The Rock Island Argus and daily union. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1920-1923, 1922-04-10

Warrington, D. c., April s.
Probably the most interesting flag
in the sorld to Americans is on ex-
hfbition in the National museum in
this -city-the original Star Span
gled Banner" the bit of bunting
which inspired Francis Scott Key
10 pen the immortal lines now pop
ularly accepted as the national an
them Of the United States.
The old battle flag, ripped and
frayed, is being carefully preserv-
ed for the eyes of Americans to to-
day and generations to come. An
emblem of the many struggles
through which this young country
had to go, any visitor to Washing
ton who fails to see this inspiring
flag, now over a hundred years old,
is making q regrettable mistake.
The way inswhich Key happened
to write the hymn Is interesting.
Under a flag of truce, young Key
visited the British feet lying off
Baltimore to discuss certain feat
ures of law affecting a proposed
exchange Of prisoners. The Amer
lean emissary went aboard the
miral Cockburn.
AS it happened, the British battle
plans called for bombardment Of
Baltimore, the time for the open
ing gun set for shortly after the
time Francis Key came aboard the
vessel. For obvious reasons, the
British naval commander decided
that it would be better to keep Key
aboard the Minden during the en-
gagement. virtually a prisoner.
According to the British plan,
the bombardment began at sun
rise on Sept. 10, 1914, and lasted
until o'clock in the morning of
the following day. During the time
this was going on the ardently pa
triotic young Key was forced to
watch his own compatriots under
fire in Fort McHenry and Balti-
more.
All through the night Key natur-
ally was unable to tell which way
the fortunes of war veered. The
night was a rainy, dark one, and
the flashes of guns from the ships
and shore batteries were no indica-
ton of whether the British attack
ers or the American defenders were
getting the worst of the engage
ment.
Keys Vigil Rewarded.
But with the long awaited and
prayed for dawn, Key, in the I'M
certain light, saw the stars and
stripes still floating proudly over
Fort McHenry, and knew that his
1IndaFaated
The experience Of waiting through
the long, wet night for the news Of
the outcome Of the bombardment,
and the rush of joy when his eyes
saw, across the stretch of water in
the first faint light of early morn
ing, the American flag still waving
over the fort, were the inspiration
for the poem which is known by
heart today by every school child
throughout the land.
Soon after the cessation Of the
bonn bardment Key was conducted
ashore, again under a flag of truce,
and Immediately, while the glow Of
inspiration was still fresh in his
mind, penned the immortal words
of THE Star Spangled Banner"
At the very time that Key was put
ting them on paper Admiral Cock
burn ordered anchors weighed. and
the British feet headed down Ches
apeake bay, away from Baltimore,
as fast as possible.
Key sent a copy OF his poem to
printer in Baltimore, Captain Ben
jamin Edes. Captain Edes was in
structed to have the poem printed
and copies distributed about the
streets to the citizens of Baltimore.
One Ferdinand Durang, young
man, first sang the song when it
was just off the press. The tune
put to it was that of "Anacreon in
Heaven"
Captain Edes, who had won con-
siderable reputation as a soldier,
took one of the first copies off the
press. and dashed with it in his
hand to a little tavern kept by a
Mrs. Berling. Here the soldier
printer found Captains Warner and
Long. Major Frailey. young Durang
and other friends of his.
First of all, Captain Edes read
the printed poem aloud, his friends
cheering Justify at the end of each