Photos from open sources of
Brigantine, which was most mysteriously abandoned team and then found four hundred miles from Gibraltar 4 December 1872 an American brig called “Dei Grazia,” considered a classic example of a ghost ship.
Damned ship
The brigantine, which was originally given the name “Amazon”, all time was haunted by failure. They began immediately after construction. ship: for three days he could not be launched, but in the first on the journey, a day after sailing, the captain became seriously ill. Amazon had to return to send Robert Maclellan home, where he soon died.
A photo from open sources
Then the brigantine repeatedly changed owners, since the owners, having figured out what’s what, tried to get rid of “damned” ship. In 1869 the storm threw the damned Amazon on the deserted coast of Nova Scotia, which served as a new round in its “biographies”. After that, the ship went to the American owner, renamed it for some reason to “Maria Celesta” or otherwise – “Mary Heavenly “.
A photo from open sources
November 5, 1872 “Mary Heavenly” came out in her next swimming, now under the command of a new captain – thirty-eight-year-old Benjamin Briggs. From Staten Island (port New York) the ship was sent to the Italian Genoa, loaded rectified alcohol sent by Meissner Ackermann & Coin. “Besides the captain and his small team of seven man, on the ill-fated ship were also Benjamin’s wife and two year old daughter.
The mysterious disappearance of the crew of the ship
Four weeks later, the ship “Mary Celeste” was discovered by the ship “Dei Grace, “under the command of the brave captain David Reed Morehouse, which, as it later became known, knew Benjamin Briggs quite well. The brigantine was abandoned: not a single person – living or dead – they never found on board her …
A photo from open sources
Between the decks and bulkheads of the ship was sea water, rising 3.5 feet in the hold. In addition, covers were removed from hatches. Otherwise, the ship seemed almost intact. True, on “Maria Celeste” there was no chronometer and sextan, which implied that the team was evacuated. The compass was broken – perhaps in a hurry they unsuccessfully tried to remove it. Clock stopped – they ran out of factory. In the captain’s cabin also remained intact two packs of money and a chest of jewelry. By gender children’s toys were even scattered on a sewing machine mrs Briggs lay unfinished sewing …
A photo from open sources
Judging by the location of things, the brigantine did not fall into the storm. So, an oiler lying on a sewing machine would surely fall off strong pitching. Other ships witnessed the absence of a storm, who were in the area at the estimated time disaster.
Nothing confirmed that the team was going for a long time leave the ship. The sailors did not even take their usual smoking pipes – they lay in the cockpit, in the space allotted for this location. The helm was not removed, as is always the case when a team leaves the ship.
Other mysteries of the ghost ship
“Maria Celeste”, we note, went sailing, having on board only a lifeboat (the second, as it turned out, at that time sent for repair). Apparently, this boat was lowered onto water, and from the windward side.
The cargo seemed to be intact, although after its delivery the owner declared 9 out of 1701 barrels of alcohol are missing. Remained intact six months food supply. All papers, with the exception of the logbook, disappeared. And the last entry made in the journal dated November 24th. IN she reported the coordinates of the vessel at the time of the moment. And more: according to the traditional inscription made in the wardroom on a regular slate, at eight in the morning of the next day the ship would be six nautical miles to south east south west of a small island Santa Maria (part of the Azores group).
A photo from open sources
Completely confused, the crew of the “Dei Grazia” towed empty ship in Gibraltar, where rumors of a ghost ship come from erupted with incredible speed.
… Captain Briggs, his wife and little daughter, as well as seven sailors from “Maria Celeste”, no one else saw – they disappeared forever and ever. The question is what really happened to these people, remained unanswered. As usual, history is overwhelmed by conjectures and speculation, and the press added oil to the fire. So, started Gibraltar prosecutor general’s own investigation allegedly found a bloodied sword in the captain’s cabin. There was blood on railing. This circumstance spoke in favor of the version of the rebellion on board, however, no other evidence of perfect violence was found. Moreover, as a result of a thorough chemical examination of “blood” turned out to be some kind of technical substance …
Over time, impostors appeared (and what without them?), Which every single one was exposed. They claimed to be surviving sailors from the “Maria Celeste”. Most adventurers somehow preferred to impersonate ship coca …
Water Time
