HISTORY OF SHIPWRECKS
MYSTERY OF THE SEA
GHOST SHIP MARY CELESTE
1872
A mystery of the sea
taken from the Gibraltar Chronicle, 13 December, 1872 and
reported by “ The Star “ newspaper of St. Peter Port,
Guernsey, England, Tuesday, 18 February, 1873.
The Star newspaper
announced the arrival of the vessels Dei Gratia and Mary
Celeste, the Mary Celeste
under tow of the Dei Gratia, found abandoned at sea .
The report of an
extraordinary inquiry follows; The December 13 report by the
master of the British
ship Dei Gratia put notice that 5 December last, was found in
Latitude 28.20,
longitude 17.15, a derelict ship which they made out to be the
American
brigantine Mary Celeste
and fell in with her the Dei Gratia was on port tact with a
north wind while the Mary Celeste , with jib and foremast
staysail set, was on a starboard tact., and that the derelict
was sound and without reason no cause for abandonment.
A special survey was held
and reported , the cargo , barrels of alcohol, well stored,
in good condition except
one which was spent. The survey of the ships interior proved there
was no accident and no
weather damage evident. The hull, mast and yard goods in good
condition as was the 6
foot high deck house, Captains quarters , seamen chest dry and in
order. New paint had no cracks and razors had no rust. There was
no reason for abandonment. In addition a sword was found with
smears of blood , blood was found on the
top gallant rail. The was
no bill of laden nor manifest on board. Effects in the
Captains
cabin were of
considerable value and showed proof a lady and a child had been
on board.
The ships log book found
on board showed the last day of work was 24 November
and placed the Mary
Celeste in latitude 36.56 N, longitude 27.20 W. log in ended at 8
am
November 25. noting she
passed W to E north of Azores St. Mary's Island. Six miles
SSW the eastern point,
indicating the abandoned ship keep her due course 10 days after
the 24th.
November, the helm being loose all the time.
Her Captain, B S. Briggs,
was well known in Gibraltar and bore the highest of character.
Mary Celeste was built in Nova Scotia and left New York for this
voyage the 5th
of November for Genoa,
Italy, a found one month later adrift.
Mart Celeste was built
at Spencers Island, Nova Scotia, launched as the Amazon in
1861. Registered as
American in 1868 and named the Mary Celeste. She was wrecked in
1885 on Haiti as a insurance fraud case
Abstract: St. Peter
Port The Star, Guernsey, England , Tuesday 18 February
1873
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