Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1893-02-10
How the star spsngled Banner Was
Written.

Francis Scott Key, the author of the
"Star Spangled Banner" was born in
Frederick, Maryland, in 1850, and was the
son of a revolutionary officer. When the
invasion of Washington took place in
1914 Key was engaged in the practice of
law at Georgetown, d. c. He and other
residents of the district uniformed them
selves, offered their services to the govern
ment, and were employed in active service
from the time the British feet appeared in
the Patuxent, preparatory to the move
ment upon Washington. When the Brit
ish troops encamped in Marlboro in their
march to Washington, Admiral Cockburn
and his staff officers selected the house of
DR.. William Beanes, one of the best in up
per Marlboro, for their headquarters.
During their stay the officers were of course
furnished with the best the house could Of
fer, and they in return treated the inmates
with much courtesy and consideration.
Not long after their departure for their
ships, however, DR.. Beanes put himself at
the head of a small body of citizens for
the purpose of capturing any stragglers re-
naming in the village. Their plans were
so well laid that they succeeded in making
prisoners of more than 20 men. One of
their captives, managing in some way to
escape, carried the news of the attack to
the British fleet and detachment of Brit
ishers was at once sent to their rescue.
After lberating their own men they secur-
ed Dr. Beanes and the other leaders of the
attack and carried them back in triumph
to their ship. A day or two later all but
DR.. Beanes, who was considered valua
BILE prisoner, were set free.
Upon hearing of his capture, Key, who
was one of his most intimate friends, at
once resolved to release him, and applied
to the President for permission to visit the
British fleet under flag of truce. This
was readily granted, and the agent for the
exchange of prisoners, John S. Skinner,
was directed TO accompany him on the
cartel Key was courteously received by
Admiral Cockhurn, but when he made
known his errand, his request was so cold
ly received that he feared he would be I'M
able to accomplish its object. He pleaded
eloquently and reinforced his arguments
by letters from wounded British officers
left in Bladensburg, to their friends, in
which they spoke of the humanity and
kindness with which they had been treated
after falling into our hands. After much
conversation, to show his appreciation of
our goodness to their wounded General
Ross finally consented to liberate DR..
Beanes. but at the same time informed
Key that they would be detained until aft
er the attack on Baltimore. Accordingly
they were transferred to the frigate "Sur
prise and soon afterwards under a Brit
ish guard to their own vessel.
They were fortunate in being anchored
within sight of Fort McHenry. Through
the night it was plainly visible by the
glare of battle, and was watched by one
| little party with absorbing interest. Be
| fore dawn the firing ceased, and the re-
mainder Of the night they restessly paced
the decks, waiting with painful suspense
| for the first signs of day. Long before it
was light enough to distinguish objects at
a distance they turned their glasses to the
/ fort, not knowing whether they should see
the stars and stripes or the flag of the en-
envy floating on the breeze. At last light
came, and they saw that "our flag was still
there" and in that "hOur of deliverance
and joyful triumph" the words of the i'm
! perishable song were written-words that
found a response in the heart of every
American citizen.
Key wrote the lines hastily on the back
of an envelope, finishing them in the boat
on his way to the shore. They were first
published in the Baltimore American, but
within an hour from the time the copy was
placed in the hands of the printer, with
the direction that they were to be sung to
the tune of "Anacreon in Heaven" they
were all over town. When sung by Chas.
Durang, the actor, at the Holiday street
theatre, the patriotic song was received
night after night with wild enthusiasm.
While on a visit to his daughter Mrs.
Howard of Baltimore, Francis Scott Key
was taken suddenly ill and died Jan. IL,
1S43.