The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1922-04-29

WASHINGTON, D. c., May 29. -,
Probably the most interesting flag in
the world to Americans is on exhibit
ton in the National Museum in this
city-the original "Star Spangled Ban
ner," the bit Of bunting which inspired
Francis Scott Key to pen the immortal
lines now popularity accepted as the
national anthem of the United States.
! The old flag, ripped and frayed, is
being carefully preserved for the eyes
of Americans Of today and generations
to come. An emblem of the many
struggles through which this young
country had to go, any visitor to Wash
ington who fails to go to see this in
spring flag, now over hundred years
old, is making a regrettable mistake.
The way in which Key happened to
write the hymn is interesting. Under
a flag of truce, young Key visited the
British fleet lying off Baltimore to dis
cuss certain features of law affecting
a proposed exchange of prisoners. The
American emissary went aboard the
! 'Minden," flagship of the British Ad-
miral Cockburn.
AS 1t happened, the British battle
plans called for a bombardment of
Baltimore, the time for the opening
gun set for shortly after the time
Francis Key came aboard the vessel.
For obvious reasons, the British navel
commander decided that it would be
better to keep Key aboard the Min
den" during the engagement, virtually
4 a prisoner.
According to the British plan, the
bombardment began at sunrise on Sep
i TENDER Is, 1914, and lasted until
o'clock in the morning of the following
day. During the time this was going
on the ardently patriotic young Key
was forced to watch his own compa-
triots under fire in Fort McHenry and
Baltimore.
All through the night Key naturally
was unable to tell which way the for
tunes of war veered. The night was
rainy, dark one, and the flashes of
; guns from the ships and shore batter
les were no indication of whether the
British attacks or the American de-
tenders were getting the worst of the
engagement.
Keys Vigil Rewarded
But with the long awaited and
prayed for dawn, Key, in the uncertain
, light, saw the Stars and Stripes still
!, floating proudly over Fort McHenry.
and knew that his comrades were I'M
| defeated.
, The experience of waiting through
J the long, wet night for the news Of
the outcome of the bombardment, and
the rush of Joy when his eyes saw,
7 across the stretch of water in the first
! faint light of early morning, the Amer
lean flag still waving over the fort,
were the inspiration for the poem
which is known by heart today by ev'
cry school child throughout the land.
Soon after the cessation of the bonn
bardment, Key was conducted ashore,
again under a flag of truce, and i'm
mediately, while the glow of inspira-
) ton was still fresh in his mind, penn
ed the immortal words of "Star Span
gled Banner" AT the very time that
Key was putting them on paper Ad-
miral Cockburn ordered anchors
aweigh, and the British fleet headed
down Chesapeake Bay, away from Bal
timore, as fast as possible.
Key sent copy of his poem to a
printer in Baltimore, Captain Benja-
: min Edes. Capt Edes was instructed
to have the poem printed and copies
distributed about the streets to the
citizens of Baltimore. One Ferdinand
l Durang, a young man, first sang the
: song when it was just off the press
The tune put to it that of "Anacreon
2 in Heaven"
: Captain Edes, who had won consid
3 cradle reputation as a soldier, took
1 one of the first copies off the press
2 and dashed with it in his hand to q
= little tavern kept by a Mrs. Berling
Here the soldier-printer found Captain
: Warner and Long, Major Frailey
I young Durang, and other friends Of
/ his.
First of all Captain Edes read the
r printed poem aloud, his friends cheer
II ing Justify at the end of each verse
: Then 1t was suggested that Durang
/ who enjoyed considerable local repu
U tation as singer, be called upon.
Durang, who was possessed of none
iof that false modesty which afficts
many who verge on beingevocal art
lists, mounted chair and put his hear
y into singing "The Star Spangled Ban
: ner' for the first time. After he haC
!. sung it once, everybody in the LITTLE
r tavern sang the song under his leader
9 ship. This singing was kept up TO
several hours, so great was the en-
q thusiasm and patriotic fervor moving
= the people of Baltimore because of tn,
! repulse of the enemy fleet Of British
/ ships.
! Song Sung in Theatre.
The little tavern owned by Mrs
Berling, which was the setting 70
this historical scene, was right mex
door to the Holiday Street Theatre
J When the theatre opened for the sea
y son, the song was made part of ev
It cry performance. However, instead o
l. playing the anthem just before the be
Y ginning of the PERFORMANCE, as was tn
l. custom in all American theatres durin!
D. the World war the song was rendered
l. afterward. 1t was not merely orches
e trail, the entire company of actors lead
II ing all of the audience in shoutin
the immortal words to the very heay
ems. One Paddy Mcfarland was tn
e leading man of the theatrical CON
J.