The Palatka daily news. (Palatka, Fla.) 1884-1888, 1886-06-08
AMID BATTLE SMOKE.
uOW KEY WROTE THE .sTAR.
sPANGLED BANNER~


lille Seeking To Release n Frie,,
the Patriot Conceives His song
The Circumst ances that Made
Mrs. Geo. III. Pendieton's
Father Famous.
The tragic death of Mrs. George Ii
Pendleton, wife Of the American minis
ter at Berlin. and daughter Of Francis
Scott hey, author of the ''Star-SpangleJ
Tanner" writes j. Fairfax Mclaughlin
adds to the story Of that famous ma
tlonai war song, and . movement e
erect a monument to its author, q fresh
and vivid, il melancholy interest. Forty
years ago and more. the writer lived in
the historic house from which Key Was
captured just before he wrote the ballad
that has immortalized his name. Mr..
hey was horn Mt Frederick, Nd, Au.
gust |. 1873, and died at Baltimore Jan.
uary II, lSl3. lie was educated at st.
Johns College, Annapolis, practice.l
law at Frederick, then went 10 live a,
Georgetown. and finally became Listric,
attorney Of Washington. A good law.
Yer, brilliant wit, and man Of poetic
genius, II Is yet true that q COMPARE.
lively triilng circumstance. his presence
at the hombardment Of Fort MclIenry,
afforded the single opportunity IT his
life to render his name famous for all
time. n volume of his roems was pull
li,hel mt Baltimore about thirty years
ago, and snme mention IL him il 81 te
found in McCarty's National Songs, ="
AMI in more recent Publications. but his
one great song oversha,lowel all else in
his career.
In the autumn Of 1914 the tide Of war
brought Admiral Cockburu to the repub-
lican capital. and the torch MA ruth.
l'.ssly applied by the British under Cock.
burn and Ross. When the Brit isl army
reached Marlborough. in the march on
Washington, CUckburn, X. N and their
staff officers made their hsa,ll,lartrrs nj
Dr. Branes' residence. The best that
the house afforded was laid before them.
Pleased with his reception, Gen. Ross
placed guards around the gronnGs and
outho'Iscs to prevent d-pre,iations by
the trnps. The subsequent movement
of Ross and COckburn are written in the
full blaze Of history. AMI never were the
English arms stained with fouler dis
grace than by these two leaders. The
sO-called American army IT some 5000
farmers and mechanics hastily rallied IL
tho capital by Gen. Winder, with $50
regular soldiers and 7O0 sailors and ma.
rines under the gallant Commodore Bar.
ney, made q show Of resistance when
the British reached Bla.lensb,lrg. hut
what show was there Tor raw lrvies
against veterans who had seen
SERVICE UNDER WELLINGTON!
DIR. Beanes was sitting in his parl0r
with several neighl,ors ON the Goth Of
August, when u negro rushed in aud
exclain,ej: "Massa, DE d.cOats are
flynn; dey done got whipped sl,oa."
There they were ON the outskirts VI the
village. in full retreat 10 their ships.
Was 1t any wonder that Dr. Beanes and
his neighbors became jubilant? Any
wonder that they should have retired IL
a neighboring dell. where a delightful
spring dubbed up out II the cool earth,
and there made bowl Of punch 10
celt brate the American victory which
they confidently believed had been won!
The flowing bowl had been filed again
AMI again, and the doctor and his
friends were becoming rather hilarious,
when three British stragglers came to
the spring to get q drink OF water. The
red coats claimed the victory for their
side and the Americans for theirs. From
words they fell to blows, and the Eng.
lishmen were carried of prisoners OF
war TO the court house by the doctor a d
his friends. But CockburM heard OF il,
and that night he sent back a troop Of
horse to liberate his men and bring in
Dr. Beanes. The poor doctor was
dragged from his couch, carried oil and
imprisoned in the forepart Of one Of the
ships, where he was treated with the
utmost harshness.
Key resolved to release his friend at
all hazards. President Madison heartily
seconded his efforts, and ordered that
he vessel used as a cartel should he
placed at his service. The President
directed John s. Skinner, agent for the
'xchange Of prisoners, and well known
10 the British. to accompany Mr.. Key.
rhey came up with the enehiys fleet at
he mouth Of the Potomac. and were
received courteously by Admiral Cock.
,urn. But on making known the oh
Iect Of his mission, Mr.. Key was replied
% by Admiral Cockburn in characters. .
ic terms. "lnstead Of being released"
aid the n,ara,i,ler, "Dr. Barnes should
" hung 10 the yardarm of this ship"
Thus repulsed, Key turnesi ~ Gen. Ross
md handed him letters from English |
prisoners who had been wounded and !
eft behind after the battle Of Biadens.
airg. They spoke in grateful terms Of
he kind treatment Of the Americans. I
tols was naturally IA hwmane man, and /
vas moved at this agreeable news. See
ng his advantage Key again made an
'arnest plea for the release OF DIR. !
,eanes, and this time Gen. Ross con.
ented that the doctor should be returned
% his friends. but added that the whole /
,arty would have to he detained pend. /
ny the attack on Baltimore, then about !
o take place. Key and Skinner were
transferred to the ftigate Surprise, but
'eanes was still confined on the flagship
I,nOng the
SAILORS AND SOLDIERS.
Ross landed ard led his army to the
ack Of Baltimore; Cockburn moved up
he the Patapsco, transferred bis flag to
he Surprise, Of lighter draught than the
ligship, and when all was in readiness
he bolnbar,lnlent VI the fort began,
|, lille the roar OF hattie from the shore
old that America and England were
NEE more locked in the tug Of war.
Meantime Key, skinner and Boanes had
,een trans ferred 10 their own vessel an.