The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-09-13

TT it had not been for the fact that
100 years ago this summer an OBJ
/ scure country Decor down in Mary
land was growing an especially fine
lot of juicy peaches and melons to say
| nothing of toothsomc broilers and fat
duckllngs, the chances all are that Fran
els Scott Key might never have written
| The Star Spanglcd Banner"
This historical fact is not generally
known. 1t possesses interest just now
| because on September II, 1914, Key
wrote his inspiring hymn of patriotism,
and because on September II of the
present year its centennial anniversary
will he observed throughout the United
STATES in schools, churches and by va
rious other organizations which deem it
part of their function to keep alive and
foster the national spirit.
Several accounts exist of the exact
hour when Key first put his hymn
down on paper; of the exact spot he
was in at that time; of its first publ
cation, and of the first person who sang
ii in public. These accounts differ ma
terially In certain details but all of them
lead straight back To the original start
ing point-that IA Dr. Beancs. practising
medicine in the town of Upper Marlbor-
nugh, Md, was really responsible for
! The Star Spanglcd Banner" although
he probably never dreamed of this as
long as he lived. Careful : udy of the
'arNlng accounts. including that pre-
served In records of the United States
Government, leads to the belief that the
most reliable statement of all is that
given by a hruthor-in-law of Key. r. b.
| fancy, aft"rWard chief Justice of the
supreme Court of the United States.
After the battle Of Bladcnsburg the
main body of British troops taking part
| in the engagement passed through Upper
| Marlborough. Still later, however, there
| appeared from time To time ragglcrs
who had left the ranks to plumber the
| countryside, There seems to be little
! doubt that in the beginning DR. Beanes
was at least non cumba i've IL not indeed
! sympathetic toward the British cause.
| Possibly his position as a physician had
something To do with the attitude he
| maintained. At any rae. he seems TO
| havc been esteemed hy Brit Sh officers.
! l'ut when stragglcrs continued to an
! pear at his home and in the vicinity.
| helping Themselves To poultry. fruits,
vegetables and other dclicaclcs. DR..
Branos became indlgnan, At last he
could stand the depredations no longer
and put himself at the head of "A small
body If citizens who had also suffered To
pursue and make prisoners of the men
in uniform who were helping Themselves
from gardens and orchards.
| For this Dr.. Bcancs was arrested and
carried on board the British fleet, where
his Offence" was deemed the greater
| because up To that time he had shown
no enmity toward the invading army.
| Word of his capture was soon carried
! To Francis Scott Key. a friend. law
| yer and resident of Gcorgctown. near
! the city of Washington. Key at the
| time was volunteer in Major Peters
| Light Artillery. other friends of Dr.
Beanes went To- him. requesting that he
| obtain the sanction of the Government
to go on board the British Admiral's
ship under ilag of truce and try to
procure the physicians release before
the fleet should sail away.
Key readily agreed To undertake the
mission and laid the case before presi-
dent Madison, who gave his official
sanction. At that time John :. Skinner
| was tho agent of the United States for
lagS of truce and exchange of PRISON.
| ers. skinner was directed To accom-
pahS N'E' as ne 'Skinner' was well
known |" the BRUSH feet. For their
use was assigned Ia" Minden, used as a
carter IN communication with the fleet
IN the Chosap'akc; and the two men
hastcnod to Baltimore SO as TO board her
at the earliest opportunity. From that
time nothing was heard of Key until
the British had rctreated from Ralti-
more, when, IA week or ten DAYS Iatpr