The Fishing Ring

During the days when the old Marco Inn was young and the shortest days of the year began to cast longer shadows, visitors began to arrive for the upcoming winter season. This was an era when a ferryboat brought early automobiles and passengers across the river for the high season of sunbaths, boating, and some of the best fishing anywhere.

Many of the winter guests came every year. These were the people and the families of the massive steel mills in Pennsylvania. They were the prestigious families of automotive producers in Detroit, and they were the relatives of industrial giants of New York who were the owners of breweries, bakeries, and baseball teams. These were the most privileged of society, and extravagant travel was a way of life. These travelers followed the fair weather and were always well-dressed for every occasion. Their flamboyant clothing came in steamer trunks ahead of their arrivals, but their jewelry was priceless, abundant, and never far from sight. There was jewelry for every occasion and when one was dressing to be the object of attention of other visitors of the season, diamonds, emeralds, rubies and pearls were expected and revered. 

When a dinner seating was underway and well attended in the quaint little settlement of Collier City, the Marco Inn was always aglow with a multitude of hurricane lamps. Within the elegant setting, the flames of the flickering light became captive within the finest jewelry and cast diamond fire from table to table. After the inn in December began to host the largest Christmas tree on the island, a rosy glow of red rubies turned every movement into something festive, while emeralds as big as the largest pearls also added to the splendor of the holiday decorations. 

During the winter days when the weather was fair, sunbathing was the rage. The bathing costumes, however, were not complete without the sizable diamonds that were truly brilliant in the sunlight. Brooches, bracelets, and blazer pins also caught the sun and attention of any who might be observing. The extravagance of the winter seasons was unique. There were chaise lounges among the whitewashed palm trees and huge terry towels for the beach where the little pigs of the island were discouraged from wandering by the ultimate fence that was the Gulf of Mexico.   

There was special jewelry for luck and unique clothing for every activity. For boating and fishing, all the women wore layers of white sheer over their bathing costumes to protect them from the sun. The stylish men, however, were fond of turning tan to emulate the rugged islanders who were so full of character and local color.

Before the flash of the early traditions began to change from the extravagant to the conservative, an early December storm caught the fabulous and flamboyant unaware.

The fishing boats of the day were fast wooden vessels with heavy engines, shining varnish, and stylish low freeboards that made fishing easy. The captains were the rugged seafaring islanders who knew the winter weather could bewitch and be deceiving.

When the fateful December day of the Fishing Ring began to dawn, the sky over the Everglades was ruby red, and mare’s tails and mackerel clouds were brushstrokes on the horizon. On the previous night, a full moon was showing a foggy ring around the lunar body and the surf was breaking big where the little pigs wandered and the tourists went sunbathing. 

Well after sunrise, a warm southern wind was gusting when the queen of diamonds decided she wanted to go fishing. When the queen and her family were assembled with all of their fishing finery, huge diamond fishing rings, priceless brooches, and bangles, and were ready to board the wooden boat gleaming with varnish, the veteran captain shook his head and gave his weather warning.

“The signs are not good.” The rugged captain spoke respectfully and began his list of storm warnings. “Red sky at night, sailors’ delight. Red sky in the morning, sailors take warning. Mare’s tails and mackerel scales are wind and waves and tall ships must carry low sails. Ring around the moon or the sun, and storm is coming on the run.”

The matriarch and queen of the finest family in breweries, bakeries, and baseball teams, ignored the warnings with a wave of her giant diamond-fishing ring and shouldered her way onto the boat followed importantly by her daughters, sons, and picnic baskets.

When the reluctant captain paused at the mouth of the river to eye the clouds coming from the northwest, the queen of diamonds ordered him out around the headland and onward offshore.

The next hour was quiet except for an uneasy wave that began to continuously assault the little ship. As the sky began to darken and the first of the lightning strikes began, the captain spoke not a word but started the big inboard engine. When the wind began to tear out of the low, long, and very dark cloud that came out of the northwest the gulf turned white with the waves that became bigger with every mounting crest.  

As the queen of diamonds and her bejeweled family were huddled from the rain, the waves, and the lightning that was searching from a very dark sky, the captain found the river and almost the dock before a huge rogue wave began to break and roll. After the perfectly varnished boat was over on her beam, she dumped the captain, all the passengers, and the very large diamond fishing ring into the river before helpful dockside bystanders came to the rescue.  

After the storm, the finest of the early families were all safe at the inn, with a fishing tale they would never forget, but somewhere moving with the tides, is a Fishing Ring waiting for a net. 

Tom Williams is a Marco Islander and the author of two books: “Lost and Found” and “Surrounded by Thunder – The Story of Darrell Loan and the Rocket Men.” Both books are available on Kindle and Nook.