Evening capital. [volume] (Annapolis, Md.) 1922-1981, 1923-01-30
Shrine Of National Anthem
NotO In Sad State OF Ruin
Junked Material And Debris Clutter Crbng Walls Of
Henry In Baltimore Harbor-Galant History Since
177e-Many Citizens Protest Desperation

Fort McHenry. born with the na-
ton in 177e, and the inspiration for
the composition OF the national an
them in III. is crumbling from tie
unchecked rayages OF time. Not only
81 there no effort Icing made 10 pre-
serve the historic site, but the quaint
old buildings inside Of its walls have
been made the repositories OF iron
piping. plumbing and salvage mater
ial, and coal has been dumped te-
tween the remains OF tho original
barracks and the old walls.
Should Francis Scott Key return 10
the position in the Patapsco river
where, a prisoner on a British lat
tleship he wrote The Stra-S panglcd
Banner the "dawn's early light"
would reveal to him only a srllen
line Of unoccupied temporary lulld
ings and a glimpse. here and there
OF the original ramparts, gonged on
In places TO make way for heatinf
and water pipes for the buildings In
place OF the banner which so proud
L. we hailed" he would see a smoke
stained flag, dull and almost indis.
csrnible.
Scene OF DisOrderly Ruin
The ramparts he watched ty the
bombs bursting IN air bulge out ia
great patches; bricks have faner
from tho wall itself, and large stone
sials that surmounted the parapets
lave lost their holds and slipped 4
earth between the buildings where
the soldiers rushed in their perilous
fight" there are now piles of broken
terra Gotta piping. discarded furni.
ture and rotted boards.
The slate roofing Of the historic
buildings has slipped away in spots,
woodcl balconies, porches and steps
are r.ckety and ready to fall; a worl
bench with rusty wise, some old
withered flowers and stack o.
worthless wooden lattice work adorr
the outside. On a door OF one of the
structures is a newer sign Salvage
Olcer"
Has Gallant History
The history of the reservation is one
that qualities il as a shrine for Am.
orleans. In 1876 1t was designated
as milestone Point shore battery; In
1774 the Star fort (the one that now
shows signs OF desecration) was be-
gun and later named after Washing
toms Secretary of War, James Nc
Henry. In 1914 its gallant defense
against an attack by British naval
forces inspired the anthem, and dur
ing the Civil war it was used as
rendezvous.
In 1907, by subscription OF the citi-
zens and patriotic societies of Balti-
more, the gun carriages in the old
fort were bought from Brighten.
CroZier. chief Of ordnance. and in the
same year William II. Taft. then Sec
rotary OF War. presented the guns TO
the city of Baltimore. Then, in 1914,
the as acres included in the reserva-
tion and the Star fort were present
ed by Congress to the city of Balti-
more for use as a public park.
When the late war broke out the
fort reverted to the government for
use in emergency. 1t was used first
ly tho army as general hospital No
., and then, in 1920, turned over to
the public health service as hospital
56, and now the veterans bureau is
using il as $50"
During the war the hospital quar-
ters on the grounds housed nearly
Loco patients. but there are now only
50, according to Maj II. d. Luse, in
charge. There are 81 temporary and
contemporary buildings and three