The unsolved Mary Celeste mystery: A real ghost ship found sailing without a crew

The Mary Celeste had its beginnings in Spencer's Island, Nova Scotia, where it was constructed and initially launched in 1861 under the name "Amazon."

Designed as a brigantine, the ship was approximately 103 feet in length and had a breadth of about 25 feet.

With a gross tonnage of 282 tons, it was built to be both sturdy and swift, suitable for long ocean voyages.

The Amazon had its share of misfortunes early on. In its first few years, it faced a series of mishaps, including a collision in the English Channel and the sudden death of its first captain.

These events led to a change in ownership and, subsequently, a renaming. In 1868, the ship was purchased by an American mariner named Richard W. Haines, who brought it to New York.

There, it underwent extensive repairs and was rechristened as the "Mary Celeste."

Under this new identity, the ship would embark on several voyages, but none as infamous or as puzzling as its journey in 1872.

On November 7, 1872, the Mary Celeste set sail from New York Harbor, bound for Genoa, Italy.

Commanded by Captain Benjamin Briggs, an experienced mariner, the ship carried a crew of seven, along with Briggs' wife, Sarah, and their two-year-old daughter, Sophia.

The cargo hold was laden with 1,701 barrels of industrial alcohol, a shipment intended for the burgeoning Italian market.

The initial days of the voyage were reportedly uneventful, with the ship making steady progress across the Atlantic.

That was, until almost a month later, the ship was found drifting aimlessly about 400 miles east of the Azores. 

On December 4, 1872, the British brigantine Dei Gratia, captained by David Morehouse, was navigating the waters of the North Atlantic when a crew member sighted a ship drifting aimlessly.

As they drew closer, it became evident that the vessel was the Mary Celeste.

Recognizing the ship, as both vessels had left New York just days apart, Morehouse was immediately concerned.

Sending a boarding party, the crew of the Dei Gratia was met with an eerie silence.

The Mary Celeste appeared to be deserted.

Upon inspection, the ship was found to be in good condition, with its sails partially set and no apparent damage.

The cargo of industrial alcohol was mostly intact, with only a few barrels emptied.

Personal belongings of the crew and passengers remained undisturbed, suggesting no signs of a struggle or hurried evacuation.

However, the ship's logbook, which was last updated on November 25, provided no clues about what might have happened in the intervening days.

Notably, the ship's only lifeboat was missing, hinting at a possible attempt by the crew and passengers to reach safety.

The ship's chronometer and sextant were also missing, vital tools for navigation at sea.

The Dei Gratia crew, sensing the gravity of the situation, decided to bring the Mary Celeste to Gibraltar for further investigation. 

One of the earliest and most prevalent theories centered on the ship's cargo of industrial alcohol.

Some postulated that the fumes from the alcohol might have caused an explosion or posed a threat of explosion, prompting the crew to abandon ship.

However, the lack of any visible damage or signs of fire on the ship challenged this theory.

Another theory suggested that the crew, fearing the ship was taking on water, panicked and abandoned ship prematurely.

This was based on the discovery of water in the ship's bilge, though the amount was not unusual for a ship of its size and age.

Additionally, the ship was still found to be seaworthy when discovered by the Dei Gratia.

Human actions, such as mutiny or piracy, were also considered. Perhaps a disagreement among the crew led to a violent confrontation, or pirates attacked the ship, taking the crew hostage.

Yet, the untouched cargo and personal belongings left behind contradicted the typical signs of a pirate raid.

Natural phenomena, like waterspouts or rogue waves, were also proposed as potential culprits.

A sudden and powerful natural event might have scared the crew into thinking the ship was sinking, leading them to hastily abandon it.

Supernatural explanations, often fueled by the era's fascination with ghost stories and unexplained phenomena, also found their way into public discourse.

Tales of sea monsters, ghostly apparitions, and cursed ships added to the allure of the Mary Celeste mystery.

In more recent times, scientific investigations have revisited the case, using modern technology and knowledge to re-examine the evidence.

Some researchers have pointed to phenomena like seismic sea waves or underwater earthquakes as potential explanations.

Yet, despite the multitude of theories, no single explanation has been universally accepted

Upon the Mary Celeste's arrival in Gibraltar under the guidance of the Dei Gratia crew, an official salvage hearing began.

The purpose of such hearings was to determine the legitimacy of salvage claims, but given the mysterious circumstances surrounding the Mary Celeste, the inquiry took on a more investigative nature.

Spearheading the investigation was Frederick Solly-Flood, the Attorney General of Gibraltar. He viewed the case with deep suspicion, considering foul play as a likely scenario.

The initial examination of the ship revealed several points of interest. There were cuts on the ship's rail, which Solly-Flood believed were caused by an axe.

The ship's main halyard, a crucial piece of rigging, was found tied to a makeshift sounding rod, which was unusual.

These findings, combined with the missing lifeboat and navigational instruments, led Solly-Flood to believe that a criminal act had taken place.

However, as the investigation progressed, many of these initial suspicions began to unravel.

The cuts on the rail were determined to be old and unrelated to the crew's disappearance.

The barrels of alcohol in the cargo hold, initially suspected to have been tampered with, were found to be made of red oak, which is more porous than white oak and could have led to natural leakage.

Despite the lack of concrete evidence pointing to foul play, rumors and speculations ran rampant.

The crew of the Dei Gratia, especially Captain Morehouse, faced scrutiny, with some suggesting they had orchestrated the entire event to claim salvage rights.

However, these accusations were baseless, and the Dei Gratia crew was eventually awarded a salvage fee, albeit a reduced amount due to lingering suspicions.

The official investigation concluded in early 1873 without a definitive answer to the crew's disappearance. 

After the investigation in Gibraltar and the subsequent salvage hearing, the Mary Celeste resumed her life on the seas, albeit under different ownership and with a cloud of mystery forever attached to her name.

Over the next 13 years, the ship would change hands multiple times, with each owner facing a series of misfortunes, further fueling the belief that the ship was cursed.

In 1874, the ship was acquired by a partnership that included Captain George Blatchford.

Under his command, the Mary Celeste sailed primarily in the Indian Ocean, transporting goods between ports.

However, financial difficulties plagued the venture, and by 1879, the ship was sold again.

The subsequent years saw the Mary Celeste embroiled in several accidents and mishaps.

These incidents, combined with the ship's infamous history, made it increasingly difficult to secure profitable ventures or find willing crews.

By the 1880s, the ship's reputation had significantly deteriorated, and it was largely seen as an ill-fated vessel.

The final chapter in the Mary Celeste's story came in 1885. An American named Gilman C. Parker became her last captain.

Seeing no profitable future in honest trade for the ship, Parker, along with a group of conspirators, hatched a plan to deliberately wreck the Mary Celeste to claim insurance money.

They loaded the ship with a worthless cargo, insured it heavily, and then intentionally ran it aground near Haiti.

The scheme, however, was quickly uncovered. Parker and his accomplices were brought to trial, but due to a lack of evidence, they were acquitted.

The scandal, nonetheless, tarnished Parker's reputation, and he faced financial ruin and public disgrace until his death.

As for the Mary Celeste, her wrecked remains lay forgotten near the Haitian coast.