The Mary Celeste

The Mystery of the brigantine, The Mary Celeste

Learning Intention: Read forwards and backwards across the text to connect information

The mystery of the brigantine (a two masted sailing ship), the Mary Celeste may  perhaps never be solved. There are many theories on this case that have been presented over time.  After researching several of  these, I believe the  information  presented in the Court Enquiry provided  the strongest evidence  because it  included eyewitness testimony, and proof to support their  theory about what happened back in 1872.

On December, 4, 1872 the Mary Celeste was found in seaworthy condition in the middle of the Atlantic ocean, without any crew floating 600 miles off Gibraltar. The ships paper, it’s chronometer and everyone on board were the only things missing on the Mary Celeste. They had all inexplicably and completely vanished. Records presented in the Court  Inquiry from Autumn of 1872, showed that the Mary Celeste was sailing to Europe with a cargo of 1700 barrels of alcohol below her decks. The Captain, Benjamin Briggs was accompanied by his wife Sarah, their two year old daughter Sophia Matilda and the crew of seven men.

The Mary Celeste was observed by another ship The Dei Gratia. When her crew boarded the vessel under full sail its wheel was creaking and cabin doors were slamming open. Their reports at the inquiry included statements of  finding weapons with stains that looked like blood. According to Oliver Deveau (the Chief Mate of the ‘Dei Gratia’) the likelihood of these weapons being used for violence was very remote, as no other blood was found on the ship.  Stains underwent scientific testing which verified that they were iron nitrate not real blood.

Stormy weather recorded at the time of the time the crew of the Mary Celeste disappeared link to the most likely theory, that suggests that the the crew including the captain and his family possibly abandoned ship  in a small lifeboat for fear that the ship was sinking.  Again this is qualified by the fact that the only dry clothing  found on the ship was found  in a watertight seaman’s chest. Everything else was wet.   In the event of a captain abandoning his ship, it is likely that he would have taken ship’s records  and his chronometer.