The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1913-07-04
Banner Which Inspired Francis Scott
Key to Write the Immortal
"star spansled
Banner.n
THE FLAG STILL WAVED
Original Flag Which Was5 Responsible
for country's Anthem Is Now
4 In the National
Museum.

With the Fourth Of July and the fly.
ing OF thousands of flags, there come
to mind many historic events In which
the American flag figured, conspicu-
ously; among them the bombardmentl
Of Fort McIIenry in Baltimore Harbor,
on September Is and Ia, 1914, which
inspired Francis Scott Key to write
the Star Spangled Banner"
For some time it has been supposed
that this poem was first published u
the Baltimore American, Of September
FL, 1914, but a copy Of the Baltimore
Patriot and Evening Advertiser, which
has recently come to light In the IL
brary OF congress, seems 10 prove that
the first press reproduction appeared
in the issue OF this paper on Septem-
| Der 20. 1914. BY way OF editorial COM
ment, the far-sighted editors aptly
state that 1.-THE following beautiful
and animating effusion, which is des,
tined long to outlast the occasion. and
Ioutlive the impulse which produced 1t,
has already been extensively circulat-
ed. In our first renewal OF publica-
ton, we rejoice in an opportunity to
enliven sketch of an exploit SO Illus
/ trous, with strains which SO fifty cele-
1 brate it."
1t seems that on September 10,
1874, Francis Scott Key left Baltimore
III a M
truce, with Mr.. John S. Skinner, for
the purpose of securing the release of
Ibis friend, DR.. William Beanes, who
had been captured at Marlboro and
Twas Icing held prisoner on q vessel
LOT the British fleet. Having passed
safely down the bay to the mouth of
the Potomac they met the fleet pre-
pairing to attack Baltimore and al
though Admiral Cockburn released DR..
lBeanes, they were all three detained
and prevented from returning to Balti-
more since It was feared that they
would convey information concerning
THE impending attack.
Kept Watch on Flag.
They were brought up thJ lay as
far as the Patapsco river, where the
+, Minden was kept under the guns OF
British frigate. and the three friends
were compelled to witness the bonn
bardment of Fort McHenry, which the
Il British admiral boosted he would car
!, Try in a few hours to result In the ulti-
/, mate fall of the city. All day long Key
and his friends watched the engage
!, ment with great anxiety. 1t is said
, that he kept his eye nearly constantly
on the flag which continued to fly over
! the ramparts of the fort at the close
OF the day In spite of the admiraPt
, prophecy, and it was with great trepi-
! idation that he saw 1t disappear In the
. folds Of n GIT.
!. Throughout the night, however, he
was conscious that it still flew on &C
! count OF the continuation of the battle,
: and when in the early light of the fol
: lowing day he beheld it still flauntine
. defiance to the British he was inspired
|, to write the verses of the nations an
q them, which SO appropriately express
!, his fears during the night and his JOY
q and pride in the morning.
All three men were released after
!, the failure of the British to capture
! the fort and the city, and with the ale
Of Judge Joseph H. Nicholson OF Bal
. Itimore and Capt Benjamin Fades, the
. song was hurriedly printed and circu
i lated throughout the city, to be suns
IN the air of "Anacreon in Heaven"
1t is supposed to have been sung fol
the first time by Ferdinand Durang II
3 tavern near the Fblliday Stree
q theatre, Baltimore. Unquestionabi.
this was the first application of tn
Ut words "The Star Spangled Banner" t
the flag, and it is also supposed tina
the origin of the motto on the coin
lem God we trust" came from the lin
lie of Keys poem, an God is our trust
le Description OF Historic Flag.
pr The great historic banner measure
W 81 feet inches by 80 feet 10 inches
IN and Is much faded and torn. Its III
es teen stripes and stars are still to .
90 seen, and mark it a as distinctive
I6. lAf.a ie nf the feN