The Mary Celeste is an iconic example of the ghost ship phenomenon, a mysterious tale that has captivated imaginations for generations. Originally named the Amazon, this American vessel was constructed in 1860 in Spencer’s Island, Nova Scotia. It was a two-mast brigantine, weighing 282 tons.
On November 7, 1872, the Mary Celeste set sail on its fateful journey. Aboard were seven crew members, Captain Benjamin Spooner Briggs, his wife Sarah, and their two-year-old daughter, Sophia. After battling rough weather for two weeks, the ship reached the Azores. The last log entry was recorded at 5 AM on November 25, 1872.
To this day, the mystery of what happened to the Mary Celeste remains unsolved. Theories abound, ranging from piracy and deadly waterspouts to alien encounters and ghostly presence.
How Did the Mary Celeste Story Gain Popularity?
The mystery surrounding the Mary Celeste became widely known after Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s short story was published. It featured an ex-slave turned homicidal sailor, which added an eerie layer to the tale. Another significant investigation was led by Anne MacGregor, who produced the documentary The True Story of Mary Celeste, funded by Smithsonian Networks.
The Discovery of the Mary Celeste
On December 5, 1872, ten days after the ship’s last log entry, the crew of another vessel, the Dei Gratia, spotted the Mary Celeste adrift in the Atlantic Ocean, off the Azores Islands in Portugal. The ship’s main sail was furled, and the topmast sail was torn. The vessel seemed to be moving with the wind, yet there was no sign of anyone aboard.
Captain David Morehouse of the Dei Gratia, who had been friends with Captain Briggs, sent his first mate, Oliver Deveau, to investigate. They found the ship deserted, with no signs of violence or piracy. The cargo, consisting mainly of denatured alcohol, was untouched, and the crew’s personal belongings were still in place, adding to the enigma.
After reporting the finding, the Dei Gratia crew sailed to Gibraltar, about 800 miles away. A British Court convened a salvage hearing to determine if the Dei Gratia crew was entitled to the ship’s insurance payout. The Attorney General, Frederick Solly-Flood, initially suspected foul play, but after a thorough investigation, the court concluded that there was no evidence of wrongdoing. The Dei Gratia crew was awarded a portion of the ship’s $46,000 insurance payout.
The History of the Mary Celeste
Between the early and mid-1860s, the Mary Celeste experienced a series of mishaps and ownership changes. Several captains met their untimely deaths, adding to the ship’s ill reputation. Despite this, the vessel had a successful period when it was salvaged by a New York-based marine company in 1867. The ship was re-christened Mary Celeste and placed under the command of Captain Benjamin Briggs, who, along with his family, became one of the ship’s stakeholders.
The Mystery Unfolds
In 1872, the Mary Celeste was tasked with transporting 1,700 barrels of denatured alcohol to Genoa, Italy. However, the ship was never seen arriving. Instead, it was found adrift in the Gibraltar Strait by the Dei Gratia, which had set sail a week after the Mary Celeste. It was discovered that the ship’s only lifeboat was missing, and the crew had vanished without a trace. However, the cargo, personal items, and the ship itself remained undisturbed, ruling out piracy.
Several theories were proposed regarding the crew’s disappearance, including the possibility of an outbreak of illness or an incident involving the alcohol cargo. Some speculated that alcohol vapors might have caused an explosion, prompting the crew to abandon ship. Others considered the idea that the ship’s pumps had failed, leaving the crew unsure of the amount of water entering the hull. This could have led the captain to make the decision to abandon ship, fearing it might sink.
Further investigations by Solly-Flood and others have suggested various other theories, including mutiny, alien encounters, or even the Bermuda Triangle. However, no definitive answers have emerged.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Was the crew of the Mary Celeste ever found? No, the crew was never found, and the reason for the ship’s abandonment remains a mystery.
- What was missing from the Mary Celeste? The ship’s only lifeboat was missing, and one of its pumps had been disassembled. Despite this, the cargo—1701 barrels of alcohol—was largely intact.
- Where is the Mary Celeste now? After being abandoned, the ship sailed for 12 more years before it became stuck on the Rochelais reef off Haiti in 1885. The wreck was discovered in 2001.
- When did the ship set sail? The Mary Celeste departed on November 7, 1872, with Captain Briggs, his family, and a crew of seven.
- What are some of the speculations surrounding the ship? Various theories have been proposed, including piracy, storms, alien encounters, and supernatural explanations. However, no single theory has been proven.
