The Ghost Ship That Sailed Itself: What Happened Aboard the Mary Celeste?
On December 4, 1872, roughly midway between the Azores and the coast of Portugal, the crew of the Canadian brigantine Dei Gratia spotted a ship moving strangely, yawing off course under partial sail. When first mate Oliver Deveau climbed aboard, he found something sailors dread more than any storm: a vessel in working order with no one at the helm — and no one anywhere else.
The ship was the Mary Celeste, an American brigantine that had left New York on November 7 bound for Genoa, carrying about 1,700 barrels of industrial alcohol. On board were Captain Benjamin Briggs — a devout, experienced and well-respected master — his wife Sarah, their two-year-old daughter Sophia, and a hand-picked crew of seven. All ten had vanished.
Sign up and get your first month completely free — unlimited access to the entire archive, ad-free for subscribers. Cancel anytime.
Subscribe — first month free