Changes

[[File:Maryceleste.jpg|right|200px|thumb|''Mary Celeste'']]

[[File:Maryceleste.jpg|right|200px|thumb|''Mary Celeste'']]

The ''Mary Celeste'' was an American [[brigantine]] discovered in the Atlantic Ocean unmanned and under full sail heading towards the [[Strait of Gibraltar]] in 1872. The crew was never found, and the reason for their disappearance remains unresolved. The story of the Mary Celeste is regarded is one of the greatest maritime mysteries in history and remains the subject of much speculation.

The ''Mary Celeste'' was an American [[brigantine]] discovered in the Atlantic Ocean unmanned and under full sail heading towards the [[Strait of Gibraltar]] in 1872. The crew was never found, and the reason for their disappearance remains unresolved. The story of the ''Mary Celeste'' is regarded is one of the greatest maritime mysteries in history and remains the subject of much speculation.

== Origins ==

== Origins ==

Originally christened the ''Amazon'', the 103-foot (31 m), 282-ton brigantine was built in 1861 at Spencer's Island, [[Nova Scotia]], the first large vessel built in this community. Even from the beginning, the ship was regarded as unlucky. Her first captain, Robert McLellan, died nine days into its maiden voyage; he was one of three captains to die in command of the ship.<ref>http://museum.gov.ns.ca/mma/wrecks/wrecks/shipwrecks.asp?ID=256</ref>

Originally christened the ''Amazon'', the 103-foot (31 m), 282-ton brigantine was built in 1861 at Spencer's Island, [[Nova Scotia]], the first large vessel built in this community. Even from the beginning, the ship was regarded as unlucky. Her first captain, Robert McLellan, died nine days into its maiden voyage; he was one of three captains to die in command of the ship.<ref>http://museum.gov.ns.ca/mma/wrecks/wrecks/shipwrecks.asp?ID=256</ref>

Within the next five years, the ship endured three collisions and a shipboard fire. In 1867, it ran aground off Glace Bay, Nova Scotia and her owners sold her to James H. Winchester of New York City, who re-named her Mary Celeste.James H. Winchester of New York City, who re-named it ''Mary Celeste.''<ref>http://www.articlesbase.com/spirituality-articles/the-most-mysterious-maritime-mystery-the-marie-celeste-951410.html</ref>.

Within the next five years, the ship endured three collisions and a shipboard fire. In 1867, it ran aground off Glace Bay, Nova Scotia and her owners sold her to James H. Winchester of [[New York City]], who re-named her ''Mary Celeste''. James H. Winchester of New York City, who re-named it ''Mary Celeste.''<ref>http://www.articlesbase.com/spirituality-articles/the-most-mysterious-maritime-mystery-the-marie-celeste-951410.html</ref>.

== Disappearance and discovery ==

== Disappearance and discovery ==

Oliver Deveau, the chief mate of the ''Dei Gratia,'' led a party in a small boat to board the Mary Celeste. He found the ship in generally good condition, though he reported that "the whole ship was a thoroughly wet mess". There was only one operational pump, with a lot of water between decks and three-and-a-half feet (1.1 m) of water in the hold. The forehatch and the lazarette were both open, the clock was not functioning and the compass was destroyed. The sextant and marine chronometer were missing, and the only lifeboat appeared to have been intentionally launched rather than torn away, suggesting the ship had been deliberately abandoned.  

Oliver Deveau, the chief mate of the ''Dei Gratia,'' led a party in a small boat to board the Mary Celeste. He found the ship in generally good condition, though he reported that "the whole ship was a thoroughly wet mess". There was only one operational pump, with a lot of water between decks and three-and-a-half feet (1.1 m) of water in the hold. The forehatch and the lazarette were both open, the clock was not functioning and the compass was destroyed. The sextant and marine chronometer were missing, and the only lifeboat appeared to have been intentionally launched rather than torn away, suggesting the ship had been deliberately abandoned.  

The cargo of was intact, although when it was eventually unloaded in Genoa, nine barrels were found to be empty. A six-month supply of food and water was aboard. All of the ship's papers, except the captain's logbook, were missing. The last log entry was dated November 24 and placed her 100 miles (160 km) west of the Portuguese islands of the Azores. The last entry on the ship's slate showed her as having reached the island of Santa Maria in the Azores on November 25.

The cargo of was intact, although when it was eventually unloaded in Genoa, nine barrels were found to be empty. A six-month supply of food and water was aboard. All of the ship's papers, except the captain's logbook, were missing. The last log entry was dated November 24 and placed her 100 miles (160 km) west of the Portuguese islands of the [[Azores]]. The last entry on the ship's slate showed her as having reached the island of Santa Maria in the Azores on November 25.

Popular myths exist that the boarding party discovered half-eaten meals, still warm, in the galley, or found the deck covered in blood. There is no proof of these stories.<ref>http://www.deafwhale.com/maryceleste/</ref>

Popular myths exist that the boarding party discovered half-eaten meals, still warm, in the galley, or found the deck covered in blood. There is no proof of these stories.<ref>http://www.deafwhale.com/maryceleste/</ref>

Crewmen from the ''Dei Gratia'' sailed the Mary Celeste to Gibraltar where a lengthy inquiry ensued. Admiralty court officer Frederick Solly Flood doggedly accused the ''Dei Gratia'' crew of foul play. In the end, the court did award prize money to the crew, but the sum was much less than it should have been, as "punishment" for suspected, but unproved, wrongdoing. Captain Morehouse was awarded one fifth of the ship and cargo.

Crewmen from the ''Dei Gratia'' sailed the Mary Celeste to Gibraltar where a lengthy inquiry ensued. Admiralty court officer Frederick Solly Flood doggedly accused the ''Dei Gratia'' crew of foul play. In the end, the court did award prize money to the crew, but the sum was much less than it should have been, as "punishment" for suspected, but unproved, wrongdoing. Captain Morehouse was awarded one fifth of the ship and cargo.

The ''Mary Celeste'' itself changed hands 13 more times until it was deliberately wrecked on the off the coast of Haiti on January 3, 1885, in what proved to be an insurance scam by owner Tyrus Alexander.<ref>http://www.essortment.com/all/marycelestemys_rvyu.htm</ref> A 2001 expedition led by author and adventurer Clive Cussler found the remains of the ship.<ref>http://www.numa.net/press/080801.html</ref>

The ''Mary Celeste'' itself changed hands 13 more times until it was deliberately wrecked on the off the coast of Haiti on January 3, 1885, in what proved to be an insurance scam by owner Tyrus Alexander.<ref>http://www.essortment.com/all/marycelestemys_rvyu.htm</ref> A 2001 expedition led by author and adventurer [[Clive Cussler]] found the remains of the ship.<ref>http://www.numa.net/press/080801.html</ref>

== Theories on the disappearance ==

== Theories on the disappearance ==