The Ghost Ship Mary Celeste

The Mary Celeste was found adrift in the Atlantic Ocean in December 1872 in seaworthy condition with supplies intact but completely abandoned. Her captain, his family, and seven crew members had vanished. Their fate has never been determined.

The Voyage

The Mary Celeste departed New York on November 7, 1872, carrying a cargo of commercial alcohol bound for Genoa, Italy. Captain Benjamin Briggs commanded. His wife Sarah, their two-year-old daughter Sophia, and seven crew members sailed with him.

The Discovery

On December 4, the British ship Dei Gratia spotted the Mary Celeste sailing erratically about 600 miles west of Portugal. When sailors boarded her, they found the ship deserted. The lifeboat was missing. Personal belongings and cargo remained.

The Clues

Six months of provisions remained. The ship was seaworthy. The cargo was intact. However, the main hatch covers were off, water was in the hold, and a sword with apparent bloodstains was found. The ship’s papers were missing except for the logbook.

The Theories

Proposed explanations include piracy, mutiny, waterspout, alcohol vapor explosion, sea monster, and spontaneous evacuation due to fear of the cargo exploding. None fully explains why ten people would abandon a sound ship.

The Investigation

A salvage hearing in Gibraltar found the ship to be seaworthy. No survivors were ever found. No wreckage from the lifeboat appeared. The case was never solved.

Assessment

The Mary Celeste represents the quintessential ghost ship mystery. After 150 years, we still cannot explain why her crew abandoned her or what happened to them. The sea never revealed its secret.