The southern sentinel. (Winnfield, La.) 1883-1910, 1886-08-06

DR.. Beanes was sitting in his parlo
with several neighbors on the 26th q
August when . negro rushed in and es
claimed "Massa, de red-coats are fly
in; dey done got whipped, shoa." Their
they were, on the outskirts OF the vii
) lage. in full retreat to their ships. Wa
it any wonder that DIR. Beanes and hi
neighbors became jubilant? Any won
der that they should have retired to
neighboring dell where q delightful
spring bubbled up out of the cool earth
and here made bowl of punch to cele
brate the American victory which the,
confidently believed had been won
The flowing bowl had been filed AGAR
and again, and the doctor and hi
friends were becoming rather hilarious
when three British stragglers came Il
the spring to get drink Of water. Thu
red-coats claimed the victory for theil
side and the Americans for theirs. From
words they fell to blows, and the En-.
glishmen were overpowered and carried
of prisoners of war to the courthouse
by the doctor and his friends. But
Cockburn heard of it, and that night he
sent back troop of horse to iberate
his men and bring in DIR. Beanes. The
poor doctor was dragged from his couch,
carried off and imprisoned in the fore
part OF one of the ships, where he was
treated with the utmost harshness. Key
resolved to release his friend at all haz-
ards President Madison heartily sec
onded his efforts and ordered that the
vessel used as q cartel should be placed
ut his service. The President di-
rected MIR. John S. Skinner,
agent for the exchange of pris-
oners and well known to the British
to accompany Mr.. Key. They came up
with the enemy's fleet at the mouth Of
the Potomac, and were received courte-
ously by Admiral Cochrane. But on
making known the object of his mission
MIR. Key was replied to by Admiral
Cockburn in characteristic terms. s.In-
stead Of being released" said the
marauder, ..Dr. Beanes should be hung
At the yardarm Of this ship" Thus re-
pulled. Key turned to General Ross and
handed him letters from English pris-
oners who had been wounded and left
behind after the battle of Bladensburg.
They spoke in grateful terms OF the kind
treatment Of the Americans. Ross was
naturally humane man and was moved
at this agreeable news. Seeing his adj
vantage Key again made an earnest plea
for the release Of Dr.. Beanes, and this
time General Ross consented that the
doctor should be returned to his friends.
but added that the whole party would
have to be detained pending the attack
on Baltimore, then about to take place.
Key and Skinner were transferred to be
frigate Surprise, but Beanes was still
confined on the flagship among the
sailors and soldiers. who treated him
with rudeness No officer spoke to
him; he was not allowed change of |
clothing, and the vindictive Cockburn
roquited the doctors former hospitality |
By ordering him to be held as q culprit |
rather than prisoner Of war. Again |
the story reaches . memorable historic
9cene. The xttack pm Baltimore, the bat-l
lie OF North Point and the lombard
ment OF Fort McHenry. Ross
landed and led his army to the |
sack Of Baltimore; Cochrane moved
Up the Patapsco, transferred his
lag to the Surprige. of lighter draught |
han the flagship. and when all was in
readiness the bombardmeut of the fort
began, while the roar Of battle from the
IhOre told that America and England
we're once moro locked IN the tug of
var. Meantime Key, Skinner and
Beancs had been Transferred to their
'wn vessel under guard Of British
sailors TO prevent their escape during
The conflict The American vessel /
. position from which the flag
q Fort Henry was distinctly. seen.
Night fell and the darkness was made
'lable BY the glare Of shot and shell
,layang oil night long on the devoted
orr Il was . grand spectacle, and
Key and his friends paced the deck
through the night ~ the rockets whixxed
md shells exploded. But the fort had
rot fallen. for the bombardment con-
inued. Suddenly, just before dawn.
he firing ceased, but nothing could be
sen, and the Americans were unable r.
ell on which side victory had fallen.
q. Aey often Afterwards spoke of that
9oment q the most trying Of his life.
q consulted his watch and counted the
moments before dawn. At last . gray ,
Wight spread over the lace Of the deem.
nd our watchers eagerly peered
trough their glasscs to find whether
Ae enemy's nag or their own hoated
yer the beleaguered fort At length !
" light came, and they saw that our {
q was sill there! When Mr.. Kew ~ .
aid the nag Of his country above the
owning battlements his ecstacv found s.
Ipreedon in the frst and second stanxaa
the s'Star-Spangled Banner, !" and his Z
III heart oy0rfl0Wod ~ - 5000 +