Lewiston evening teller. [volume] (Lewiston, Idaho) 1903-1911, 1908-08-11
A TALE OF PORTO RICO
Curious Story Of the Haunted
Sentry Box.
LIGHT ON THE OLD LEGEND.


the Lost One Himself.
Writing in the Journal OF the Mill |
tary Service Institution, Captain Ar.
thur p s. Hyde OF the coast artillery |
tells this curious story Of ''the haunt |
ed sentry box" Of Fort San Cristoml,
the ancient Spanish built fortress
which guards the entrance to San
Juan, Porto Rico:
"A number Of picturesque sentry
boxes built OF masonry and appearing
like minarets are placed Mt points Of
vantage In and around the fort One
OF these on the sea front, and reached
only through long and dark tunnei
from the interior of the fort. is pop.
ularly known us La Garita del Diablo
or the DEVILS sentry box. usually. al
though incorrectly, translated the
haunted sentry box. This name was
given to 1t by the Spanish soldiers for
| the reason that number of sentries
| stationed there disappeared IN rlost
mysterious manner and were never
| again heard from
| AN American officer was once or
duty that took him into the remote In
terror of the island. and while spend
| ing one night IN Il small settlement he
| engaged in conversation with mum
| Der Of the inhabitants Of the place.
One old man. on learning that the Of
ficer was stationed ut Fort San Girls
tobal. became especially interested and
in the course Of tae conversation told
the following story:
81 used to be soldier In the Span
lsh army and was stationed at Fort
San Cristobal. A number Of soldiers
while on sentry duty had mysteriously
disappeared from the sentry box down
by the sea. and we had all become
convinced that 1t was haunted by the
devil, who. we thought, used to come
and steal the soldiers away.
Zone stormy night 1t fell to my
lot to 60 on duty in the devils sentr:
box. as we called It. at midnight. ant
It was with some doubts and mlsglv
ings that ! went with the corporal Of
the guard and relieved the former sen
|. try. When they left me listened t
! the sound Of their footballs reverberat
I | Ing from the walls and ceiling Of tn
{ dark and narrow passage, ever grow
! Ing fainter and fainter as they reced
e ed. until finally the noise Of the storm
d and the sea completely drowned II
4 and was left alone with the mad ele
d ments.
".It was a mad night and one wei
calculated to add to the feeling Of aw
l. that the devils sentry box always II
: stilled into the man on duty there Z
a night. t4H H@
= Presently my attention was al
d tracted By some lights in small tav
o eru on the shore below the fort. wher
= many Of US were won't to 90 when Of
h duty for a glass OF rum. Then l b<
70 ran to think that I might be able {
a climb down over the rocks to III
" shore. get . glass Of rum at the tn
srn and return to my post.
- "sThe more thought of It the NOR
:. determined l was to 60, 90 mail!
:, leaving my rife and belt In the sentr
box. / climbed over the wall aud dow
81 on to the rocks and 30 made my va
70 with great labor and difficulty and Z
&c little danger to the little house. whe1
the occupants. were making merr
with dancing and drinking. l 900
fell to and enjoyed myself with them
when. ono II dancing with n
in senor,ta hs sometimes forgets the pa
eaee OF time. ~ ! did on that fat
night, and not until long after ociot
be aid l begin to think Of returning
"A my post. Then. realising that the CO
poral had made his inspection and hs
found me gone from my post o.
with my ride and belt left behind.
he saw only q court martial and the %
IN rste staring me In the face. tor
e' those days for q sentinel In the Spa
en- ish army to quit his post meant su
nd death. even In peace. :.
I'D ""Ts 70 back was out Of the que
n ton. Thsrs was only one thing le
tor me to do, and that was to desc
be Ny heart sank within me. II shou
nd be captured, the same fate would
Ia meted out to me; but, reasoned. II
he were to 60 back the fate would be
:. certainty. whereas II deserted
least had q chance Of keeping o
:" Of sight Of the authorities. l desert
and before morning was out OF {
city and % ths way TO the mot
tains
~ have lived In this little ham
md for years and have never been back
the capital since that day, nor have
ever told my story to Q single soul
- u tonight, but now that the Spaniai
2 s.xx.s FE,oP fnR Nfe