The Marietta journal. [volume] (Marietta, Ga.) 1866-1909, 1895-06-06
FRANCIS SCOTT KEYS SONG.
New Facts as to the Origin of THE Star
Spangled Banner"

Spangled Banner"
The following leaf from the his
tory of the county seat of Prince
Georges county, Md, has been care
fully preserved by an old inhabitant
of Marlboro, and now for the first
time is given to the public;
The day the British army passed
Marlboro en- route from Benedict to
Washington DR.. William Beanes, a
prominent physician and citizen of
Marlboro, was dining party of his
friends at his residence, among them
DR.. William Hall and Mr.. Philip
Weems. Excitement in the neigh
borhood ran high, and a feeling of
intense hostility was awakened
against the soldiery, who, during
their ascent of the Patuxent and
their march across the country, had
acted more like a party of marauders
than a disciplined army. The main
body of the army on the day refer
red to encamped at the Wood
Yard" about five miles from this
place, and party of stragglers
roamed into Marlboro.
Some of the convivial guests of
DR.. Beanes, seeing the redcoats in
town, suggested that the party go
out and arrest them, and the sug-
gestion was adopted and put into ex-
ecution without delay. When they
were released, they fastened to re-
join the army and reported the treat
ment they had received in Marlboro,
and squad was sent back to arrest
the ringleaders of the arresting par
ty. Accordingly Drs. Beanes and
Hill and Mr.. Weems were taken into
custody and hurried off to Bristol,
some miles from Marlboro, on the
Patuxent, at which place Admiral
Cochrane's flagship lay at anchor
AS special indignity DR.. Beanes
was forced to ride the entire dis
lance on a barebacked horse.
When they We're taken on ship
board and the case was reported to
Admiral Cochrane, he was disposed
at first to use severe measures with
the prisoners, but better counsel pre-
vailed, and when the ship reached
Benedict DR.. Hill and Mr.. Weems
were released. DR.. Beanes, however,
did not fare so well. He was re-
tanned on the ship and carried to
Baltimore, which had been marked
for destruction.
At that time Francis Scott Key,
who was a nephew of DR.. Beanes,
was residing in Georgetown, D. c.,
where he was a prominent member
of a glee club, which was composed
of what was then the best musical
talent of the place. Hearing of the
arrest and detention of his uncle,
he fastened to the scene of the
approaching conflict and went
aboard the ship under cover of a flag
of truce to secure if possible his re-
lease, and there he was detained
during the hpmbardment of Fort
McHenry.
Out of the hopes and fears of his
temporary imprisonment were born
the sentiments of the song that has
made him famous. After the bonn
bardment he was sent ashore, but
DR.. Beanes was carried to Halifax,
where he remained prisoner for
over a year. After his release he
returned to his old home in Marlbo-
TO, where he died III 1923, aged 80
years. His grave may be seen at
Marlboro today on what is knowrAas
Academy hill.
When Mr.. Key returned to George
town, so the story runs, at the first
meeting of his glee club thereafter
he related to his companions the
thrilling experiences of his self i'm
posed confinement, and the sugges-
ton was Immediately made that he
commit the incident to verse. The
suggestion was acted upon, and the
"Star Spangled Banner" was read
amid great applause at their next
meeting. 1t was first sung by them
to the air of an old Lutheran hymn.
Thus it will be seen that the circum-
stances from which came the soul
stirring words of our national song
grew out of thoughtlessly precipi-
tated incident that occurred in MARI
boro. Washington Post.