Wedding party finds ammo, loses wedding ring

Tourists who found a sunken ship’s chest off Coral Beach are now appealing to beachcombers to help them find some lost treasure of their own.

The day before the discovery of the 95-year-old chest of artillery shells from the Pollockshields shipwreck, newlywed Seth Meyer lost his wedding ring in the ocean.

Mr. Meyer and Florence Danforth married at Coral Beach and Tennis Club on Friday, joined by a wedding party of 60 guests from the U.S.

After the reception, guests gathered on the beach shortly after midnight for an impromptu party.

But as Mr. Meyer, 27, swam in the ocean with his friends, his wedding ring slipped off his finger.

Father Henry Meyer said: “Seth was very upset and wanted to go and look for it, but it was late and the sea was just too rough.

“The next day we looked along a good stretch of  beach, but found nothing.”

The 58-year-old attorney, from Maine, said: “It was emotional. It’s bad enough to lose a ring at any time but the morning after your wedding, that’s hard.

“But Florence was very comforting to Seth. They are a couple very much in love and this will be just a little bump in the road.

“A ring is a symbol of marriage but the marriage is really what is in their hearts.”

Despite the upset, Mr. Meyer said the wedding party were then “pleasantly surprised” when friends uncovered the ammunition chest while snorkelling a day later.

“What a wonderful way to end this magical time of a wedding,” said Mr. Meyer.

He said the discovery was made just slightly further out from where the ring went missing.

He added the family were being “philosophical” about the loss of the ring.

“It could have swept out to sea or been buried,” said Mr. Meyer.

“Maybe it may also turn up in 95 years’ time. But there’s always the chance someone may find it.”

Mr. Meyer and his son, a Citigroup employee from New York City, are now offering a reward to anyone who finds the gold ring.

As for the ship’s chest, its contents will now be preserved at the National Museum.

The Pollockshields sank on September 7, 1915, after striking a reef during a hurricane. Experts say last month’s Hurricane Igor may have unearthed the chest.

Anyone who finds a ring off Elbow Beach should contact the Coral Beach and Tennis Club at 236-2233.