The Washington herald., 1922-06-11
TO HONOR
FRANCIS SCOTT KEY
AT FORT M'HENRY'
Memorial to Aut hor of
National Anthem to Be
Dedicated Wednesday.
AZ FEET IN H EIGHT
Monument Has Largest Single
Cast Bronze Statue in
Existence.

@eA1s>.s>>s
On the war-scarred ground Of
Fort McHenry. where on September
10 and IL. 1914. the American forces
withstood a furious bombardment
from English vessels OF war. a me-
mortal will be dedicated by Presi-
dent Harding at 80 o'clock-East-
ern standard time-Wednesday.
The monument. erected to per-
petuate the memory of Francis
Scott Key. who. after being held a
pr'so OF war during the siege.
wrote the Star Spangled Banner"
when he beld the American stand
ard still VIGOROUSLY flying over the
ramparts of the fort, represents
the Spirit of Music" It Is az feet
inches high.
A dual memorial purpose IS
served by the monument, for IL
also marks the appreciation of a
grateful people for the sacrifices
made by the soldiers and sailors
who defended American ideals dur
ing the battle of North Point and
the defense of Fort McHenry in the
war OF 1912.
stan Base stiII stands.
memorial will stand. 500 feet from
the entrance to the fort. are breast
works, still visible, which were
thrown up during the campaign.
and not far distant stands the staff
base above which waved the VIC
torious flag which inspired Key to
nan he national anthana
The statue is the largest single
cast bronze statue in existence.
standing 25 feet inches in height.
erected on a cylindrical drum, on
the front Of which Is a medallion
portrait of Key, encircIed with q
procession of figures In low relief
representing music and classic
dances.
Assistant Secretary of War J..
Mayhem Wainwright will present the
memorial on behalf OF the Secretary
of War. Misses Ethel Broening and
Marie J. Niehaus will unveil it. Dur
ing the unveiling, The Star Spangled
| Banner" will be sung by a chorus
of Baltimore High school girls under
the direction OF John Denues, super
visor OF music in the public schools.
President TO Speak.
Dedecatory addresses VIII be defiS-
cred by President harGing ana mayor
| william r. broenIng. OF Baltimore;
Representative J. Charles LIntnIcuhi,
oil The Fourth Maryland district VIA
| speak. Inc invocation VIII be redu
| py 1T kev. James u. Murray. 1ne
UrneuIctIon Will De pronounced by the
hL rev. j. 4. hOIuen. Music VIII.
De furnished by the Army Band. oI
Washing ton, under the direction Va
| arranI Omcer Francis Leigh.
Francis scott Key was born In
Frederick County, AID, August y,
lisU, the son OF John Ross hey, who
Was a second lieutenant In rIrie
company OF the Maryland line during
The Revolutionary war.
Graduated from 81. Johns College
at Annapolis. he studied law in the
office OF his uncle Philip Barton Key,
| Vas admitted 10 the bar and praCtIceu
III Frederick from 1871 to lsUy. LaleI
ne removed to Georgetown and served
| as United States DIstr1ct Attorney for
the DlsIrIcl OF Columbia during PresI-
cent Aadisons s administration, lsUJ-
1917.
Captured by British
AAiS a. NSOA 6SNO"A SAOOd AiAll
recently at The site which MARKS the
| approach tc the bridge now nearing
| completion. Some call it the George
ro~n Bridge. out there are many ia
Washington and elsewhere wnu nope
| that the bridge will be deuicaIeu
the Francis Scott Key Bridge.
Inc war OIL lsl2 found hey a young
aide-ue-camp to Gen. SmiIn. AS the
BrItlsn AMY reached Upper Mari
| borough. Gen. Wlnder was conceu-
tIatlng troops at bIadensUurg. Tne
duty y. assigning the regiments "
| Cheir several POSITIONS as tney arrived
| on the held Was performed by Key.
In an effort to effect the release oI
| an intimate TREND who had been
made a prisoner by the BritIsn, Key
himself was neld u captive ana car
| rled with the Brllisn meet up Ihv
| chesapeake Bay TO the ATTACK Oh Bal
| umore.
Big Bombardment Opens.
From on the morning OF. Tues
day, September l3. 1914. until after
InIonignt OF Wednesday the British
! fleet arranged in a semIc.rcle VI
2 IL miles. bombarded Fort McHenry
at long range, but at midnight word
was brought to AdmiraI Cockburn
that a land attack on the North
Point road 10 the east of the city
had failed: therefore, unless the
fleet could take Fort McHenry on
the west. retreat was inevitable.
Taking advantage of the darkness
shortly after midnight sixteen Brit
ish frigates moved up within close
range. AT 1 o'clock they suddenly
| n
tive fire upon the fort.
From midnight until morning
Francis Scott Key paced the deck
restlessly. knowing nothing of the
fortunes Of the fight. At such close
quarters dense smoke enveloped
both the ships and the fort and
added to the blackness OF the night
Finally at in the morning the
suspense relaxed. The firing from
the fleet ceased. The large ships
lOOr1ed indistfpct and silept in tha