Martinsburg statesman-democrat. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1906-1921, 1907-08-02
The Star spangIed Banner
From the Baltimore Sum


Tho old garrison flag which floated
TX Fort Niche nry duringits be moard-
ment by the British on the night OF
Septemb Der ID and the morning OF Sep
tembea IA, 1914, was yesterday turned
over to the Smithsonian Institution,
In Washington, for temporary eXhloi-
bition purposes.
1t is the flag which Francis Scott
Kew saw and which gave him the III
spIration for "The Star-Spangled Ban
ner,u 1t is, therefore, the original
HStar-Spangled Banner, $50 far as its
association with the national anthem
is concerned.
The flag is the property OF Mr.. Eben
Appleton, of New York, who recently
expressed his belief in letter to Mayor
Mahool that it should be placed per-
manently in the custody of the city OF
of Baltimore, and the Mayor therefore
has hopes of securing the relic.
1t has been lent to the Smithsonian
institution for period Of two years al
the personal solicitation of DR.. Oh ~rles
d. Walcott, the new secretary OF the
institution. 1t is an immense banner,
measuring IS by 80 feet, and shows the
effect of both battle and age. 1t was
placed on ex hibition in the rotunda oil
the National Museum in large glass
cabinet. As it is draped in the bottom
of the cabinet only one of the large
stars of the fiagsls visible. This star
measures about foot in diameter. AS
very little of the flag can be seen in its
present position, where it is rolled and
crumpled it is the intention of the
Smithsonian authorities to drape the
walls of the Hall of History of the
museum.
The following label was put in the
cabinet in which the flag was placed
Kew, then a resident of Georgetown,
d, c., had been requested to go to|
Admiral Bocrane to solicit the release
of DR.. Beanes, of Upper Marlborough,
Md, who had been taken prisoner by
the British With John S. Skinner,
of Baltimore, on the cartel ship Min
den, under flag of truce, he met the
ships at the mouth of the Potomac pre-
pairing to attack Baltimore. Admiral
Cochrane agreedito release DIR. Beans,
but not at once, OBTAINING them all
W ba pritisb float Hhpu uarp
placed tenn porarily OH board the Sur
but when the feet sailed up Chesa- |
peake bay they were sent back to the
Minden with a guard ofmarines to pre-
vent their landing and conveying in
formation to their countrymen. The
Minden was anchored within site of
Fort McI1enry, and from her deck
the three hands observed the fierce
bonn bardment of the fort that
soon ensued The firing ceased
before dawn September 14,1S14
bnt the anxious Americans were in
doubt as to the fate of the fort. Dur
ing the commandment, while pacing
the deck of the Minden between mid
night and dawn Key composed the
present national anthem. Key and his
two friends were released in the morn
ing after the failure of the British on
land and water. With the aid of Judge
Joseph H. Nicholson, of Baltimore,
brather-in-law of Mrs. Key, the song
was hurriedly printed and circulated
throughout the city and sung to the
familiar air of 'Anacron.'
lE'This was the first application of
tIe epithet 'Star-Spankled Banner to
the flag, and seems to be the origin of
the motto used on larger United States
coins In God Is Our Trust
Col. Nicer aN Talks.