Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-05-07

Il
hours. The gallant Maj. Armistead, IN
command of the fort. had largely reserveo
his fire, the ships lying beyond the range
of his guns. That evening the British az
.iral sent one or two bomb vessels Win
barges and about fifteen hundred men 10
pass the fort. and moving up the ra,apse ~
assail the same in the rear Armistead' az
McHenry, aided by Fort Darlington and the
city battery, met them with calling nre.
Gripping or sinking many OF their poats
and driving them OF amid the cries Oh tue
dead and dying, to their neet
Previous to the fight, Mr.. Key, accom-
panied by Mr. Jno! 49, Simmer, had gone
aboard the cartel ship Minden to seek the
release of several prisoners espe en Kew Ksv
obtained the release Of the men ana was
about to leave when she was told that ne
would be detained until the attack on tns
the frigate Surprise and there renamed
until the Patapscos WASH reached. Ihey
were then sent to their own vessel, but win
a guard to prevent their landing. They
witnessed the bombardneht from their deck.
on which they remained all night. Key. a
man of fine sensibility, was full OF anxiety
as to the result. He watched every smell
as 1t rose and fell The bombardment ceas-
ing before daylight, he was all anxious TO
know the result. q Tillsthe days early
lght' they paced the deck and strained
their vision. uncertain whether that hght
would reveal the of st. George or
their own starry banHen floating Ger the
fort The cry of his inner heart rang
within. sF q sgf lasir So.
A Heart, Cry.
ION that shore dimly seep ,thfo' the mists of the
Where I the foes naughty host in dread silence
What Is that which the breeze Ger the towering
AZ it htfuliy blows now conceaIs, now dis
closes? At last
''It catches the CLEAN Of the mornings first
In full glory reflected now shines in the
The patriots glad soul instantly leaps forth in
tones which will never die
IT'S the star-spangled banner . long may II
Ger the land of the free and the home Of the
brayep'
The attack had failed: the wounded and
dead were being brought back to the ships
The fleet soon sailed and Key was free 10
90 his way He afterward said:
Though walked the deck surrounded by
a hostile fleet, my heart was still strong.
my step firm. Through. the clouds OF war
view. and / saw the discounted host of the
assaiIants driven back in ignominy to their
ships. Then, in that hour OF dehverance
and joyful triumph, the heart spoke: 10
not such a country and such defenders OF
their country deserve a song? was the
question. With 1t came an INSPIRATION not
to be resisted.
KEY BEGAN the verses on the deck Of the
vessel where he was detained, using the
back of a letter and making some brief
memoranda of the currents OF his thought:
While approaching the shore IN small
boat he finished the draft. That night ri
his hotel in Baltimore he wrote out tne
verses as they now. stand. He showed
them to Judge Nicholson. friend They
greatly pleased the judge, who took them
at once to the Office of the Baltimore
lzH ta6 fnr cy0y1
eral circulation. Samuel Sands, an appren-
tice, set up the copy. He was still living In
Baltimore, in fair health. few years ago.
1.-THE Star Spangled Banner" was first
Theater, Baltimore, by Charles Durang, an
actor, to a tune called "Old Anacreon."
Presently, also, he sang 1t amid great ap-
plause on the stage Of the theater. It took
speedily heard in the streets, at the
bivouac fire, indeed everywhere, and soon
won universal reputation as a national
song.
Keys Sisters.
Two of the sisters of Francis 8. Key still
survived him few years ago, Mrs How
ard of Baltimore and Mrs. Steele OF An
napolis Key was a man of. fine proper
tons, though not tall. : He carried himself
erect and had winning features, with an
expression bordering on sadness. His voice
WAS nuSuCdi, HlS STATEMENTS duu dOuI CSsco
at the bar clear, and on appropriate occa-
sions eloquent. He WAS the author of many
verses and hymns of merit and metrical
beauty. He was q, deyoht member of the
Protestant Episcopal Church of purest life
and greatly beloved by large circle Of adj
miring friends $50 n
When he died a profound grief was felt
throughout the land. The Supreme Court
adjourned. The bar and many societies
passed ardent tributes In his honor. The
press universally Joined in these. Thirty
years afterward Reverdy johnson spoke of
Mr.. Key in these words: sfSome of his writ
ings are truly gems of beauty. His style of
speaking to a court was clear, and his rea-
sonings logical and powerful, while his
speeches to juries, when the occasion ad-
mitted Of it, were beautifully eloquent. To
the graces of his many accomplishments
he added what is still more to his praise
a character of almost religious perfection.
A firm believer in the Christian DISPENSE
ton, his conduct was regulated by the doc
trines inculcated by its founder. This be-
ing SO, his life was one OF perfect purity"
The old flag that fioated 80 proudly amid
the shrieking shells at Fort McHenry is
still in existence and in fairly good condi-
ton. 1t Is in the possession of the Apple
ton family of Boston. Mrs. Geo. Armi-
stead Appleton Is sister Of Col Appleton,
who commanded the besieged but well-de-
Tended fort. GEO. v. LEIGH.
Deathbed