What happened to the "Mary Celeste?" What caused her passengers and crew to abandon the brig in the middle of the Atlantic ocean with apparently no reason?
Built in 1860, she was 103 feet long, and displace 280 tons. She survived several accidents over the next 10 years before finally being put up for auction. Sold for around $3000 to an American firm, she was extensively refurbished and renamed the "Mary Celeste." On November 7, 1872, she sailed from New York with Captain Briggs, his wife and child and a crew of eight. Also on board were barrels of alcohol bound for Genoa, Italy.
On December 4, 1872, the English cargo ship, "Dei Gratia" was sailing west of Portugal when a sail was spotted on the horizon. The "Dei Gratia's" Captain Morehouse, noticing the other ship was sailing erratically, attempted to communicate with her. Receiving no reply, Morehouse approached the ship and was surprised to discover it was the "Mary Celeste." Surprised indeed, for Morehouse's ship was berthed next to the Mary "Celeste" in New York. To add to the coincidence, Morehouse had dined with the "Celeste's" Capt. Briggs the day before he sailed! Closing with the "Celeste", Morehouse could detect no activity aboard the other ship. Sending a crew to board her, it was discovered that the Mary Celeste had been abandoned. Capt. Briggs, his daughter and wife and 8 man crew and lifeboat were missing, but all there belongings were left behind, suggesting a hurried departure. A letter was found also, beginning "Fannie, my dear wife..." and that was all! An inspection of the log revealed the last entry was dated November 25. The "Mary Celeste" had sailed unmanned for nine days and covered 900 miles. Aside from some minor damage; two hatches were ripped off and an alcohol cask was damaged, she appeared perfectly seaworthy. So, following a suggestion from his first mate, Morehouse decided to claim the "Celeste" as salvage and sail her into Gibralter. On Dec 14, the Celeste and "Dei Gratia" docked together at the British seaport. The authorities were suspicious that the Captains of the two ships had cooked up the disappearances to share a salvage fee. But that would not likely since Briggs was a co-owner of the "Celeste" and would stand to lose money on a salvage fee scam. Another theory was that the crew had gotton into the alcohol on board and mutinied after a bout of drinking. But again, this was unlikely because the alcohol on board was unrefined and would not make pleasant drinking.
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