The San Francisco Call. Newspaper, May 19, 1901, Page 26

26 THE SAN FRANCISCO CALL, SUNDAY, MAY 19, 1901. IMMENSE FLOTILLA CARRIES EXCURSIONISTS AND DISTINGUISHE Z}orgeous Pageént of Decorated Craft Covers the Broad Bay of San Francisco Laden With Jol'y Passengers Intent on Enjoying Holiday LJTEN NG 10y SN S m” HE broad bay of San Francisco has seldom had afloat upon its bosom so m orated cr: y gorgeously dec- vester da) Every ursionists or i all paths led to the s, from whose shipyard the ma ) was to make its bow end slip unostentatiously into the waters From early morning the water front af- forded e of more than the usual g activity and there was a holiday i all along the Excursion boats, side-wheelers and stern-wheelers, river craft and bay gs, vachbts and 1 the glory of radi at anchor waiting s of pleasure seekers they e rried sce bust nce mot ble wharves ches flags, and for their came were pro- should not be disappointments, or ill winds a day which red b r threaten ng skies, The ferry-hoats were crowded throughout the morning, each with its load of people from across the ay rr; to join frien launct g to catch excursion craft or s with whom to witness the from the shore. McKinley Arrives at the Wharf ®uddenly a shout arose and was taken ®p along the wharf, and men, women and ehildren scampered toward the street as the President’'s carriage came clattering along over the cobble stones ing was so hurried pected that nside the The com- ar the distinguished guest was gates of the transport wharf quiet and unex- before a crowd of any had time to collec President McKinl considerable size y was received at the entrance to the wharf by Colonel Long, Captain Batchelcer and Captain Barneson of the transport service. A few moments later those along the wharves and aboard the vessels lying near were rewarded for their patience by a sight of the President da on the upper deck of the Slocum, bowing 1o the members of the distinguished party on board, and with Mayor Phelan at side. Salvos of cheers arose from every side and President McKinley acknowledged the greetings with uncovered head, bowing re- peatedly in the direction of swarms of cheering humanity massed on wharves as he appear e EsomErT A e e T BSOS BRNERS | INTO THE BAY AND PEOPLE i SHE SLID DOWN THE WAYS. + NES AND INCIDENTS THAT MARKED THE PLUNGE OF THE OHIO WHO WATCHED THE VESSEL AS and giving nearby craft dangerous lists in the direction of the Slocum. A line stretched on piles across the cove into which vessels slide from the wavs of the Union Iron Works kept the craft from impirging on the space reserved for the beptism of the great hulk resting on its cradle. The police patrol launch Nor- od puffed around inside the inclosure 1d kept the smaller launches and row- from creeping under the ropes into dangerous territory. A Remarkable Spectacle. boat Steamers, launches and tugs jostled each other for positions i the front rank until a solid front was presented to the view of spectators on the shore. Jiese were many rows of larger craft, from whose higher decks passengers could see over the heads of those aboard Back of the smaller vessel and obtain a view of the red hulk of the Ohio. The shore and Potrero hills presented a remarkable spectacie ‘from the bay. Masses of people hiackeaed hillsides and housetops far back, until effort at compu- tation of thelr nu'nber became the veriest speculation. The bay has mever seen such a flotilla gathered in such close anchorage. All the avallable craft in the bay was there, from great ferrybouts to tihy racing skiffs, and all carried flags and bunting and their passengers waved other flags and stream- ers. Suddenly a shout arose, “There she goes The great assemblage afloat was electrifiarl. The watchers were not ex- pecting to see the great ship move for some four minutes, and all were taken by D GUESTS TO LAUNC HING - surprise. Instantly everything else was forgotten, while each spectator sprang for a place of vantage. Slides Into the Water. A chorus of whistles, from deep bass to shrill soprano, arose almost as if in obedi- ence to a conductor's baton. Cannon boomed and the excited cheers of the mul- titudes on shore and afloat swelled the volume of notse until one could shout into a neighbor’s ear and not be heard.. The great outburst of enthusiasm lasted for many minutes after the Ohlo had come to the end of its first little voyage and lay Immovable, its huge hull, unladen with machinery and armament, towering high in the air. Then as the workingmen aboard her bagan descending by ladders over her side into rowhoats that had put out to recelve them the flotilla began to break up and the motley craft to make their way back to their docks. There was plenty of jostling and maneuvering before the vessels got clear of each other. The President was escorted abdftd the Slocum without delay. His flagship