A Breakfast Interrupted
On December 4, 1872, the British brig Dei Gratia spotted a ship drifting erratically in the Atlantic Ocean. It was the Mary Celeste. When the crew boarded her, they found an eerie scene: the ship was in seaworthy condition, the cargo of 1,701 barrels of industrial alcohol was largely intact, and the captain’s logbook was sitting on the desk. There was six months’ worth of food and water. But there was not a single soul on board. Captain Benjamin Briggs, his wife, his young daughter, and the crew of seven had simply vanished.
What Happened on the Mary Celeste?
The lifeboat was missing, suggesting an orderly evacuation, but why abandon a safe ship in calm waters? There were no signs of struggle or violence.
- The Alcohol Fumes Theory: The most plausible scientific theory is that fumes from the leaking alcohol barrels built up in the hold. Fearing an explosion, the captain might have ordered everyone into the lifeboat to trail behind the ship safely, but the tow line snapped, leaving them adrift while the Mary Celeste sailed away.
- Mutiny or Piracy: Early sensationalist reports suggested mutiny, but the crew’s personal belongings and valuable cargo were left untouched, ruling out pirates.
- Insurance Fraud: Suspicion fell on the owners and the crew of the Dei Gratia who found her, but no evidence of collusion was ever proven.
The Aftermath: The crew of the Mary Celeste was never seen again. The ship gained a reputation as “cursed” and was eventually wrecked intentionally by a later owner for insurance money. To this day, it remains the archetypal ghost ship story of the maritime world.