Perth Amboy evening news., 1922-04-13
HASKIN DESCRIBES ORIGINAL
STAR SPANCLED BANNER
Daily Letter by Frederic j. Haskin

WASHINGTON, April s0-Prob-
ably the most interesting flag In the
world to Americans is on exhibition
ir the National Museum in this city
the original Star Spangled Ban
ner," the lit of bunting which in
spired Francis Scott Key 10 pen the
immortal lines now popularity ac-
cepted as the national anthem of the
United States.
The old battle flag, ripped and
frayed. is being carefully preserved
for the eyes of Americans of today
and generations to come. An en-
blem of the many struggles through
which this young country had tc
go, any visitor to Washington who
fails to go to see this inspiring flag
now owe a hundred years old, is
making q regrettable mistake.
The wav in which Key happened
to write the hymn is interesting
Under a rag of truce, young Key
visited British fleet lying off Bal
timore to discuss certain features OF
law affecting a proposed exchange
of prisoners. The American ennis
sary went aboard the "Minden,"
flagship of the British Admiral
Cockburn.
AS it happened, the British bat
tie plans called for a bonibardment
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 1t would be better to keep Key
aboard the Minden" during the en-
Sagement. virtually a prisoner.
According TO the British plan. the
bombardnent began at sunrise on
September %, 1914, and lasted until
Z o'clock IN the morning Of the fol-
lowing day. During the time this
was going on the aidently patri-
otto young Key vas forced to watch
his wv ccmpatriots under fire in
Fort McHenry and Baltimore.
All through the night Key natu-
rally was unable to tell which way
the fortunes of war veered. The
| night was a rainy. dark ~ and I
flashes Of guns from the ships and
shore batteries were nj indication
of whether the British attackers or
the American defenders We're get
ting the worst of the engagement.
Keys Vigil Rewarded
But With the long awaited and
prayed for dawn, Key. in the UNI
| certain light, saw the Stars and
Stripes still floating proudly over
Fort NJ Henry and knew that his
comrades We're undefeated.
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 morning,
the American flag waving over the
fort, We're the inspiration for the
poem which is known by heart to-
day by every school child through
out the land.
Soon after the cessation OF the
| bombardment, Key was conducted
| ashore. again under a flag of truce,
and Immediately, while thu glow OF
linspiration was fresh in his mind,
penned the immortal words of 1.-The
Star Spangled Banner" A. the very
| time that Key was putting them on
| paper Admiral Cockburn ordered
anchors aveigh and the British fleet
headed Gown Chesapeake Bay
away from Baltimore as fast as pos
sible.
Key sent a copy OF his poem to a
printer in Baltimore, Captain Ben
iamin Edes.s Capt. Edes was in
structed 10 have the posm printed
and copies distributed about the
streets to the citizens of Baltimore
One Ferdinand Durang, a young
| man, first sang the song when II
was just. off the press. The tune
put to it was that of "AnScreon in
Heaven"
Captain Edes. who had won con.
| siderable reputation as a soldier
took one of the first copies off ths
press. and dashed with it in hi
hand to a little tavern kept by Mrs
Rerling. Here the soldier-printel
| found CAPTAINS Warner end Ions
! Major Frai.ey. young Dnrang ane
| other frieods Of his.
First of ali Captain Edes read the
printed poem aloud. This friend;
| cheering Justify at the end Of each
verse. Then it was suggested thai
Durang, who enjoyed considerable
local reputation as a singer. be call
ed upon.
Durang who was possessed o.
none of mat false modesty which
lafhicts may who verge on being vo-
cal artists. mounted a chair and pui
his heart into singing THE Sta
lSpangled Palmer" for the first time
AFTER he he'd Jung II once, everybody
in the little tavern SAM the son.