The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1911-07-02

a copy of the music. and he afterward
for his reception.
"'Fhc Sfar-SpanElcd Banner
Perhaps the most romantic story OF
any of these national songs is that
connected with the "Star-Spangled
! Banner" which was written by Francis
Scott Key while Witnessing the bonn
bardment of Fort McHenry from a
British man-of-war. which lay in
front of the fort. There Is no authentic
story of the composition of this song.
but We have an account of it's origin
from r. b. fancy who was afterward
Chief Justice of the Supreme Court
Judge fancy was a brother-in- law OF
Francis Scott Key 1t seems that Mr.
Key went out to the man-of-war N
order to request the release OF DR..
! Beanes, who had been seized by the
British and was kept on that ship
MIR. Key was one of the doctors Init
mate friends. He was & lawyer by pro-
fession and was n resident of George
town. living in house near the
Aqueduct Bridge, which is still marked
with his name. Mr.. Key was cour-
teously received by Admiral Cochrana
and his officers, but they refused for
some { me to release DR.. Beanes. and
before they did so the bombardment
began. 1t was then impossible for Mr..
Key to leave the fleet and he was
told that he would be detained until
the attack on Baltimore. wt:5n was
about to be made. was over
In his story of the song TO Judge
fancy. MIR. Key described the scene
the night OF the bombardment, during
which he remained on deck watching
every shell from the moment 1t was
hred until 1t fell.
while the bombardment continued
IL was sufficient proof that the fort
had not surrendered. But 1t sudden
~ ceased some time before day. and
as they had no communication with
any of the enemy's ships Key did moi
know whether the fort had surrnn-
dered or the attack upon 1t been
abandoned. He paced the deck for
the residue of the night in painful
suspense. watching with intense
anxiety for the return of day. and
looking every few minutes at his
watch to see how long he must wait
for it. and as soon as 1t dawned. and
before IT was light enough to sec
objects at distance his glasses wers
turned to the fort, uncertain whether
he should see there the Stars and
Stripes or the flag of the enemy. at
length the light came. and ne saw
tnat our nag was still there. And as
the day advanced he discovered. from
the movements OF the boats between
the shore and the fleet that the troops
had been roughly handled and that
many wounded men were carried to
the ships. AT length he was informed
that the attack on Baltimore had
failed that the British army was re-
embarking. and that he and MIR
Skinner and Dr. Beanes would be err
mitted to leave and go where they
pleased as soon as the troops were
on board and the fleet ready to sail
Written Amid Cannon Balls.
He then told me that under tho
excitement of the time he had written
song, and thereupon handed me a
printed copy of The Star-Spangled
Banner When had read IL and ex-
pressed my admiration I asked him
how no found time in the scenes he
had been passing through to compose
such a. song. He said he commenced
1t in the fervor OF the moment on
the deck of the vessel when he saw
the enemy hastily retreating to their
ships and beheld again the flag he had
watched for 50 anxiously.
He said he had written some, 1of tho
lines on tho bacS Of letter. ;xAscn -