2-969-867 - /Heritage Images

Grand Manifestation in Honour of the Successes of the Allies in the Crimea, given at South Park, San Francisco, 1856. Crimean War. '...a spacious pavilion had been prepared for the banquet. The procession was very large and imposing. It included all the principal French, English, and Italian residents...salutes of 21 guns and 110 guns were fired from H.B.M.'s frigate Amphitrite...Over a wide arch in the centre, were the words "8th September, 1855 Sebastopol"...an altar was erected, on which a silver crucifix and lighted candles were displayed [with] wreaths of evergreens, the flags of the Allied nations...In spite of all these preparations, however, the grand demonstration ended most unfortunately. Before the dinner was fairly over an attack was made by a gang of "rowdies" upon the Malakoff Tower, and in a short time the banquet-hall was seen a scene of confusion...'. From "Illustrated London News", 1856.