Castillo de san Marcos
The Castillo de san Marcos located in St. Augustine Florida is the largest and oldest masonry fort in the Continental United States.
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The 300+ year old fort sits off of the Matanzas River; A river that in Spanish means "killings" or "slaughters" for all of the bloody battles that took place on land and at sea around this area. The fort is made uniquely of Coquina, a blend of sea shells and cement that have bonded together to create a limestone like structure, which made the fort very effective and part of the reason why it is still standing today. The Castillo de San Marcos has flown the flags of five different countries over its limestone walls. Fifteen battles and sieges have been waged at this military fortress that served as a stronghold during wars between England and France, England and America, and America's Union North and Confederate South.
The walls of the Castillo are riddled with bullet holes and cannonball craters telling the story of it's many sieges. Because of the wartime past and the hundreds of prisoners housed at the fort, the possibility of paranormal activity is high and there are many tales of supernatural activity.
Along one wall outside the Castillo, prisoners were lined up and executed by firing squad. The grounds around the Castillo are considered to be a graveyard, where many died in battle and their remains may have been left to rot. There have been reports of ghostly soldiers still defending the grounds and ghostly prisoners seen bounding over the walls to their hopeful escape.
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Inside the fort, there are even more reports of ghostly activity. During one lengthy siege, the city of St. Augustine retreated into the fort for safety. Little did they know the British had barricaded the Matzana's so no supplies were able to make it to the fort resulting in mass starvation.
There are also rumors of a cellar of remains being unearthed by accident by a cannonball; thought to be the dumping ground of prisoners. Another tale tells of Chief Oseola's head being taken back to the fort in hopes of a doctor creating a death mask.
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Story of the Lost Lovers:
After the fortress was back under Spanish rule in 1784, a new commander, Colonel Garcia Marti brought his pretty young wife, Dolores to St. Augustine start their new life in the Americas.
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Marti was an older man with absolutely no sense of humor, no hobbies and who was often too busy with work. Dolores, in contrast, was young, healthy, pretty, fun, well liked and quickly made friends throughout St. Augustine. It wasn’t long before Dolores laid eyes upon someone more her type. Captain Manuel Abela was a handsome, charming man who befriended Dolores quickly. The two fell in love and started an affair.
This went on for months until one day as Colonel Marti listened to Captain Abela give a report when he noticed a familiar scent coming from Abela's uniform, it was Dolores' distinctive perfume.
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Shortly after this meeting both Manuel and Dolores were gone.
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The Captain’s men noticed he did not show up for his shift. When they questioned his absence they were told he had been given a special assignment in Cuba. The Colonel sadly informed her friends that Dolores had returned to Spain because St. Augustine’s climate was making her ill.
50 years later, in 1833, Lieutenant Tuttle was studying the architecture of the fortress when he noticed one wall seemed to be hollow on the other side and according to blue prints... there shouldn't have been anything on the other side. He proceeded to take down a false wall and discovered a hidden room; inside were two skeletons chained to the wall.
It was later found that one was male and one was female.
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It is believed that Colonel Marti had Captain Abela and Dolores chained and entombed here to end their lives.
The paranormal activity in the area is said a strong aroma of a perfume; Bright streaking lights and cold spots. Several EVP’s relevant to the story have also been captured in this area--one by the Ghost Adventure's crew in 2009.
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