The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-06-14

Writing In the current issue of the Journal of the Military Service Institu- ton, Capt. Arthur P. s. Hyde of the coast artillery tells this curious story or the haunted sentry-bo.-'' of Fort San Cristobal,. the ancient Spaish-built for tress which guards the entrance to San Juan, Porto Rico:
 "A number of picturesque sentry-boxes built of masonry and appearing like min srets are placed at points of vantage in and around the fort. One of these, on the sea front and reacl.ed only through q long and dark tunnel from the intc- rior of the fort, is popularly known as La Garita del Diablo. or the Devils Sentry-box usually, though incorrectly translated, the haunted sentry-box.' This name was given to it by the Span- ish soldiers for the reason that a num- Der of sentries stationed ther disappeared IF a most mysterious manner and were never again heard from. Their disap- pearance was ascribed to the devil. who was supposed to have come and taken them away.
 The Soldiers Story.
 An American officer was once on du.y that took him into the remote interior of the island, and while spending aone night in a small settlement he engaged in conversation with a number of the inhabitants of the place. One old man, on learning that the officer was sta- tioned at Fort San Cristobal, became especially interested, and in the course of the conversation told the following story:
 T used to be a soldier in the Span- ish army and was stationed at Fort San Cristobal. A number of soldiers, while on sentry duty, had mysterously dis appeared from the sentry-box down by the sea, and we had all become con- vlnced that it was haunted by the devil who, we thought, used to come and steal the soldiers away.
 One stormy night it fell to my lot to go on duty in the Devils Sentry box, as we called it, at midnight, and it was with some doubts and misgivinSs that I went with the corporal of the guard and relieved the former sentry When they left me I listened to the sound of their footballs reverberating from the walls and ceiling of the darll and narrow passage, and ever growing fainter and fainter as they receded, un- til finally the noise of the storm and the sea completely drowned it, and I was left alone with the mad elements
 It was a wild night and one well calculated to add to the feeling of awe that the Devils Sentry-box always in- stlled into the man of duty there at night. I was not afraid, but I felt creepy as a person does when he eX- poets something to happen which no hu- man power can Notwithstanding su- pernatural
 To Desert Essential.
 oot- ed by some lights in a small tavern on the shore below the fort, where many oe as were wont to go when off duty for glass of rum Then I began to think that I might be able to climb down over the rocks to the shore, get glass of rum at the tavern and return to my post before the croporal of the guard should make his tour of inspection at 1 o'clock.
 "'The more I thought of it the more determined I was to go: so finally, leav- ing my rifle and belt in the sentry-box, I climbed over the wall and down onto the rocks, and so made my way. With great labor and difficulty, and no little canger to the little house, where the occupants were merrymakng with danc- ing and drinking. I soon fell to and ee- ,oyed myself with them.
 ".When one Is dancing with fair senorita he sometimes forgets the pas 
 highland not until long after 1 o'clock did I begin to think of returning to my post Then, realizing that the corporal had made his inspection and had found me gone from my post. and with my rifle and belt left behind, l saw only couhtmartial and the garrote staring me in the face, for in those days for a sen tinel in the Spanish army to quit his post meant sure death even in time of peace.
 Ct,soI hit,a in f,.a
 To get back was out of the ques- tion. There was only one thing left for me to do, and that was desert. My heart ank within me. If I should be captured the same fate would be meted out to me; but, I reasoned, if I were to go hack the fate would be a certainty, whereas if I deserted a. least l had a chance of keeping out of sight of the authorities. l deserted, and before morning was out of the city and on the way to the mountains.
 "I have lived in this little hamlet for years, and have not been back to the capital since that day, nor have I ever told my story to a single soul until to- night; but now that the Spaniards are gone I no longer fear for my life
 Thus we have the story of the Devils Sentry-box from one of the very mon who so mysteriously disappeared from it, and it would seem to be more prob able that the other disappearances could be accounted for in a similar manner were the truth known. Quien sable!
 Fort Never Captured.
 Captain Hyde mentions an interest," ing fact that although for centuries Por- to Rico was considered the legitimate prey of freebooters, and was attacked at various times by regularly organized ex-