Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1895-05-25
THE STAR-sPAheLEo BANNER.
New Facts Concerning the Composition of
the Patriotic Song.

New Facts Concerning the Composition of
the Patriotic Song.
The following leaf froi.i the history
Of the county seat of Prince Georges
county, Md, has been carefully pre-
served by an old inhabitant of Marl-
boro, and now for the first time is
given to the public:
The day the British army passed
Marlboro, en- route from Benedict to
Washington, DIR. William Beanes,
prominent physician and citizen of
Marlboro, was dining a party of his
friends at his residence, among whom
were DR.. william Hill and Mr.. Philip
Weems. Excitement in the neighbor-
hood ran high, and a feeling of intense
hostility was awakened against the
soldiery, who, during their ascent of
the Pstuxent and their march across
the country, had acted more like a
party of marauders than a disciplined
army. Tho main body of the army, on
the day referred to, enoamped at the
Wood Yard" about hve 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 suggestion was
adopted and put into execution with
out delay. When they were released
they hastened to rejoin the army, and
reported the treatment they had re-
ceived in Marlboro, and a squad was
sent back to arrest the rinRleaders of
the arrestlng party. 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
a special indignity DIR. Beanes was
forced to ride the entire distance on a
barebacked horse.
When they were taken on shipboard.
and the case was reported to Ad-
miral Cochrane, he was at first disposed
! to use severe measures with the pris-
oners, but better counsel prevailed, and
when the ship reached Benedict DIR.
Hill and Mr.. Weems were released. DR..
Beanes, however, did not fare so well.
He was retained on the ship, and car
ried to Baltimore, which had been
marked for destruction.
At that time, Francis Scott Key. who
was nephew of DR.. Beanes, was re-
siding in Georgetown, d. c., where he
was a prominent member of glee
club, which was composed of what was
then the best musical talent of the
place. Hearing Of the arrest aud de-
tention of his uncle, he hastened to the
scene Of the approaching conflict, and
went aboard the ship under cover of a
flag of truce, to secure, if possible, his
release, and then he was detained dur
ing the bombardment of Fort Nc
Henry.
Out of the hopes and fears of his tenn
porary imprisonment were born the
sentiments of the song that made him
famous. After the bombardment 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
Marlboro, where he died in 1928, aged
eighty years. His grave may be
seen at Marlboro to-day on what is
known as 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-imposed con-
finement, and the suggestion was i'm
mediately made that he commit the in
cident to verse. The suggestion was
acted upon, and the Star Spangled
Banner was read amid great applause
at their next meeting. 1t was frs
sung by them to the air of an ole
ha
that the circumstance from which
came the soul-stirring words of our ma
tional song grew out of thoughtlessl.
precipitated incident that occurred il
Marlboro, Washington Post.