Day 91 - Where is Bum Farto?

Technical difficulties - as many of you aware the blog photos are not popping up when viewed on an IPhone. They appear fine on PC's and iPads.  We are working to correct the problem.Miles cruised 0, fuel purchased $0, slip fee $133, daily high temperature 80*f feels like 85*fTony picked me at the marina at 6:15 am to go deep sea fishing. Mark and Taylor were with him. JP had to catch a morning flight home so he missed this fishing day. We stopped at Five  Brothers on Southard and Grinnell for Cuban bread and cheese breakfast sandwiches. We also wanted four Cuban mix sandwiches for lunch but the cook would not be in until 7:00 am. Tony called ahead to Kim's Cuban near charter boat row and pre-ordered the sandwiches. When we arrived at Kim's a Tony said something doesn't look R ight. Where's Kim. Turns out Kim retired and is leasing out her store. As a reference the Cuban mix sandwiches at Two Friends are better.Somewwhere over the rainbow is Key West.We arrived on time for our 7:00 am charter with Captain Joe Mercurio onboard the Jolly Roger II. His first mate Shawn helped us aboard. The forecast predicted lighter winds and flatter seas. Unfortunately the heavy waves from the previous day's had stirred up the water so it was too cloudy for good fishing. We had two hits and put one king mackerel in the boat in four hours. Other charter boats came back with no fish. At least we took the "stink" off the boat. Fisherman's expression for catching at least one fish and not getting "skunked." We did see waves from 4' - 6' when first got out there then it calmed down slightly. Dale and I will be fishing with Captain Joe again on January 7 when Jeff and Stacy Logan come to visit.The Jolly Roger IITaylor won the biggest fish, smallest fish, ugliest fish contest.Taylor resting after his battle with the behemoth.We said farewell to Pam Sholtes today.  Mark, Tony and Taylor will depart on Wednesday.Where is Bum Farto?Joseph “Bum” Farto was born in Key West on July 3, 1919. He was the son of Juan Farto, a Spanish immigrant who owned and operated the Victoria Restaurant at the southeast corner of Greene and Duval streets. Joe Farto grew up in a wood-frame house across the street from Key West’s fire station. He idolized the firemen, who gave him the affectionate nickname "Bum." When he was 22 he was a nozzleman with the Key West Fire Department. In 1964, he was named chief.What: The Navy had been a powerful force in the Key West economy. When they pulled out many of the sailors, the island suffered. Times were hard and people turned to illegal ways to earn a living. Bum Farto was one of those people. He sold marijuana from Colombia and began peddling it while sitting on a bench outside the fire station. From marijuana he moved into cocaine. Eventually authorities ran Operation Conch to take down some of the drug dealers in Key West. 28 agents from the DEA, FBI and Florida Drug Enforcement rolled into town disguised as contestants to a martial arts tournament. Then the slippery stuff hit the fan! Two cars rolled up and arrested Bum Farto, cuffed him and hauled him, along with 19 of his cronies off for processing. The city police weren't involved in this initially for obvious reasons.Each of the alleged dealers was surprised including Bum Farto. Convicted of selling drugs, Farto was out on bail when he told his wife he had to take care of some things in Miami and was never heard from again. One report tied Farto's disappearance to the Mafia in Tampa, FL. Other sources believed he was a victim of Colombian drug lords or he is living happily ever after in Costa Rica.  Locals claim Bum is sleeping with the fishes.  The original text in Mario Puzo's book The Godfather (1969) read: “The fish means that Luca Brasi is sleeping on the bottom of the ocean,” he said. “It’s an old Sicilian message.”Farto was married in 1955. He started selling drugs in the 1970s in front of his fire station where he was the fire chief and was arrested and sentenced in 1976.The Latest: Farto's wife, Esther, filed papers in 2010 asking Monroe County's Probate Division to clear up the legal issue of Farto's fate. She wants them to declare him dead so she can settle his estate and collect any retirement and insurance benefits.Carl (Chef) Wooden - quote for the day.To young men contemplating a voyage, I would say go! - Joshua SlocumJoshua Slocum (February 20, 1844 – on or shortly after November 14, 1909) was the first man to sail single-handedly around the world. He was a Nova Scotian born, naturalised American seaman and adventurer, and a noted writer. In 1900 he wrote a book about his journey Sailing Alone Around the World, which became an international best-seller. He disappeared in November 1909 while aboard his boat, the Spray.