European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - November 28, 1990, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Wednesday november 28, 1990 the stars and stripes a Page 5 historians look for a few Good answers by Rick Hampson new York apr historians admit to a few intriguing doubts of their own in the december Issue of american heritage Magazine. American heritage magazines december Issue asked american historians to name the one mystery in . History each would like resolved. Responses ranged from questions on whether Thomas Jefferson fathered his slaves child to a who invented the hamburger a Walter lord wonders what Francis Scott key saw the morning he wrote the . National Anthem a the Star spangled Banner a during the War of 1812. Key observed the British bombardment of fort Mchenry in Baltimore Harbor from a Flag of truce boat eight Miles away. He later said he composed the songs lyrics at Dawn when the sight of the Flag assured him that the attack had been repelled. But that was unlikely lord suggests. Although the forts regular Flag might have been visible from eight Miles the nights rain would have forced the use of a lighter smaller a storm Flag which probably could not have been seen through smoke and rain in Early Light. Lord argues that its More Likely key saw an Ensign Flag raised by the victorious americans Over the forts guns a a Flag that a British officer saw raised around 9 a.m., not Dawn. Key however a knew that Dawn is a More magic hour than 9 a.m.,�?� lord writes. A it was time to resort to a Little poetic  another historian Charles of Neill wonders if the space shuttle challenger was sent aloft despite less than optimal temperatures because the White House wanted a dramatic background for president Reagan a 1986 state of the Union address originally scheduled for the night of the launch. Several historians suggest solutions to their own mysteries. Thomas Fleming believes that Jefferson did not father the mulatto boy who looked like him the slave woman Sally Hemmings was the illegitimate daughter of Jefferson a father in Law and her children probably were fathered by Jefferson a Nephew. Fleming suspects Jefferson never denied the charge publicly to protect his family. And then there a the hamburger. Twenty years ago when . Furnas tried to determine its inventor he settled on a creation scenario circa 1905 a late night run on bread for a broiled beef Patty Sandwich forces a restaurant Cook to substitute the Rolls then used for Ham sandwiches customers Praise the innovation for its ease in handling. But where Furnas asks was that Al night lunchroom and who was that Cook firemen get control of Denver Airport fire Denver apr patience and one Quarter of the water Denver uses in a typical Day helped firefighters rein in a fire monday after it had burned up More than 1.9 million Gallons of Jet fuel at a tank farm near Stapleton International Airport. The 150 firefighters at the scene kept drenching nearby tanks with water and foam keeping the fire which began sunday from spreading As it consumed fuel in tanks already  we at this Point in time feel like everything is under our grasp a said Denver fire department capt. Nick Nuanes. A things Are going real real Good. The intensity has dropped  meanwhile a Crew of computer scientists at Rocky Flats nuclear weapons Plant helped track the thick Black smoke from the fire which presented potential health problems. The fire at the Ogden Allied services corp. Tank farm began when a valve on a 400,000-gallon storage tank broke and Jet fuel began to leak. The flames eventually spread to three other tanks. The facility has 12 storage tanks with a capacity of 12.5 million Gallons of fuel. Included was the primary fuel source for United airlines which was forced on sunday to delay and cancel an undetermined number of its 186 flights into and out of Denver. But the Carrier was almost Back on schedule monday after finding alternate fuel sources said Joe Hopkins a United spokesman in Chicago. The fire caused few problems for other airlines at Stapleton because most had alternate sources of fuel on hand. Stapleton is the nations fourth busiest Airport in passenger volume. By midday monday firefighters had used 15,000 Gallons of foam. About 24 million Gallons of water had been poured on the Blaze about one fourth the water used in the City system on an average fall Day. Temperatures near the fire reached 3,500 degrees fahrenheit Well beyond the melting Point of Iron. By monday the fire that consumed fuel in two 400,000 gallon capacity tanks left them blackened crumpled masses of Metal. But flames continued to Burn in one tank originally holding about 350,000 Gallons of fuel and in an 800,000-gallon tank. Officials estimated that the latter held enough fuel to Burn until about midday wednesday. Authorities decided to let the fuel Burn rather than a v#1 h a Denver firefighters Battle burning Jet fuel tanks at Stapleton Airport on monday. Attempt to smother the fire and risk potential ground contamination Nuanes said. Rocky Flats scientists helped Colorado health officials by using a computer Model to forecast the path of the fires smoke. The plume of Black billowing smoke twisted in several directions across Denver As a storm front travelled through the City. It was headed Southwest late in the Day said Reed Hodgin manager of emergency assess ments for leg amp a inc., which operates the weapons Plant North of Denver. A the computer Model has been very accurate As far As what we be seen the plume do a said Steve Arnold manager of the technical services program at the Colorado department of health. The Rocky Flats team helped state health officials determine whether the plume will affect the population and which areas it might affect most Arnold said. Gay lawyer for right to get married Sands of time Washington up a lawyer filed a civil lawsuit against the City monday after he and his male Lover were denied a marriage License. Attorney Craig Dean 27, accused the City of discrimination and sought injunctive Relief in the District of Columbia Superior court a week after the District clerk of courts denied him and his Lover Patrick Gill 23, a marriage License. Dean said he is asking the court to interpret the code in the District so that the marriage License Bureau can Grant marriage licenses to Gays and lesbians. A the . Code does no tissue same sex marriage licenses and its a discriminatory act under the . Human rights act which states you can to discriminate on the basis of sexual orientation a he said. Dean said the code specifies two types of marriages that Are prohibited a incestuous and polygamous a but fails to address marriages by those of the same sex. A a people in other jurisdictions have filed applications for licenses and were denied but in a actually filing a lawsuit a he said. A because of the human rights Laws in the District i think we have a Good  he said the District government must file a response within 20 Days. Named in his suit were District mayor Marion Barry Frederick Beane jr., clerk of courts and h. Edward Ricks chief Deputy clerk and head of the marriage License  the stars and stripes 40 years ago today. Nov. 28,1950 a food shortages floods and looting plagued americans Eastern cities As they fought to dig out from the worst storm in 37 years and the death toll climbed past 200.30 years ago today. Nov. 28,1960 a president Eisenhower a commission on National goals said the nation should reduce joblessness below four percent double its spending on education and adequately a at whatever cost.20 years ago today. Nov. 28,1970 a a bolivian artist dressed As a priest tried to Stab Pope Paul i with a foot Long knife at Manila Airport but was shoved away before he could slash the pontiff.10 years ago today. Nov. 28,1980 a iranian government sources said that preparations had been stepped up for transferring the 52 american hostages from the custody of militants at the . Embassy to the iranian government but denied reports the Transfer had occurred