Kentucky Irish American. (Louisville, Ky.) 1898-1968, 1914-09-12
CENTENARY.
Whole Nation Joins I'm Celebrat-
ing Birthday of Star
Spangled Banner.
Ceremonies in Baltimore Con-
tinue Through the Entire
Week.
Incidents That Inspired Francis
Scott Key to Write Famous
Versus.
Deep MEANING FOR CHRISTIANS

Spangled Banner" the most loved OF
Americas anthems, which was writ
ten by Francis Scott Key, who while
a prisoner on British warship
watched the attempt to capture Fort
McHenry, and had the glorious
satisfaction of seeing the starry ban
ner still floating over the fortress
the next morning, was celebrated
this week everywhere, but at Baltl-
more the ceremonies began Monday
and end today. The starry banner
that emblemizes our nation should
have a deep meaning for the Chris
tian. Red and blue, two of its three
colors, are the legendary hues of our
Saviour's garments, while white, its
other color, symbolizes his purity.
The stars always remind one of
celestial spheres.
Francis Scott Key was the only
son of John Ross Key, an officer in
the Revolutionary War. He was
born at Double Pipe Creek, Frederick
county, Md, August 8, 1880. AL
though he wrote many excellent
poems and gained fame as an at
torney and statesman, he is known
to posterity almost entirely as the
author of the Star Spangled Banner.
In 1904 he removed from Frederick,
where he practiced law, to George
town, where he was appointed Dis
trict Attorney for the district by
President Andrew Jackson. His
house in Georgetown is still stand
Ing. 1t was from this old house that
Key set out September 4, 1914, to
negotiate for the release of DR.. Will
lam Beanes, one of Keys most in
innate friends, who was taken to
the British fleet in the Chesapeake
as a prisoner in revenge for his
having sent away from his place some
intoxicated English soldiers who
were creating disorder and con-
fusion and threatening the lives of
his family and servants. These men
happened to be on the doctors
grounds under the following circum-
stances:
During the war of 1914 Vice Ad-
miral Cochrane entered Chesapeake
Bay and joined Rear Admiral Cock
burn, then engaged in committing
ravages upon the unprotected and
peaceful settlers on the lower
waters of the Chesapeake. Cochrane
came from the West Indies and con-
voyed transports containing, under
the comand of Ross, 5000 British
troops.
Sailing up the Patuxent river, he
landed at Benedict a force of 5000
men under Ross, marched upon
Washington, captured the city and
burned the Capitol, White House and
other public buildings. Fearing
that the Americans would return
under cover of night and cut off his
retreat, Ross Immediately evacuated
Washington and marched his men
back to the Patuxent. On this
march many British soldiers became
having obtained some liquor they got
intoxicated and, bent upon mischief,
wandered upon the property of Dr..
Beanes. \ A friend of the doctor,
Richard West, brought the tidings of
the physicians danger to Key, and
the attorney, having received per-
mission from President Madison to
make the attempt, in company with
Col. John S. Skinner, United States
agent for parole Of prisoners, at
once set about to secure the doctors
release. There was urgent need OF
haste, as it had been rumored that
the prisoner was to be executed.
Arriving at Fort McHenry, Key
and his companion at once sought
audience with the Admiral, who
told them that the doctor had in
flicted atrocious injuries upon
British soldiers and that it had been
decided that he must be imme-
diately hanged from the yardarm.
The eloquence of Key, supplemented
by letters he presented written by
British officers to DR.. Beanes thank
ing him for the many kindnesses
which they had received from him,
finally won Cochrane from his
vengeful decision. Their troubles
were, however, by no means over, for
after the release of the captive and
when they were ON the point OF
bidding the Admiral goodby they
were informed that they would not
be permitted TO return to land, "lest
they might carry information detri-
mental to the British cause, as there
was a certain important event pend
ing"
This contemplated event was the
Intended destruction of Fort Me
Henry, which guarded the harbor Of
Baltimore. The fort was garrisonec
by a battalion of artillery under the
command of Col. Armistead. who
faced a court-martial II he should
lose the fort by attack, as the Wash
ington administration had per
emptorily ordered him to surrender
II. This he had refused to do
Joseph Nicholson, a brother-in-lav
of Key, in charge of a volunteer bat
terry OF artillery, was second in com
mand of the fort. When Cochran'
refused to allow Key and his com
panions TO return 10 shore he placed
under a guard of marines, Key ant
his friends in their own boat as nea
the scene OF action as possible, il
order that they might suffer tn
modification Of seeing their flag g
down" Two hours had been as
signed In the British mind for. tn,