The Washington herald., 1912-07-14

Baltimore, July l3-Revered IN SONG
and story, associated with the most pa
triotic deeds OF American history. watch
tury. Fort McHenry's military career
will sooE be ended.
According to news from Washington
last night. Brig. Gen Erasmus NJ.
Weaver. commander OF the Coast Ar
tilIery division OF the United States
Army. IN a few days VIII forward orders
for the transfer of Coast Artillery Com
pany One Hundred and Forty-one, the
sole garrison OF the fort, TO Fort Strong
in Boston Harbor. Mass.
When the last bugle notes Of the COM
pany shall have been sounded there, the
historical old post no longer will be
part of the coast defenses Of the United
States. While II will not be abandoned
by the government. which respects It's
career. 1t will be placed under the quar-
termasters department. several caretak-
ers being stationed there to keep the
grass cut and the barracks painted The
grim old smooth-bores peeping above the
embaESrPent will be all that remain OF
the paraphernalia OF war.
Known the World Over.
Borne on by the countless march OF
years, a century has passed since the
declaration OF the war in which thes fort
played its master role. known the world
over as the time and scene of the writ
ing OF The Star Spangled Banner" by
tie young Georgetown lawyer, Francis
Scott Key, the bombardment of Fort
McHenry was one Of the brave and stra.
tegic struggles OF the war Of 1872. The
actual bombardment OF Fort McHenry
took place on Tuesday. September Il
1874. and extended until the next morn.
ing. and The Star SpanGled Banner
was written early on the morning OF
Wednesday.
There have been various stories as tc
the origin OF the old fort. One recently
heard was that the Land was transferred
to the government by the McHenry fam.
ily. This has been denied. II has beer
said on good authority that the fort re-
ceived its name from Secretary OF Wal
James McHenry, who served under
President Washington in 1895 and 1871
The land was conffscated oy the govern
r1ent at the time Of the Revolution from
British company that purposed the es-
tablishment of a town on the site II
was added to at various times until il
now comprises thirty-four acres
Several years ago there was talk by the
government of abandoning the old fort
which had outliVed Its usefulness as ar
actual defense in time OF war. The Pro-
posal aroused such a protest that the
government officials straightwaN declared
that the fort would not be abandoned
Chief in the work OF preventing the desc
Grafton of Fort McHenry was Senator
Rayner of Maryland.
In connection with the establishment OF
larger immigration station in Balti.
more a proposal was made recently tc
appropriate a section of the grounds &C
this use. This also aroused a storm O.
protest that seems to have checked the
project temporarily.
The fort is useless as a defense The
guns are old and of the obsolete smooth.
bore type. However. It is claimed that In
time of war the old place will serve as a
valuable storage place for army supplies
as we'll as a good drilling ground for re.
cruits.
Fort Howard and Fort Carroll have
been equipped with new and modern ma.
chimes of war, which were never brought
to Fort McHenry- The guns at Fort Nc.
Henry will shoot but 5000 yards, while a
modern gun will throw a protective 15,.
0OO yards.
Abandoned Once Before.
Once before. in 1850 the fort was
abandoned by the government. At the
outbreak of the civil war there were but
three men-watchmen-in the fort. Ii
was quickly garrisoned and a number OF