I was stationed in the Panama Canal Zone in the early 1970's. The Canal Zone at that time was still a U.S. possession and was, as best I can describe, as close to paradise as you could want. The climate was a little hot and humid at times, but being from Miami, Florida that didn't have a negative effect on me. The Canal Zone was quiet, not much if any violence, crime, or drugs. The Canal Zone Police didn't carry weapons, well they carried a very big night stick type baton. They reminded me of a state trooper with large flat brimmed hat and uniforms always looking nice. Some of the Canal Zone Police were very large men and as I remember most were black men or at least the Police that I remember were. There was no problem in the Canal Zone with crime and that is my recollection.
I was in the Navy stationed at Galeta Island and lived at the old Coco Solo Naval Air Station. It was an abandoned Sea Plane base situated right at the Caribbean side entrance to the Panama Canal. A large protected anchorage, a couple miles across had an array of waiting ships and sailboats from all over the world. It was a great place for sailing and fishing. The scuba diving we did on the coral reef in the Caribbean outside the breakwater.
A fellow sailor and electronics technician Charlie Miller was a bottle collector and showed off his collection. I immediately fell in love with the crude, colorful treasures. He invited me to go with him and I accepted. We went to a place called Fort San Lorenzo situated at the mouth of the Chagres River. The old Fort dated back to Spanish times and was still in fair condition.
We dug into the side of a dry creek bank and worked for hours. Charlie found a few bottles and I found one. It was hand blown with applied lip, dark green glass, a beer bottle type and shape with no embossing. The bottle was probably made in the late 1800's. That was the bottle that "hooked" me into collecting antique bottles. From then on I attacked bottle hunting with a passion.
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