steamed back to the transport wharf, passing the warships and threading its way between them, while each fired the ;.w;.emy-one guns of the Presidential sa- ute. ',_1 S Dl LB APyx.. I [/ DENT], J‘A"Q‘/pfi 7y RO - i Lo s ! HIYEY -+ Many Private Parties Go Down to the Launching . in Pleasure Boats to View the Spectaecle of a Great Warship Taking Its Maiden Plunge, The launching of the Ohio drew into the flotilla of pleasure boats all the available craft of the bay. From huge ferry-boats with a carrying capacity of 1000 or more to tiny launches and still smaller row- boats, there were hundreds of craft jost- ling each other for choice positions in the front ranks, and some of those that had been advertised as certain to get where a cholce view might be had of the launch- ing failed to get nearer than a long half- mile of the point of interest. The Slocum, the proudest boat of all the flotilla, for It was the President’s flag- ship and the center of interest throughout the occasion, had aboard it probably the most distinguished company that has ever gathered on the decks of any vessel on the bay of San Francisco. In addition to the President there were the members of the Cabinet and their wives, Governor Gage, Governor Nash and Governor Geer, Mayor Phelan and the members of the ex- ecutive committee who planned the fes- tivities of the week, which, unfortunately, were cut short by the illness of Mrs. Mec- Kinley. Congressmen on a Tug. The steamer Resolute carried the visit. ing Congressmen and California’s Con- gressional delegation. The trip was a complimentary excursion tendered by the Risdon Iron Works under the ausplces of the Ohio Society. The start was made from the Jackson-street wharf aty, 10 o'clock, and after an inspection of the Risdon Iron Werks the steamer proceeded to the scene of the launching. After the Ohio rested safely in the water an excur- sion about the bay was made, the United States naval training school on Goat Isl- and being among the points of interest visited. Jolly Crowd on Annie. The tug Annle carried a jolly party, guests of W. H. Healy and James A. Mc- Mahon. Captain Tichworth was in com- mand. A pleptiful supply of refreshmer.ts was aboard and guests aboard craft iying near the Annie were invited on the taig to share the good things. On the re- turn the Annie had an exciting race with the tug Lottle, Captain Uxman, and won after a hair-raising finish that was wit- nessed by thousands of excursionists. The General McDowell carried a load of officers of the regular army and their familles and friends. The excursion was arranged by Captain Plummer of Major General Shafter's staff. The San Pablo, the Ukiah, the Sausa- lito and the Sunol each carried large numbers of sightseers. Guests on the Irwin. ‘The Harbor Commissioners were aboard the Goverpor Irwin. Speaker C. W. Pen- dleton. alter F. Parker and Hervey Lindley were among the guests. The Governor Markham carried Governor Gage's staff and a number of guests. Two large barges towed by stern-wheel- ers carried members of the Ohio Society and their frlends. Each had nearly 1000 persons aboard. The river steamer Modoc was reserved for the use of Southern Pacific officlals and their guests. There were 200 passen- gers. The Piper-Aden-Goodall Company gave / quite a number of their friends a very pleasant view of the launch from the decks of the Sunol. The captain took the steamer on the outer side of the warships, giving the party an exceptionally good view of all the gayly decorated men-of- war and small craft in the lower bay. A little before 12 o’clock he turned and took a pusition off the iron works close to the President’s tug Slocum. Had a Good View. From this %mm all the guests had a fine view of the launching, and were &Ele to be among the first to get away after the battleship had left the ways. They then steamed slowly up the bay among the re- turning fleet, giving the party a chance to partake of light refreshments and lis- ten to the music from the stringed orches- tra on board. The Society of Old Friends was aboard the City of Dawson. Captain Leale had some 200 guests aboard the Caroline, among them being sociate Justices McFarland and Ga- routte of the Suvreme Court and many members of the Press Club, and no ship's load on the bay had a jolller time than they. The Grace Barton was used by the Cos- mos Club. One of the jolliest crowds that saw the lanch was that on board the river steamer City of Stockton, whicn rad been secured by Stanford Parlor of the Nalive Sons of the Golden West. She carried more than 0 persons and was brightly decorated with flags, red, white and biue burting and In ‘ront of the pilot-house there was an immense sign bearing the name and number of the parlor. A brass band on the forward deck played patri- otic music as vigorously as the musicians could furnish the necessary amount ef 4 wind. 2