The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1913-07-17
KEY AND HIS FAMOUS SONG.
Historical Incidents Connected With
1.-The Star Spangled Banner"


in which the American flag figured
conspicuously; among them the bonn
bardment of Fort McHenry in Balti-
more harbor, on September 13 and
IA, 1914, which inspired Francis
Scott Key to write the "Star Span
gled Banner"
For some time it has been sup
posed that this poem was first pub
lished in the Baltimore American of
September 21, 1914, but copy of the
Baltimore Patriot and Evening Ad-
vertiser, which has recently come to
light in the library of congress, seems
to prove that the first press reproduce
tion appeared in the issue of this
paper on September 20, 1914. BY
way of editorial comment, the far
sighted editors aply state The fol-
lowing beautiful and animating ef-
fusion, which is destined long to out
last the occasion, and outlive the i'm
pulse which produced it, has already
been extensively circulated. In our
first renewal of publication we re-
joice in an opportunity to enliven a
sketch of an exploit so illustrious,
with strains which so fifty celebrate
it,"
1t seems that on September 49,,
1914, Francis Scott Key left Balti-
more on the ship Minden, under
flag of truce, with John S. Skinner,
for the purpose of securing the re-
lease of his friend, DR.. VIM. Beanes,
who had been captured at Marl-
boro and was being held a prisoner
on vessel of the British fleet. Hav-
ing passed safely down the bay to the
mouth of the Potomac, they met the
fleet preparing to attack Baltimore,
and although Admiral Cockburn re-
leased DR.. Beanes, they were all three
detained and prevented from return
ing to Baltimore, since it was feared
that they would convey information
concerning the impending attack.
They were brought up the bay as far
as the Patapsco river, where the Min
den was kept under the guns of a
British frigate; and the three friends
were compelled to witness the bom-
bardment of Fort McHenry, which
the British admiral boasted he would
carry in few hours to result in the
ultimate fall of the city. All day
long Key and his friends watched the
engagement with great anxiety. II
is said that he kept his eye nearly
constantly on the flag which contin-
ued to fly over the ramparts of the
fort at the close of the day, in spite
of the admiral's prophesy, and it was
with great trepidation that he saw
it disappear in the folds of night.
Throughout the night, however, he
was conscious that it still flew on
account of the continuation of the
battle, and when in the early light
of the following day he beheld it still
Haunting defiance to the British, he
was inspired to write the verses of
the nations anthem, which so appro-
priately express his fears during the
night and his Joy and pride in the
morning. All three men we're releas-
ed after the failure of the British to
capture the fort and the city, and
with the aid of Judge Joseph H. Mich
olson of Baltimore and Capt. Benja-
min Fades, the song was hurriedly
printed and circulated throughout the
city, to be sung to the air of "Anacre-
on in Heaven" 1t is supposed to have
been sung for the first time by Fer
dinand Durang in tavern near the
Holiday Street theatre, Baltimore.
UuQ uSSl1OudUiy IulS " do IhS LII ~
application of the words, "The star
spangled banner" to the flag, and it
is also supposed that the origin of the
motto on the coins, I'm God we
trust" came from the lines of Keys
poem, "In God is our trust"
The great historic banner meas
ures 27 feet six inches by 80 feet 10
inches, and is much faded and torn.
Its Is stripes and stars are still to be
seen and mark it as distinctive in
this respect. 1t IS one of the very
few of the national flags having Is
bars as we'll as Is stars, being issued
at time just preceding the Standard
ization of the number of the stripes
as 13, with the addition of star in
the case of each new state. This flag
has been on exhibition in the older
national museum building, where it
was deposited in 1907, as loan by
it's owner, Eben Appleton of New
York, grandson of Col. George Arm
istead, the heroic officer in charge OF