The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1889-09-21
THAT srAH-sPANGLED BANNER.
why Eben Appleton Would Not Lend
to a state Fair in Baltimore.


New York Tribune.
II the ssstar-spangled banner" in the pos
session of Eben Appleton we're al ordinary
American ensign, the earnestness OF tne
Ralt;moreans to secure it as a part oil the
celebration to take place on September Ii
in their city would look foolish, and Mr..
Appleton's determination not to let II go
beyond his personal keeping would Do
looked upon as silly oosrnacy. but the
Gag is no, valued alone on account of
its age, nor because it has thirteen stripes
alternating red snd white and only thirteen
stars in its blue field. but because 1t has
history which no other flag has, and unless
extraordinary care is taken to preserve 1t,
the peEnant will before long crumble into
dust. II iloated over Fort McHenry on the
night of September Ia, 1914, during the
bombardment, when Francis Scott Key
was prisoner on the British man-of-war
Minden, from the deck OF which he watched
the handsome banner by:
The Rockets red glsre.
This was the flag about whose broad
stripes and bright stars Francis Scott key
was inspired to write 1.-The Star-Spangled
Banner The circumstances under which
the song was composed were thus de-
scribed by the Baltimore Amer'cca OF
September 81, 1914: Gin the same issue
were published the words of the baliad.)
A gentleman had left Baltimore under
flag of truce for the purpose OF getting re-
leased from the British fleet friend OF his
who had been captured at Marlborough.
He went as far ss the mouth of the Patux-
ent and was not permitted to return, lest
the intended attack on Baltimore should be
disclosed. He was, therefore, brought up
the bay to the mouth of the Patapsco
where the flag vessel was kept under the
guns of frigate, the Surprise, and here he
was compelled to witness the lombard
ment OF Fort McHcnry, which the ad-
miral had boosted he would carry in a few
hours. He watched the flag at the fort
through the whole day with an anxiety
that can be better felt than described until
the night prevented him from seeing it. In
the night he watched the bombshells, and
at early dawn his eye was again greeted by
the proudly waving flag of his country.
The original flag contained about iC0
yards of bunting and was made by Mrs.
Mary Pettengiil. patriotic Baltimore
woman, and was presented to Lieutenant
Colonel George Armistead, OF the army,
then in command of Fort McHenry, with
force OF about loco men. The British
fleet assembled Off Fort McHeury con-
sisted of about thirty sailing vessels and
from September l. to Ii the enemy be-
seged the fort in every available way.
They first landed many of their men
within few miles to the north of the fort
but finding that they could gain no head
way in this manner they returned TO their
vessels and kept up fierce cannonade.
The bombardment lasted about twenty
five hours. during which time from 800 to
1880 bombs were thrown, nearly all
which broke over the fort. Colonel Arm
lstead's total loss was four killed and
twenty-five wounded. That so little in
jury was done by the British fleet was. in
that day. thought to be remarkable.
Colonel Armistead was repeatedly ordered
to Surrender, once by bis superior officer,
but he refused to obey and successfully de
Tended his command.
The Gag was preserved by Colonel Arm
istead and one OF its stripes bears his name
and the day of the bombardmcnt of the
fort III his own handwriting. At his death
the flag fell to his widow by inheritance. who,
at her death, left it 10 her daughter, Mrs
William Stuart Hamilton, who was born at
Fort McHenry, some years after the siege.
1t is now in the possession OF Col. Eben
Appleton. a grandson oil Col. George Armi-
stead. At the time of Col. Armi siead's
victory, the city OF Baltimore presented to
him a silver punch-bowl, in the shape OF
the largest bomb shell thrown into the fort
by the British. The body of the bowl
rested on four eagles. Accompanying this
were twelve silver go5,ets, representing
powder barrels.
The flag has been sought for upon various
occasions. 1t was lent when Lafayette was
entertained in this country. also Mt the
Centennial Exposition at Philadelphia, TO
Baltimore in 1850. and to the recent een;en-
Mai celebration in this city. Mr. Appleton
now refuses TO lend il because ot its de-
cayed condition, and his desire TO preserve
it as sacred a relic.