Evening capital and Maryland gazette. (Annapolis, Md.) 1910-1922, 1915-09-13

ing the squadron they found the en-.
envy on the point OF sailing to attack
Baltimore. and were politely inform.
ed that they could not return until the
/ city was taken.
Meanwhile they would be welcome
on board the flagship or they could re.
main on board the yacht on which they
| come. on parole Choosing the lat.
ter, the British commander took ava,
their sails and sent guard OF sailors
on board the yacht Here Mr. skinner
and his friend remained during the
bombardment of Fort McHenry to the
| annoyance of the guard, who wished Ia
desert, but were detained by the 'pris-
oners. The British not succeeding
in their attempt. the gentlemen had
their sails restored. and were permit
ted to return TO Baltimore, with apollo
gies az their detention
Immediately on landing. they went
10 the old Fountain Inn on Light
street, where Mr. Key wrote that just
~ admired song. the Star Spangled
Banner II was a literal description
Of their feelings during the night of the
oombardmeut, when the rockets and
bombs bespoke the assaults of the en-
envy. and of their patriotic JOY when. in
the gray light of early dawn. they saw
the starry ensign waving in proud def
ance.
Mr.. Skinner, ere the song was com
Dleted, saw its beauties. and obtaining
Mr.. Keys permission to have it pub
lished, took copies of it to the print
ing Office of the morning papers. Ere
'ong It resounded through the public
press, like the recovered echo of Their
monaplae, its notes like those of the
Marseillais hymn in Franco finding an
accompaniment in the throbbing of
every American heart"
! am glad to be able to shed this light
on the real incidents surrounding the
writer of our beloved national anthem
and to recite these facts so perplexing
10 the general public that Mr.. Key and
Mr.. Skinner We're prisoners" but pris-
oners on Mr.. SINNERS yacht; that all
that long night Mr. Skinner was with
Francis Scott Key; that he accompa-
MED him 10 the.shore. to the hotel: that
in fact, from the moment that Francis
Scott Key conceived his idea. until the
immortal song was given to the pub
Usher, Mr.. Skinner was with him.
Mr.. William p. Marine. in his recent
history of the War of 1912. verifes the
fact that Mr.. Key spent that memoir
able night on Mr. SINNERS yacht. and
many other details, the account having
been given by Chief Justice fancy. the
brother-in-law Of Key.
Mr. Scharff gives the account in this
wise: THAT though Mr.. Key and Mr..
skinner were courteously received by
Admiral Cockburn aboard the British
flagship, their friend CDR. Beanes)
would not have been released had il not
been for letters to Mr.. Skinner from
wounded British officers speaking of
the kindness they had received from
the Americans
"That Mr.. Key jotted down fragmen-
tary lines of his song on the back of an
old letter during the bombardment
that night; that he perfected the lines
in the morning on his way TO the shore,
and that he copied the lines at the old
Fountain Inn"
The personal information and follow
ing geneaology was given by his great
niece. Mrs. Margaret Skinner mee
Wood. the widow of Frederick Skin
ner who was the nephew of John Stew
art Skinner. Too much honor cannot
be given to this good man and fervent
patriot, who served his country with
his might and gave his energies and his
pen to the betterment of mankind
Lord, God of Hosts, be with us yet,
Lest we forget!
Col John Stewart Skinner was born
in Calvert county, Maryland. on Feb
ruary %, 1888, and died in Baltimore.
March q. 1851. His remains were
placed in the Davies vault in old West
minister graveyard of that city.
On his paternal side he was descend
ed from Robert Skinner and Anne Stor-
err Cwidow Of James Truman) who set
tied in Calvert county early in the six
teenth Gentry.
Colonel SINNERS father was lieu
tenant Colonel Frederick skinner, who,
tdAl9 III NliN ANOfNAhbAOlAdl W al AtNtAF-
ed a commission in the Maryland
Line" and commanded a regiment
known all the Flying Camp"
His mother was the daughter Of Cap
tain Stewart an ardent wing, who
owned a shipyard on the West River,
Maryland. With vessels on the stocks.
il was burned by the British during the
Revolutionary War. One of his uncles
was Stephen Stewart, a merchant of
distinction in the early days of Balti-
more Another uncle was John Stew
art, known as Jack" a gallant. though
reckless, officer in the War of the Revo-
luton. Colonel Skinner was named
for this uncle.
Colonel Skinner married on March
TO- 1912. Miss Elizabeth c. Davies, a
stepdaughter of Chancellor Bland. His
neartest descendants are a grand
daughter. Mrs. Green. and great
granddaughter. Miss Bedle Green. of
New York. The late Mr. Frederick
Skinner, of Oakland, Prince Georges
county. was his nephew
Colonel Skinner received his early
education at Charlotte Hall Academy;
he afterwards read law at Annapolis
with Chancellor Johnson, father Of the
Hon. Reverdy Johnson