A Modern-Day Mary Celeste?

Posted by Jodee Redmond Aug 24, 2006

A yacht valued at over U.S. $500,000 was found abandoned off the coast of Italy on August 23, 2006. It was discovered by the Coast Guard during a routine patrol in the area. Investigators found clothing, maps, and an unfinished meal on board, but have yet to determine whether the unnamed vessel was abandoned on purpose and what happened to the boat's occupants. To add to the mystery, officials have not received word of any lost or stolen boats in the area.

The Mary Celeste was a ship found floating adrift on December 4, 1872. All 10 people on board (including the captain's wife and young daughter) were missing. The ship's papers, chronometer, and sextant were missing, along with a small boat. The ship's cargo (1,700 barrels of raw alcohol) was intact, with the exception of nine empty barrels.

Many theories exist about what happened to the occupants of the Mary Celeste: that she was set upon by pirates; the crew mutinied, killed the captain and his family and left in the small boat, or the occupants were abducted by aliens.

The theory that makes the most sense to me is that everyone abandoned ship, fearing she was about to sink due to some of the alcohol on board exploding or the cargo rumbling in the hold. The occupants most likely got into the small boat, trailing behind the Mary Celeste on a rope. They were waiting to see if the Mary Celeste would explode. Instead, the wind snapped the rope and they were unable to get back on board. The 10 unfortunate souls would have either been swept overboard from the small boat or died from thirst and exposure.