The Mary Celeste: Ghost ship, vanished crew, and ongoing mysteries
The sailing ship Mary Celeste (image: Wikipedia)
The story of the ship Mary Celeste belongs to the treasury of the world’s most mysterious enigmas. What could have happened to the entire crew that disappeared from the ship in the open sea?
RBC-Ukraine shares the entire tale of the mysterious Mary Celeste.
The mysterious discovery in the Atlantic Ocean
In 1872, the brigantine Mary Celeste was found drifting in the Atlantic Ocean without a single crew member onboard. Left behind were all personal belongings, a stockpile of food and water, and a cargo of alcohol barrels.
The sudden disappearance of the people from the perfectly intact ship immediately sparked interest and rumors. Abandoned approximately 640 km from the Azores, the vessel was discovered by the crew of another ship, Dei Gratia. The Dei Gratia’s captain, David Morehouse, who knew Mary Celeste's captain, Benjamin Briggs, was astonished to find the ship deserted.
Leftover food and a warm cup of tea indicated that the crew had left the ship abruptly. The mystery of what happened to the crew became one of the 19th century's greatest maritime enigmas.
The Dei Gratia crew had to tow Mary Celeste to the port of Gibraltar, where the story of the “ghost ship” quickly spread, shocking and captivating people worldwide.
Eerie details found aboard
When the Dei Gratia crew boarded Mary Celeste, they found an unsettling scene. The ship’s compass was broken, and the wheel spun freely. All cabins remained intact, with personal items left undisturbed.
Only one lifeboat was missing, suggesting the crew may have left voluntarily. The ship's logbook ended on November 24, marking the last known date the crew was aboard.
No signs of a struggle or theft led to various theories about what could have caused the disappearance. Despite attempts to solve the mystery, it remained unsolved, and even the Gibraltar prosecutor’s investigation did not conclude.
Theories behind the disappearance
The crew's disappearance sparked numerous theories and hypotheses, including natural phenomena and the possible attack of a sea creature.
Some believed pirates could have frightened the crew, but this seemed unlikely since the cargo was untouched. Other theories proposed that the crew abandoned the ship due to faulty pumps or an approaching storm.
Another hypothesis pointed to the possibility of an alcohol explosion in the barrels, which might have scared the captain and crew into leaving the vessel. In 2006, scientists from University College London experimented with butane gas, showing that a similar explosion could occur without any fire traces.
The crew may have intended to wait out the danger in a lifeboat but later perished in a storm. However, each theory has flaws and leaves questions unanswered. Efforts to unravel the mystery continue to this day.
Modern research and new discoveries
The story of Mary Celeste continues to draw the attention of scientists and enthusiasts. Using modern methods and technologies, researchers are trying to reconstruct the events 1872.
Recent experiments suggest the crew may have left the ship due to fear of an explosion or flooding. A small amount of seawater in the hold may indicate issues with the pumps that discharged water overboard.
There is also speculation that the crew evacuated to a lifeboat as a safety measure but couldn’t return due to a storm. Despite new theories, the mystery remains unsolved, and researchers continue searching for new evidence to explain the crew's disappearance.
Cultural impact
The mystery of Mary Celeste has inspired many writers and filmmakers. Notably, author Arthur Conan Doyle wrote a story based on this legend. The idea of an abandoned crew has formed the basis of numerous novels, films, and television shows.
Sources: Britannica, Smithsonian Magazine, Wikipedia.
