The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1908-07-22
A TALE OF PORTO RICO
Curious Story Of the Haunted
Sentry Box.
LIGHT ON THE OLD LEGEND.


psaranees From Fort San cristoba
| Accounted For by the Revelation 0
the Lost One Himself
\ Writing In the Journal OF the Mil
tary Service Institution, Captain AR
\ thur r. y. Hyde Of the coast artillcr,
tells this curious story Of "thc haunt
ed sentry box Of Fort San CristobaI
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 at points Of
vantage In and around the fort. One
OF these on the sea front, and reached
only through d long and dark tunnel
from the interior cf the fort. Ii pop
nlarly known as La Garita del Dlablo
or the devils sentry box, usually. al
though Incorrectly, translated the
haunted sentry box. This name was
given to II by the Spanish soldiers for
the reason that number Of sentries
stationed there disappeared In q most
mysterious manner and were never
again heard from.
IAN American officer was once kon
duty that took him Into the remote In
terior OF the island. and while spend
ing one night In small settlement he
engaged In conversation with a mum.
Der Of tho inhabitants OF the place.
One old man. on learning that the Of
Acer was stationed at Fort San Girls
tobal, became especially interested and
In the course Of the conversation told
the following story:
~ used TO be a soldier In the Span.
ish army and was stationed at Fort
San Cristobal A nur:..her 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 II fell to my
lot TO 90 ON duty In the devils sentry
box. as we called II, at midnight, and
It was with some doubts and misglv-
ings that went with the corporal Of
the guard and relieved the former SEN
try. When they left me I listened to
the sound Of their footballs reverberat-
Ing from the walls and ceiling Of the
dark and narrow passage, ever grow
ing fainter and fainter as they reced-
ed, until finally the noise Of the storm
and the sea completely drowned It,
and | was left alone with the mad ele-
ments.
"'It was a mad night and one well
calculated to add to the feeling OF awe
that the devils sentry box always In.
stilled into the man on duty there at
night.
Presently my attention was at.
tracted by some lights In small tav-
ern on the shore below the fort. where
many OF us were wont to 20 when of
duty for a glass Of rum. Then | be-
gan to think that l might be able to
climb down over the rocks to the
shore, get glass of rum at the tav-
ern and return to my post
"'The more I thought oft the more
determined ! was TO 20, so finally,
leaving my rife and belt In the sentry
box, climbed over the wall and down
on to the rocks and so made my way
with great labor and difficulty and no
little danger to the little house. where
the occupants were making merry
with dancing and drinking. I soon
fell to and enjoyed myself with them.
"'When one Is dancing with fair
senorlta he sometimes forgets the pas
sage OF time, as | did on that fatal
night, and not until long after l o'clock
did begin to think Of returning to
my post. Then, realizing that the cor
poral had made his inspection and had
found me gone from my post and
with my rife and belt left behind, l
saw only a court martial and the gar
rote staring me In the face, for In
those days for a sentinel In the Span
Ish army to quit his post meant sure
death, even In peace.
"'To 60 back was out Of the ques-
lion. There was only one thing left
Tor me to do, and that was to desert.
Ny heart sank within me. II / should
be captured, the same fate would be
neted out to me; but, reasoned, II |
we're to so back the fate would be
certainty, whereas II | deserted at
east l had chance Of keeping out
II sight Of the authorities l deserted
md before morning was out Of the
,lty and on the way to the noun !.
aims, |
"T have lived In this little hamlet
or years and have never been back to
he capital since that day, nor have
'ver told my story to single soul un-
II tonight, but now that the Spanlards
re gone l no longer fear for my life.
"Thus we have the story Of the dey-
rs sentry box from one Of the very
men who so mysteriously disappeared
rom 1t, and 1t would seem to be prob
bic that the other dlsappearances
ould be accounted for In a similar
nanner were the truth known. Quien
abe|
Captain HYDE mentions an interest.