Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1871-06-17
"THE sTAR-sPANGLED BANNER
How ft was Composed aud Set 60
Music, as Related by an Octogenarian.

'An0Nou Knew Francis Kew p"
"knew him Why he lived hut a few doors
above my fathers house. There were once two
brothers, John Ross and Philip Barton Kew.
Philip was an officer in the British army during
the Revolutionary war, whilc John was i'm that
OF the United States. John lived on Pines
Creek, near IaneytOwn. Frederick county Ma
where Francis and his sister Anna. Johns only
children, were born. There was aneNiled Scotch
man, Mr.. Bruce-said % have been heir % the
throne OF Sootlaud-who had built a mill on
Pipes Creek, and there, in the company OF this
noble old aristOcrat, Frank spent his very early
boyhood. The brothers, Philip and John were,
large, manly hooking fellows, but Prank and Anna
were OF much smaller mould. Anna Key was a
beautiful little girl, with the cheerfullest face
apd most pleasant smile that I ever saw.
When they moved into town, near nv fathers
Frank was half grown, and ready O. enter as a
head of the Frederick bar. Roger was a tall,
gaunt fellow, as lean, they used 90 say, as a
Potomac herring, and "a shTcwd a. the shrewd-
est. he married bright little Anna. Ii was ike
the union OF hawk with a sky lark; but She
lived 20 be the wife OF a Chief Justice of the
United States, and never heard that either re-
pented Of their marriage Mr. Taney was n
strict Catholic, and Frank an Episcopaiian. not
considered very jealous and sharp in his profess
sion, and much given 20 dreaming. lie went to
Virginia, and brought home wife much larger
and taller than himself went 70 HOUSEKEEPING on
Market Street, and had a couple OF little chill
dren when lett my home I'm 1899 10 seek NV
fortune in Lancaster, Pennsylvania.
"Nou have heard of Admiral COckburn who
commanded the British feet? The atrorious
ab,t coward and bOaSter I'm his true colorS Ar
ter his depredations along the Eastern Shore of
Maryland, there followed the sacking Of WASH
ington, the battle OF North Point and the at
tempt OF the enemy 90 take the city of Balti-
more by water, as they had failed 70 DO IL by
land. You know all about the bombardment OF
Fort NJ Henry, September -, 1914. have guno
over Il again, in fancy, hundreds Of times. and
Ill tell You Frank Key patriotic a ne Was 10 his
hearts core, could not help composing that poem.
IL was forced out OF him. Just think. He was n
prisoner on the feet, which was anchored two
miles from Fort NJ 'Henry. the city's main de-
fense. He could watch an the enelny's prenara-
tons, and lac knew the danger they foreboded.
Through the terrific canuouading Of that mid
night fight, while the sky was liz up with the
fiery courses of the flying bombs 30 YOU think
he could sleep? As the struggle ceased upon the
coming morning, and he looked through the dim
twilight for the flag Of his country, his heart sick
with fear and doubt, could he help the grand
outburst OF that first verse; And then a.
through 'the mists of the deep the banner
lcOmed dimly in the morning suns first rays,
It's the star-spafred banner Oh longrnav IL vave
Der the land o. the free and the home the brave y
II was prayer and praise an in one; and there has
never been any thing like il since"
80 Have you heard Francis Key poem - said
one OF our mes, coming in one evening. rs We
lay scattered over the green hill near the cap
tains marquee. II was a rude copy. and writ
ten in a scrawl which Horace Greeley MIGHT
have mistaken for his own. H read il alo1d
once, twice, three times, until the entire di-
vision seemed electrified by its pathetic clO-
gu, nee. An idea seized Ferd Durang Hunt
ing up volume Of old flute music, which was in
- me bCdy's tent, he impatientlv whiet!od
Snatches Of tune after tune. Just a thev caught
hiSGuick eve. One, called Auacreon in Heaven,
n have played il often. for il was IN my book
that he found it, struck his fancy and rivctsd
his attention. Note after note fell from his
puCIered LIPS, until, with leap and shout no
exclaimed, Boys, I've hit it, and fitting the
tune 20 the words, there rang out for the first
time the song OF the Star Spangled Ranner'
How the men shouted and clapred. for never
was there wedding Of poetry 20 music made
under such inspiring infuencesl Getting a brief
furloueh, the brothers sang IL on the stage OF
the Holiday Street Theater soon after II was
caught up in the camps, and sang around our
blvouac fires, and whistled in the streets. and,
when peace was declared, and we scattered 90
our homes, carried TO thousands of firesides "a
the most precious relic of the war Of 1872. Fer
dinand Durang died-I do not know where-and
Frank Keys bones lie i'm the cemetery at Fred
ericktown; but guess that song win live n long
as there Is an American boy 10 sing it."-Nrs.
Nellie EysteT, an HGTpeT's HagaziHe for yilly.