The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1899-01-30
RoUT OF A SPANISH sPooK.
How Major Day Took Possession o
n Haunted Castle.


San Juan, Porto Rico, Jan. 29.-Major
.. S. Day, of the Fifth United States
Artillery, has taken possession of the
haunted San Geronimo castle. He has
heard the Spanish ghost, and, TO the utter
establishment of negro residents. driven
him from the musty old walls. But the
spook did not retreat meekly. He made
three visits to the major, driving a span
of horses across the stone bridge and into
the yard on bright moonlight nights, and
convinced him, at least, of the truthful
ness of one Spanish ghost story.
San Geronimo, little One-stoTy stone
castle, is situated on picturesque head
land OF the north coast of the eastern end
of San Juan Island. AS early as the year
1893 the Spaniaids saw the beauty OF the
spot and built the first rude walls, sum-
mer home for the captain general. Year
after year, as customary with all their
forts and castles, they strengthened the
place until last October, when they de-
parted, they left the kitchen, living apart
ments and dungeon protected from the
seward by solid masonry wall. Half a
century ago, in the fourishing days OF
Spanish rule, San Geronimo saw some bril-
liant society. But for more than thirty
years past, according TO tradition, the
cept occasionally. only a solitary ghost.
The nearest neighbors. the negroes in the
slab huts on the military road. say the
specter was the returned spirit of po!iti-
cal prisoner tortured 10 death in the dun
geon cell. Their story was proved true
a few years ago, they thought, by me
mysterious death of a temporary keeper.
Yet, Notwithstanding the presence OF such
a ghost when war came with the United
ha itch arTtl ms
six big guns in position on top Of the
castle walls in order to help sink Yankee
men -of-war. Two unmounted gun car
riages we're found by our troops on October
Is, 1888.
On a tour of inspection of the old Span
ish forts and breastworks in San Juan asst
October Major Day noticed the picturesque
site OF San Geronimo and wondered why so
pretty a little castle should have been de-
serted. He found the walls, although a
century old. in good condition. one sold
piece of masonry. on further examination
he saw that. by the help of few work
men, the damp musty interior could be
made into one OF the most beautiful dwell
ings on the island. Accordingly the major,
not having heard of the ghost, decided, il
possible, to get permission from Gen. john
R. Brooke then in command TO occupy
and repair the castle. But at first the
major met with little delay, for the gem
eral, having heard the ghost story, natur-
ally did not want to have his efficient ar
tillery officer encounter, unnecessarily, a
dangerous spOok.
I'VE can hardly spare you from here
Just now said General Brooke, apparently
in earnest.
But the major persisted.
Nor can we afford to lose you" con-
tinued the general, with a twinkle in his
eye, remembering the death of the Span
ish keeper, yet saying not word about d
ghost.
Major Day. nevertheless, after another
appeal got permission to occupy the old
Spanish castle For his sleeping apart
ment he chose a room in the temporary
second story wooden shed which over
looked the back yard, the stone bridge and
the shore toward the capital. His bed
stood nearly directly above the dungeon
and torture cell on the ground floor. Bu
as the major then knew nothing of an!
ghost. he, Of course. did not feel supersti-
tious He had selected the second-storl
room merely in order to keep an eye OF
the stone bridge passaseway.
Major Day spent his first night in thu
| castle without even an orderly. In th'
| early evening he sat on the stone breast
work enjoying the cool sea breeze anC
| then went to his room tired enough Il
| build castles in dreamland. Hardly had h
| closed his eyeids in sleep before he hear'
| Il span of horses on the bridge. He NUT
| tered something about a funny time 70
visitors and got up to meet his callers. Blu
| when he looked out of the window h
could see neither horses nor visitors. Sucl
an occurrence naturally puzzled him. for
! although his ears carefully trained TO hea
| the faintest noise of the enemy, on the on
hand. had told him of the approach of
| team, vet, on the other. his eyes, whicl
| sighted Finch rifles precisely on tn
masts of battleships miles away, could de
tect no sign of horse or man. Therefor
| the artillery officer wondered il he wa
awake He pinched an arm. and, feelin
| the test once more retired for the night
In the morning he decided to keep his eX
perience secret, but. If the opportunit
ever came again, TO be more on the aler
the next time for his mysterious visitors.
On the second night in San Geronimo
castle Major Day, therefore, did not fal
asleep at the usual hour. but. lying on hi
cot wide awake. listened intently for an
unusual noise. Before half an hour ha
passed, nearly at the same hour OF
the previous night he detected the fain
rattle OF n team on the highway. Sool
he recognized the familiar clatter of
heard their hoofs strike the stone pave
ment Faster and faster came the team
seemingly with whirlwind speed, acros
the bridge and into the yard Sure of hi
visitors, the major could wait no Longer
but, springing from his bed, threw ope