The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1901-05-02
SAN GERONIMO'S GHOST.
He Drives Up to the Castle in State and
Cares Nothing for Sentries.

| liz iCllNCS ~ y " Lie NdSllc Ill oldtt anu
Cares Nothing for Sentries.
The thorough tourist, in visiting Por-
to Rico, seldom fails to inspect Fort
San Geronimo, at the western extremity
of San Juan Island. 1t is an historic
old spot, Spanish-built castle erected
a couple of hundred years or so ago. 1t
| sits away back from the highway the
nearest habitation being half mile
away The approach to the fort is
through long palm-shaded lane, and
as tradition says the old place is haunt
ed there are few visitors after the sun
has set.
Major Seldom A. Day, with two order
lies, is the sole occupant of the pictur-
esque spot, and he has been CHARTERED
there since General Miles first entered
San Juan. He and his dogs, cats, po-
nAes and a Brazilian mountain lion
seem to be under some sort of influence
which pervades the place. For the last
two winters the major has had house
full of guests, nearly all of more or less
literary fame, who came to this seclu
ded spot to commune with nature and
take notes and weave weird stories of
love and war, underground passages,
haunted fortresses and the like
Among Major Days guests may be
mentioned Mrs. and Miss Burchenal of
Baltimore, Helen H. Gardener, author
of IAN Unofficial Patriot" and at one
time ON the editorial staffs of several
magazines; Mrs. w. G. Brazington,
wife of the portrait painter, and Ed
ward Marshall, the war correspondent.
and Mrs. Marshall Mr.. Marshall, who
was severely wounded in Cuba is col
lecting material for a series of maya
zine articles.
Every night, promptly at midnight,
so Major Day tells his guests, a team
of white horses attached to a coach
dashes up the driveway and into the
court. From the coach alights a trans
parent figure attired In the uniform of
Spanish officer Of one hundred and
fifty years ago. He enters the fort
noiselessly and the coach drives clatter-
ing down the lane. The sight is such
familiar one to the old artillery chief
that he no longer, so he claims, cares a
rap whether the antiquated Spanish
captain visits him or not, but whenever
new guest arrives the host insists
that he remain until the ghost appears.
At first, two years ago, one of the sem
tries fired point blank at the driver,
who had refused to halt on command.
The ball passed through his breast, ac-
cording to the soldiers tale, but the
coachman did not even tremble. The
guard did, however and afterward
served term in the guard house for de-
sorting his post.
The old castle is connected with Fort
San Cristobal, two miles away, by
tunnel, which is part of series of I'M
foreground passages said to traverse the
entire lower city district. The tunnel
from San Geronimo, so tradition and
the major say, Is connected with anoth-
er from San Cristobal to El Moro,
which is again connected with the pal
ace and the center of the city in the
same manner.
These underground passages are a
part of the general defense system of
San Juan built by Spain years ago.
They have not been explored as the
evacuating army destroyed the records
October II, 1898, and their exact loca-
army officers these passages do exist,
the entrances to nearly all are known
and are pointed out to visitors at Forts
Crstobal and Morro-stone built holes
in the Notifications through which one
may pass for n certain distance until
further progress is prevented by heaps
Of fallen masonry and rubbish. In one
Of the entrances in plain view, back of
the Executive Mansion, near the waters
edge, the visitor may go forward about
fifteen feet, when massive iron door,
rusted on it's huge handwrought hinges,
is encountered. Only few weeks ago
one Of gang of workmen repairing the
foundation of building on the Plaza,
was surprised to find himself suddenly
twenty feet below the level
Of the ground. He had sunk through a
thin crust roofing of an underground
room. Examination disclosed well built
arches, subterranean galleries
and Railways. Members of the older
families still relate stories to their chill
lren about these passages, and it is
claimed by some that the recently dis
closed room was used as dungeon In
the seventeenth century. The proprie-
or of the building was so besieged by
curiosity seekers that he closed up the
place without thoroughly examining it.
Governor Allen and dozens of others
Visited the spot, but were only rewarded
with a glance at dark opening and
vhiffs of most foul air. Some people
,laim to believe that dozens of skele-
ons of old time martyrs or kegs of
reasure may yet repose in this walled
I'D underground room.-Brooklyn Eagle.