people of San
Francisco thought of .^California's half
century of. existence.' ¦•.,
There is little question that in San
Francisco , to-day there are more people
than there ever were in the- history of
the city. The streets are thronged almost
to a condition of being impassable.' The
shops, restaurants 'and places of refresh
ment are thronged. The private homes of
the city have been taxed- to accommodate
those who se^k rooms. Street cars, places
of amusement, rendezvous of • recreation
and the resorts of public convenience are
crowded to tho utmost' capacity.
The city is in holiday garb. The people
are on dress parade. Houses of business
have suspended operation and San-Fran
cisco Is celebrating with all its will the
day which the people will see only once.
As already indicated the celebration of
Admission day- began last night by the
superb paradeon th« bay. * The arrange
ments had been made almost perfect, but
unfortunately,- la "> the darkness' of "the
night, there was a collision.,. Other than
that there was no accident. .
The splendidly adorned ships passed in
gay procession, carrying from point' to
point their thousands of enthusiastic citi
zens. The waters of the bay were lit up
by the brilliant color of the lights that
flashed from station to station. National
warships blazed [forth their intense lights
to illumine now. and again '. shadows on
the water.,. front. : The .ferry depot ; was
outlined in a. blaze of light.. There was
music, from every passing boat and laugh
ter from thousands ¦ of.- 1 men and women
as. they mingled in companionship In the
celebration of California's half-century of
admission into the Union. The celebration
was .well, begun and gave absolute promise
that the fete days which" are • to follow
will mark the most significant demonstra
tion In; the history, of the State.
The Xine. of Parade. Y _
XThe line of the naval parade was as fol
lows: ~. : ' "..'.';'. -''•: ¦'•
. . i.- division; v ' . ;':>>}•'
- ' Steamer Caroline- Leading. • r- •¦' -
Port— starboard—
1. Pea Queen. 1. Vigilant.
2. I'nlon. 12. Roller.
3." Sea King. , 13. Monarch.
4. Reliance. | 4. Rescue.
5. Alert. ' 5. Richmond.
6. .Annie. ¦ IS. Amall. .:?«•¦•-
7. Lottie. :.- t7. Millie.
II. DIVISION.
Ida A.
Four Sisters.
Jennie Griffin.
Mary C.
III. DIVISION.
Steam and Gasoline Launches (Two Abreast).
IV. DIVISION.
Steam Schooners Noyo. Point Arena, Montlcello.
V. DIVISION.
1. Mount Kden. I 7. Mary Garratt.
• 2. Grace Barton. I 8. Leader.
3. Gold. I 9. T. C. Walker.
.4. F. M. Smith. • 10. Onlsbo.
[E. Dauntless. hi. Constance.
6. Resolute.
VI. DIVISION.
1. Garden City. 4. Newark.
:. Amador. 6. Ukiah.
I. Sausallto.
* Off, Mission street .lay the nchopner
Arthur. She fired batteries of roman
candles. Near to the Arthur was the
Mabel. and Edith. From her. rockets were
flred. Off Howard street was the schooner
Fortuna, firing shells from mortars, and
near " to her was the Tartar, also tiring
mortars,*'
SAN FRANCISCO began to cele
brate last night the fiftieth
birthday of California. Thou
sands of men. women and
children crowded the heights ot
the city to eec the lights that
flashed en 4-he water; to hear
&e crash of bombs as they ascended into
Off Folsom street was the "Winfleld
Scott, firing rockets, and the Backus, flr»
ing batteries of roman candles.
The best-decorated vessels in the bay
were trie American ship Emily Reed, ly
ing at Spear street, and the British ship
Melanope. lying off Folsom-street wharf;
SCENE ON THE BAY DURING THE PROGRESS OF THE GREAT NAVAL PARADE.
RADIANT IN ITS GARB OF LIGHT AN D COLOR, THE CITY
YIELDS ALL TO THE CELEBRATION
STREETS THRONGED
WITH A
GAY CROWD, AND
BRILLIANT
UNDER THOUSANDS
OF LAMPS.
ROCKETS CLEAVE THE SKY AND BLAZING BARGES, BEACON LIKE,
THROW THEIR RUDDY BAY
¦ . — — - — — : — . . ' - ' .;V:-. ¦ • •
Stately Uns of Vessels Wands Through the Maze off Missing Firework?, Past Anchored Ships day With the GJeam of Colored
Lanterns, and on Past Crowded Wharves, ts if In the Figures of- a Dance, While. Bands; 1 Play Merrily
Through It All From the Decks of"the v Moving Steamers. ¦ ,
t •-.... - - - 4
VISITORS ARRIVING
ON EVERY
TRAIN AND FROM
EVERYWHERE
IN NUMBERS NEVER
EQUALED. >
Pages 31 to 40
Pages 31 to 40
SAN FRANCISCO, SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 9, 1900.
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