In 1872, the British-American merchant brigantine 'Mary Celeste' was found unmanned in the Atlantic Ocean. All clues show it had been left in a hurry, as the food and water supplies, along with passenger and crew personal possessions, were all left on board.
What took place on the 'cursed' ship?
What took place on the 'cursed' ship?
The Start of a Mystery
The Mary Celeste is spotted. At about one in the afternoon on December 4th (5th) 1872, the Helmsmen of the Canadian merchant ship Dei Gratia, sighted a ship in the distance. The Dei Gratia was currently sailing across the Atlantic Ocean on its way through to the Mediterranean and was approximately 1000kms west of Portugal when this discovery was made.
The helmsman quickly informed the captain that something seemed to be wrong with the other ship and orders were quickly given to bring their ship closer. It soon became clear that something was very wrong with the other ship – several of the sails had rips in them and no one was at the helm. The ship had a slight list and seemed to be sailing erratically – just following along with the wind and waves.
The helmsman quickly informed the captain that something seemed to be wrong with the other ship and orders were quickly given to bring their ship closer. It soon became clear that something was very wrong with the other ship – several of the sails had rips in them and no one was at the helm. The ship had a slight list and seemed to be sailing erratically – just following along with the wind and waves.
The Dei Gratia closes in. The Dei Gratia closed to about 400 meters, where the crew watched and waited, but after several hours, no one was spotted moving about the deck. The captain of the Dei Gratia, David Morehouse, realised he knew the ship – the Mary Celeste – as he was a good friend of the ships Captain Benjamin Briggs.
Both ships had left New York the previous month and the Mary Celeste should have already made it to her destination some days before. Also odd was that no distress signal/flag was seen to be flown on the wayward ship.
This was only the beginning of the mystery.
Both ships had left New York the previous month and the Mary Celeste should have already made it to her destination some days before. Also odd was that no distress signal/flag was seen to be flown on the wayward ship.
This was only the beginning of the mystery.
The Plot Thickens
Slightly listing, sails ripped... all hands gone. Morehouse sent his chief mate over to the Celeste who quickly reported that he could find no one on board, that there was some water below deck but nothing serious and the ship was far from being in danger of sinking.
Puzzling was the fact that the passengers and crews personal possessions were still on board, the captains papers were missing but the ships log book was present. The life boat was missing and a long sturdy tow rope was found to be trailing behind the ship. Several of the ships pumps had been disassembled, the ships clock was not working and several of the navigational instruments were broken or could not be found. The ships cargo of 1701 barrels of alcohol was all accounted for.
It looked as though the ship had been abandoned in so much of a hurry that the six months worth of food was still present and accounted for as was all the drinking water. The last entry in the ships log was on 5am, November 25, after the ship had sailed through a few days stormy weather.
Puzzling was the fact that the passengers and crews personal possessions were still on board, the captains papers were missing but the ships log book was present. The life boat was missing and a long sturdy tow rope was found to be trailing behind the ship. Several of the ships pumps had been disassembled, the ships clock was not working and several of the navigational instruments were broken or could not be found. The ships cargo of 1701 barrels of alcohol was all accounted for.
It looked as though the ship had been abandoned in so much of a hurry that the six months worth of food was still present and accounted for as was all the drinking water. The last entry in the ships log was on 5am, November 25, after the ship had sailed through a few days stormy weather.
Some of the barrels were found to be empty... Being that it was a mystery and salvage rights needed to be determined, the Mary Celeste was sailed into Gibraltar where an investigation was carried out. On further examination it was found that there were a few more oddities to add to the mystery – blood found in the captains cabin (argued to be rust), 'blood' found on an ornamental cutlass and fresh, deep scratches on a wooden hand railing.
Also when the cargo of alcohol was unloaded it was found that nine of the barrels were empty.
Regardless, no sufficient evidence of foul play, piracy or mutiny was found. The Captain and Crew of the Dei Gratia received a sum of money for the salvage and a man named James Winchester took ownership of the Mary Celeste.
Also when the cargo of alcohol was unloaded it was found that nine of the barrels were empty.
Regardless, no sufficient evidence of foul play, piracy or mutiny was found. The Captain and Crew of the Dei Gratia received a sum of money for the salvage and a man named James Winchester took ownership of the Mary Celeste.
What Happened on the Mary Celeste?
Mary Celeste was once named 'Amazon'. The ship continued as a merchant /transport vessel but was found to be very unprofitable – no one wanted to trust their goods on what was now known as a cursed ship. Over the next 13 years the Mary Celeste changed hands 17 times, cost the lives of at least one more captain (before being named the Mary Celeste she was known as the 'Amazon' her first captain dying on board on her maiden voyage) for a total of three captains dying in command of her.
Her final captain G.C. Parker decided to end the tragedies and make a profit. He loaded her cargo hold with what amounted to garbage, over insured it and purposefully ran her aground on a reef just off Haiti. He was caught trying to commit the fraud after the ship failed to sink and he fouled up attempting to burn her to the water line. He himself only narrowly dodged an early death as the penalty for intentionally running aground a ship was execution, however, the jury didn't want to pass such a sentence for what was seen as a trivial, though expensive, crime.
Her final captain G.C. Parker decided to end the tragedies and make a profit. He loaded her cargo hold with what amounted to garbage, over insured it and purposefully ran her aground on a reef just off Haiti. He was caught trying to commit the fraud after the ship failed to sink and he fouled up attempting to burn her to the water line. He himself only narrowly dodged an early death as the penalty for intentionally running aground a ship was execution, however, the jury didn't want to pass such a sentence for what was seen as a trivial, though expensive, crime.
Captain Benjamin Briggs. The Mary Celeste, now in terrible shape, was allowed to succumb to the waves and eventually sank into the deep.
Captain Briggs, his wife, daughter and all seven crew were never seen or heard from again, neither were the few artefacts that were found to be missing from the ship.
Many theories exist as to what took place among them Briggs being paranoid with the cargo of alcohol leaking in his hold, the fumes a potential explosion risk causing him to abandon ship. Piracy and mutiny were also suggested as has UFO abduction and at a stretch the disappearance has been linked to the mysterious Bermuda Triangle.
(I have also made a video about this mystery. Check it out here: http://youtu.be/PazmLjKc5qY)
Captain Briggs, his wife, daughter and all seven crew were never seen or heard from again, neither were the few artefacts that were found to be missing from the ship.
Many theories exist as to what took place among them Briggs being paranoid with the cargo of alcohol leaking in his hold, the fumes a potential explosion risk causing him to abandon ship. Piracy and mutiny were also suggested as has UFO abduction and at a stretch the disappearance has been linked to the mysterious Bermuda Triangle.
(I have also made a video about this mystery. Check it out here: http://youtu.be/PazmLjKc5qY)
Ashley Hall 2013
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