The Washington herald., 1907-03-10

Mrs. George Livingston Baker. Of
Westervelt avenue. New Brighton, Staten
Island. is authority for the statement that
the star spangled banner. which few over
Fort McHenry during Us bOmbardment
in the War Of 1872. and inspired Francis
Scott Key 20 the composition OF the
national ode. is now in this city. says the
New York Sun Mrs. Baker is the grand
daughter Of Col. George Armistead. The
fay. she says is the property Of Eben
Appleton, Of this city her brother. and
has been deposited by him in the safe
deposit vaults Of a Broadway trust com
pauy. Mrs. Baker refused % give any
more definite address for her brother or
the name Of the trust company. Her
brother had been annoyed so much on
account Of his ownership Of the flag she
said. that be wished his address and the
place Of deposit Of the flag kept private.
Mrs. Baker and her brother are mem
bers of the Appleton family, Of Boston,
and this city. Some Of the New York
Appletons. among them Col. Daniel APP
pleton, of the Seventh Regiment. and -.
W.Appleton. Of Is East Eighteenth street.
were unable to throw any light on the
whereabouts Of the proprietor Of the flag,
but ali knew Of him. Mrs. Baker said
yesterday:
How He Got the FlnE.
'The flag came into possession OF my
brother in this way: Il was originally the
property Of the Government, Of course
After the fort had been successfully de-
Tended against the British in the fight
which prompted Francis Scott Key 90
write the national ode. the Government
presented the flag to Col. Armistead in
recognition of his conduct Of the defense
He died soon after. Three months after
his death his Widow gave birth 10 a lit
tie girl. 10 whom the flag descended. She
married William Stuart Appleton. Of the
Boston family who then came TO Baiti-
more her home, 10 live Ny brother
Eben and I are their only surviving
children. On my mothers death the flag
was left 10 Eben and 10 me all the pic
lures AID data concerning IL.
"The flag itself is in d fine state OF
preservation. The edges are not frayed,
although the fag is pretty dingy and
faded. There are a number Of bullet holes
I'm sCme Of the stripes ana other rents
that look as if they were made by tire
fragments Of shells in the bombardment
II is a large flag of the size usually flown
now over army posts. II has thirteen
stripes. as I remember ] don't remember
how many stars there are in the field, but
the arrangement of them, as I recollect.
Is, about as they are arranged in the pres
eHt day flag.
May Leave It to Washington,
at Is my brothers intention % leave the
flag on his death TO either one Of the
national museums at Washington OF the
Massachusetts Historical Museum at Bos-
ton. Il was his idea, for as a Southeruer
he is devoted TO his State, 10 leave It 10
Maryland or one Of its historical muse
ums But some years ago a number OF
men who were getting Up a horse race
in Pimlico. Nd. thought they would like
TO have the flag at the race. They wrote
my brother TO this effect When he replied
expressing his surprise that they should
ask for the flag for such a trifing use they
boarded a train and came 10 my brothers
house at a time most inconveuieut. They
had been drinking and the upsho; Of their
visit 10 ask the loan of the flag was that
they went away angry and my brother
YVES SO enraSed at their lack of respect
for the relic that DE vowed the flag should
never go TO Maryland.
II is for the same reason, his annoyance
through being the owner of the flag, that
he has made IL q rule not 90 talk to any
one about it and To keep his address ts
himself. He lives iI New York. but he and
+ his wife are now travelling I have all The
T interesting facts i'm Uy possession. I in
tend soon 90 write "a little booklet using
rHnS. aud Tho mixtures nor only sP this