The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1910-08-16
RIDDLE OF SEA
|. BEYOND SOLUTION
What Became of the Captain and
Crew Of the Mary Celeste Thirty
Eight Years Agoi


terry OF what became OF the master and
crew Of the British bark Invernesshire
switch sailed from Hamburg on March
2 for Santa Rosalia, CAL, and was
found at anchor and abandoned OF the
Falkland Islands. recalls vividly to the
nautical minds the fate OF the brig
Mary Celeste OF New York, for nearly
forty years the prize riddle OF the
sea. The Mary Celeste sailed from
New York for Genoa with cargo of
petroleum and alcohol. She was com
manded by Capt. Benjamin 8. Briggs,
of Marion, Mass. with Albert G.. Rich
ardson, of Stockton, Me-, as first mate,
Andrew Gilling, of New York, as sec.
ond mate, and Edward William Head.
New York; Volkert Lorenzer, Arien
Harbens, b. Lorenzer, and Gottlieb
Goodshood, all of Germany, as the
crew. The captains wife and small
child were also on board her.
Was Well Manned.
The brig was In first-rate condition,
well manned and well equipped in
every way, and when she sailed from
New York on Nov. 7, 1872, the whole
ships company was happy and con-
tented. Yet none of them was ever
again seen, dead or alive. The brig
was found on Dec of the Azores,
drifting aimlessly about in light winds
with her head sails set and all her 9th.
er canvas down. There was nothing
to show why she had been abandoned
or what had become OF her people.
ehe was thus found by the brig Del
Gratia from New York tor the Mediter-
ranean, and after a careful examina-
tion Capt. Moorehouse of the Del
Gratia put prize crew on board and
sent her into Gibraltar, where she ar
rived on Dec. Is, 1872, and was turned
over to the Admiralty Court. Her
owners refused to pay the heavy sal
wage demanded. and let the salvors
take her.
Among the officers effects which
were sent home was the mates log,
and this, with other articles, was re-
turned to the father OF the lost sailor,
the late Theodore M. Richardson, OF
Stockton. One significant passage, the
last written, appeared In the log:
Fanny, my dear WIFE"
Whether these words were written
by the mate merely as an expression
of affection, while thinking OF home,
or in moment OF panic and despair
when about to abandon the vessel, can
only be conjectured. There was moth
ing else about the vessel to indicate
the state of mind prevailing on board
when she was abandoned. The date
Of this entry In the mate,s log was
Nov. -. When ten days later she was
boarded by men from the Del Gratia,
her stern boat was gone, and 1t ap-
peared that some food, probably can
ned goods, had been taken from a
locker.
Otherwise everything was In such
ship-shape that, but for the date OF
the last entry In the log, the Del
Gratias men could have sworn that
the vessel had been abandoned within
an hour Her running rigging was all
properly made fast, and the slack coll
cd neatly on deck or over the pins.
The companionways we're open, half
turned music lay upon the rack OF the
little cabinet organ In the cabin, and
children's toys were scattered upon
the floor. In the captains stateroom
his gold watch hung at the head OF
his berth. and in his wife's room the
impress Of a child's head was distinct
upon the pillow.
In the cooks galley the coppers
were on the stove, and meat In process
OF preparation was on the table. In
the forecastle the men had not dis
turbed their chests, no clothing was
missing, and even money had been
left behind. 1t was plain that the crew
had left her very suddenly. That the
boat was lowered away In hurry and
with some confusion was indicated by
q broken davit.
Many Solutions Suggested.
In the thirty-eight years that have
elapsed since the Mary Celeste, was
abandoned countless stories, all more
or less fanciful, have been written
about her, and numerous theories have
been advanced In explanation OF this
greatest of sea riddles. Mutiny, dis
ease, and piracy have suggested