Lewiston evening teller. [volume] (Lewiston, Idaho) 1903-1911, 1908-08-05
ATALE Of PORTO RICO
Curious Story Of the Haunted
Sentry Box.
LIGHT ON THE OLD LEGEND.
One Of the Many Mysterious Disap.
psaraness From Fort San Cristcb Il
Accounted For BY the Revelation Of
the Lost One Himself.

| Accounted For BY the Revelation o
the Lost One Himself
| Writing In the Journal Of the Mill
tary Service Institution, Captain Ar
thur r. S. Hyde of the coast artillery
tells this curious story of "the haunt
ed sentry box" Of Fort San Cristobal
the ancient Spanish built fortress
| which guards the entrance to Sar
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 long and dark tunnel
from the interior Of the fort. Is pop
ularly known as La Garita del Diablo
OR the devils sentry box, usually, al
though Incorrectly. translated the
haunted SENTRY box. This name was
given to It by the Spanish soldiers for
the reason that a number of sentrics
stationed there disappeared In a most
mysterious manner and were never
again heard from
IAN American officer was once on
duty that took him into the remote in
terror Of the island. and while spend
ing one night in small settlement he
enga Ged in conversation with mum
Der OF the inha bitants of the place.
One old man, on learning that the Of
tcer was stationed at Fort San Girls
toba!. became especially interested and
in the course Of the conversation told
the following story:
I 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.
lone stormy night 1t fell to my
lot to go on duty In the devils sentry
box. as we called 1t, at midnight, and
1t was with some doubts and misglv-
ings that l went with the corporal of
the guard and relieved the former SEN
try. When they left me l 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 Yeced-
ed. until finally the noise Of the storm
and the sea completely drowned It,
and was left alone with the mad ele-
ments.
at was a mad night and one we'll
calculated to add to the feeling Of awe
that the devils sentry box always in
sttllsd into the man on duty there at
night.
Presently my attention was at
lracted by some lights In a small tav-
ern on the shore below the fort, where
many Of as were won't to 60 when OF
duty for a glass Of rum. Then I be-
gan to think that might he able to
climb down over the rocks to The
shore. get glass Of rum at the tav.
'rn and return to my post
The more I thought Of 1t th0kmore
l was to go. so finally,
eaving my rife and belt in the sentry
,ox. climbed over the wall and down
IN to the rocks and so made my way
With great labor and difficulty and no
little danger to the little house, where
he occupants were making merry
With dancing and drinking soon
ell to and enjoyed myself with them.
when one IS dancing with a fair
enorita he sometimes forgets the pas
age of time, as did on that fatal
light. and not until long after l O'clock
lid begin to think Of returning to
ny post. Then. realizing that the cor
'oral had made his inspection and had
ound me gone from my post and
With my rife and belt left behind, |
aw only court martial and the gar |
ote staring NE IN the face. for in |
hose days for sentinel in the Span |
sh army to quit his post meant sure
eath. even In peace.
ITO 60 back was out of the cues
lon. There was only one thing left
or me to do. and that was to desert.
~ heart sank within me- II l should i
e captured. the same fate would be
NS~~ WV w NV ouSp lcuSOucu, IL /
Tere to go back the fate would be a
ertainty. whereas II deserted at
east l had chance Of keeping out
I sight Of the authorities deserted
nd before morning was out of the
ity and on the way to the noun
aims
81 have lived in this little hamlet
Or years and have never been back to
ne capital since that day. nor have
yer told my story to a single soul IN
j tonight, but now that the Spaniards
re gone l no longer fear for my life.'
Thus we have the story of the dew
8 sentry box from one Of the very
len who 80 mysteriously disappeared
rom II, and 1t would seem to be prob
bic that the other disappearance
ould be accounted for in a similar
tanner were the truth known. Quien
abe?"
Captain Hyde mentions an interest.
Is fact that, although for centuries
orto Rico was considered the legiti-
late prey Of freebooters and was at.
icked at various times by regularly