New-York tribune., 1920-09-18
100000 Observe Constitution
Day at Scene of Explosion
Shadow of Tragedy Impresses Throng Gathered at
Washington Statue; Two Speeches Made
and National Anthem Sung

A touch Of deep solemnty was added
yesterday to the aftermath Of the Wall
Street explosion when a crowd, csti-
mated at more than 100000, gathered
IN Wall, Nassau and Broad streets, in
the vicinity of the Sub-Trcasury
Building. and participated in patriotic
exercises conducted by the Sons OF the
American Revolution in celebration Of
the 133d anniversary of Constitution
Day. the day of the adoption OF the
Constitution.
The crowds began to gather just as
the chimes OF Trinity Church sounded
the noon hour. At the same time bu-
glers symbolizing the Spirit of 1776"
summoned the people from the steps
o. the Sub-Treaaury Building TO as
semble abouc the statue Of George
Washington, which remained unscathed
in Thursdays explosion. The ever
cses were brief, Iastlng not more than
half an hour.
Crowds Sing Anthem
To the accompaniment Of the buglers
the thousands, with heads bare, sang
"America" and The Star-Spangled
Banner"
With the exception of the celebra-
tons which marked the Liberty
loan campaigns, Wall and Nassau
streets probably never witnessed such
a spontaneous and fcrvid expression of
patriotism.
Everybody II the vicinity, men and
wc1nen alike, seemed to join in it,,
while the statue o. Washington, stand
ing on the spo. where George Wash
ington first touh the oath Of office as
President Of United States, seemed to
symbolic the stability and power oi
the nation.
The thousands who passed the spot
yesterday seemed to be more impressed
with the escape Of the statue than
w.tE the other signs Of the tragedy.
Every one pointed out the spots on
the pedestal where pieces Of the struc-
ture were chipped off by fragments
Of the bomb, and then pointed to the
statue itself, which was unmarried.
The exercises on the Sub Treasury
steps were presided over by General
Oliver B. Bri6gman, president of the
Sens of the American Revolution. The
principal address was delivered by
General William J. Nicholson, U. S. A.
Both speakers emphasized the point
that just as the nation, under its Con-
SLiluClON, ndu survived many SHOCh
AND blow delivered by enemies within
grow and prosper in the face of the
new enemies who, with bomb and
torch, might seek to undermine it's
foundations and throw it into con-
fusion.
Many Night Sightseers
Sightseers continued to pour into
Wall Street last night and strolled
from Broadway to William Street
stopping now and then to point out
the remnants of the havoc wrought
Thursday by the explosion. A score
or more of searchlights set about the
scene Of the recent disaster on Wall
Nassau and Broad streets lighted the
sines Of the buildngs~
There was nothing left, however, to
excite the curious. The street was re-
were gone But the visitors pointed
to the cnippet. walls, the spot where
the wagon had stood in which the ex
ploslve was said to have been, and thu
spot where the overturned automobile
( rad lain.
1t was quiet IN the ne,ghborhood. a.
it always is at night If there had beer
no policemen, no throngs Of visitor.
and the lights had not lit up the scene
and gwen 1T a staged effect, Wal
Street might have appeared merely q.
If some very orderly construction worl
was under way in two or three build
lngs.
In the Old Slip police station, onl,
few blocks away. the police wer'
holding property picked up following
the blast. There were mems hats, some
OF them tattered There were women.
mats with their fancy work spoiled
ahreds Of clothing. a vender's baske
full of penny candies and many othe1
articles.
Great sheets Of muslin hung insid,
the wide windows of the J. 2. Morgan
building and the United States Assa
building yesterday and were .he chi,
viHIblc reminders of the tragedy.
Work went forward in the Sub
Treasury and Assay Office as usual, tn
only difference being the late arriva
Of several members Of the stats, OWN,
to inability TO get through the crowds
Messengers and runners for broker
age firms raced through the streets a
usual. and in some cases were accom-
panied by guards.
careful examination Of the build
ings In the vicinity Of the explosio,
vas vas, made Yesterday by Rudolph P
Miller. Superintendent OF Buildings. I
ascertain whether the shock had rend
cred any OF them dangerous None o
them, ha reported had been scriousl,