West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1904-01-07


It's not generally known that I'm
Gle Sam has no Matt nalzAnthem, al
Yhough ssrhe Star spangled Banner"
among the people generally has fir
ed the bill IN this respect Recent-
ly the Navy Department at Wash
ington issued an order the effect of
which makes the sproduction OF
Francis Scott Key the National An
them. This order directs that what
ever the Star Spangled banner is
played, the officers and men in the
Navy shall stand at attention unless
they be engaged on duties which
will not permit them to do so. It
j. further required that the same
respect shalt be observed toward
the National Anthem of any other
country when played in the pre-
sence of official representatives of
such country. The Chicago Re-
cord Herald points out that by this
order the United States Navy is
given an Official anthem which win re-
ceive recognition in every port
where the Stars and Stripes winch
Key saw s.Lg the dawn early lighls
mas float. Hitherto the fleets of
oshes nations have heard t'Anefics's
tie "Ssar Spapgled Banner aud
sDixie' without kuowing which
really was recognized by this coun.
try as Its Natiousl Anthem. France
has It's sMarselIaise, Engiand its
Good Save the King. aud Ger
many its (. Waoht ana Rhein.p but the
American sailor had no Official an.
them which be could sing and know
he was voicing the words dearest
to lis countpanen Henceforlh
he.mAy demand that proper respect
be shown not only 70 the American
aag itself. but also tot as described
il Keys 'sfar spaagled Baaners
The story Of tae origin Of the
.'Ssar Seangled Banner IS always
Interesting Pointing OUT that this
aaEheh. was written By Francis
Scott Key, seplember IS, 1914.
while he and his comrades on beard
the cartel ship M:nden we're watch
ing the storming OF Baltimore by
Admiral cockrsne, the Record
Herald says: ssKey had been sent
with Johns. skinner Of Baltimore
to Admiral cockrane to request the
the release OF Or. Beanes. Of Upper
Marlboro, Who had been captured
ii Washington. esThe British adj
miral consented 10 release Dr.
Beanes, bat woui6 not lei the
Americans leave the hafbor, as he
intended to attack Baltimore, and
did not want the information 10
reach the city ahead Of him. The
Minden. on which Key and his
friends were, was anchored within
sight Of Fort McfIenry. From its
decks he ihree friends watched the
bembardment. It ceased before
dawn, bat ], was Impossible for the
anxious Americans to see whether
o. not the fort had fallen. They
awaited daylight With painful sus
penss 10 The dim bgbt OF the
morning they saw through their
glasses toe star spangled banner yet
waving 10 triumph over the fort,
and soon learned Of DE defeat Of
nc British When the feet was
ready % sail Key and IS lnends
were reaieased and remrncd to Bali.
more"
frring the bombardment lie
rs1hcjs Scott Kcg was pacing tie
deck between midnight ard ) vn.
Re composed zoe popular song lie
frsl siah4e q which expressed lie
feelings % the ihousands ~ eye
Witnesses % TIE scene. Jbe Rec
ofd Herald Says "Thc rude sub
stance - tic song eas written 81 tie
back ofa letter on TIE night sffer
bis return 70 Baltimore Key wrote
8 or is iun ard read u 70 bis uncle,
Jadgs Nicholson, one Of he defcn-
Gers q he fort. The pleased Judge
had 3 printed BY Captain Benjamin
Rdes Samuel Sands set TIE type
md distributed The FIRST copies I'll
was sung b. Charles Darane AZ
restaurant next door 10 he Hoilf