The news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1877-1900, 1895-03-21
FRANCIS SCOTT KEY.
the Inspired Author Of "The Sta
Spangled Banner"

In the history Of humanity 1t Is occa.
sionally seen how some one act car
raise q man from obscurity and make
him for all time famous. There lies
his life before him gray, uneventful,
unknown. Suddenly, as If n fame
laaped out, the man, inspired by some
divinity, does some one thing-achieves
some single feat-and what was before
dim and obscure becomes now radiant
| with glory which. time can never take
away. Such was pre-eminently the
life Of Francis Scott Key, the author
of Americas famous song, '"The Star
Spangled Banner" Living as an hon
ored and respected citizen, never haV-
ing done anything surprising or likely
to make him famous, one nights
events inspired him with poem which
! will endure so long as the United
States exists. These reflections are
called forth by the fact that the ami
versary Of Keys death occurred re-
Gently, which event took place in Balti.
more in 1913.
1t was G3 years before that he was
born in Frederick County, Maryland,
the son Of John Ross Key, revolu
tionary hero. Keys school days seem
to have passed uneventfully. He prob
ably studied and fought and played as
every other boy has donesand gave no
Indication of what he would do in the
| future.
His youth passed In the same con.
ventional way. He studied law, was
admitted to the bar and eventually
became District Attorney Of the Dis
trict Of Columbia. having removed to
Washington some years before.
1t was in 1914 that the events oc.
Cured which led on to Keys great
! song. In that year the British forces
were engaged in doing what they could
to harass the United States in retail.
iation for destruction wrought by our
soldiers in upper Canada. The city Of
Washington had suffered terribly at
their hands, fire and the sword being
called to the aid Of the invaders. Their
evil work done the English withdrew
to Marlborough, thirty-fye miles from
the National Capital. Among the resi-:
dents Of this place was DIR. William
Beanes, wealthy but irascible and
hot-tempered planter. He IN some way
! managed to get into q. quarrel with one
of the English soldiers and was taken
prisoner and afterward conveyed on
board the British ship Surprise.
Now Key happened to sbe a great
friend Of Beanes, and hearing Of his
plight came to the British ship under
a flag Of truce e arrange aboutShis re-
lease. Here Key tisasefsSTas detain-
ed, the commander saying that the
force were about to attack Baltimore;
that he could not allow them to de-
I,art for fear they would give the
alarm, but that they must wait until
the bonbardment was over. The at
tack was to be made on the water side
and by 4 small land force at the same
time, but the greater reliance was
placed on the vessels. Baltimore's
harbor was principally guarded by
Fort McHenry and small earth bat
terry on the Lazaretto and it was be-
lieved that these could be easily over
come.
1t was Sept 13 that the attack on
the city was begun and continued in
decisively all that day and the next.
Then news came to the English that
the land attack had been failure, and
therefore, unless the forts on the
water front could be taken, retreat
was inevitable.
Taking advantage Of the darkness
on the night Of the 14th number Of
British vessels moved to within a short
range Of Fort McHenry and opened
sudden and terrible fire. Five hundred
bombs fell within the ramparts, as
many more burst over them. Again
the enemy made q desperate attempt
to gain the city. They passed Fort Nc
Henry in safety. when suddenly the
battery on the Lazaretto opened fire
upon them, and they We're forced to re-
treat in much confusion.
Meanwhile Key and Beanes on the
British vessel awaited in agonizing
suspense the issue Of the night Would
the enemy prevail, sail past Fort Nc
Henry and enter Baltimore there to
repeat the outrages heaped on Wash
inston? They knew We'll how weak
comparatively We're the Americans,
how strong the English; they knew
we'll the proud boasts made by the |
enemy and they feared they might
have a fulillment all too true. What
added to the mems uncertainty was
that after midnight they could no
longer make out the fort and see the |
flag there, for the air was filled with |
the dense smoke Of the cannons. All |
through the night the suspense lasted, !
but 1T { in the morning the firing ccas- !;
ed. The large ships doomed through !:
the mist and the silent fort lay before !
them swathed III vapor. With eager |
eyes Key watched the shore, strainine !;
every nerve. The clouds began to lift !
little by little. At last Key discerned !
over the fort the flag, the symbol show
ing that the place was still unconquer- |
ed, the enemy unable to gain victory. !
II was q supreme moment and in !
spired by 1t he gave forth the Star
Spangled Banner"
When Key arrived at Baltimore he
carefully copied out the verses which
he had hastily jotted down and sent ,
4la... "a q r,rinn to1. h,. tho handS of fNn Ut