Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1914-02-07

Il ~ INV Il
qualified to express an opinion as to
the cause of her abandonment. What
is from advance proof of the
Gazette.
This, then, is the theory always held
by Captain Winchester, and now re-
peated to the Nautical Gazette by his
grandson:
1.-THE Mary Celeste was an Ameri-
can brigantine of 236 tons, built at
Bath, Me. She loaded oil and spirits
at one of the East river piers for the
Mediterranean. After leaving port
there is no doubt she encountered con-
rough weather, although
when picked up 1t was fine and calm.
When boarded by the crew of the Del
Gratia, one Of her hatch covers was
found to have been overturned, but
the cargo was perfectly intact. This dis
poses of the theory that the cargo had
been preached by the crew fer the
sake of the spirits. One of the ves-
sells boats was missing, and one only.
Captain Winchester went across to
Spain after the vessel was found, in
order to attend the proceedings for
salvage, and he thoroughly investigat-
ed the matter, as far as was possible.
He always held the theory that the
cargo had generated vapor and gas,
as was entirely probable, from the
oil and spirits, during the warm
weather voyage particularly.
This gas, after a spell of rough
weather, caused spontaneous combus-
ton, which one morning suddenly
blew off the hatch Cover. Seeing the
smoke. with the report, and perhaps
flash of flame, and knowing the
highly combustible nature Of the car
go, the crew made a mad rush for
boat, and all hands got safely away,
the captain, of course, taking his
chronometer with him. But the YES
sci did not burn. and there were no
more explosions. When the ventila
ton got to the cargo. 1t cooled Off
ard the Mary Celeste kept ON her
way. She sailed SO well alone, In fact,
with fair breeze filing her square
sails, that she ran away from the
boat containing the captain and his
wife and child and crew. They, I'M
fortunately, found themselves unable
to again reach their vessel, and be-
came the victims of another sea trag-
edy. The newspapers Of the day, then
as now eager for sensationalism,
Matched up all sorts of stories about
piracy, ETC., but there was nothing in
the evidence to warrant any presump-
ton of anything having happened ex-
cept what Captain Winchester in
ferred. IL there was blood on part of
the deck, it may have been from in
juries to one of the crew when the
hatch blew off. The Mary Celeste
simply ran away from the boat. and
the boat or it's passengers We're never
after heard from"
Picturing the actually of Captain
Winchester's theory, the final scene
on board the Mary Celeste can be
readily imagined and found most
natural. 1t has come fine clear
morning with a fair breeze and very
little sea. The vessel is running free
under all plain sail and the morning
watch have gone to breakfast. 1t is
just about eight bells and breakfast
is in progress aft also. The mate re-
marks to the captain:
IT don't like that gassy smell about
the matches, sir Don't you think it
would be a good idea to lift them a
bit today and yentilate the cargo?'
All right, says. Captain Briggs,
after a moments consideration. sup
pose you try 1t when you go on deck.
Only be careful when you get at 1t.
We don't want any danger of an ex-
plosion, you know"
VERY good, SIR" says the mate,
who finishes his coffee and leaves the
cabin, the captain and his wife and
child continuing at their meal.
A few minutes later there Is a roar
and an explosion that shakes the YES
sci. The instant that the hatch was
partly free all the pent-up gas below
went off with bang. One of the
men was badly injured and the deck
shattered with his blood. The fumes
from the cargo were oyerpoWerlng
and the smoke and vapor coming from
the hatch made it look as If the YES
sell were doomed. An old sword when
the cook had started to scour ana
which he kept for matchmaking OPP
erations. was thrown on. of his hands
and cut him.
The captain rushes on deck, ana,
knowing the very inhammable nature
of his cargo of oil and spirits, orders
n boat to be got ready at once. In II
are placed the wounded man, the cap
tain's wife and child, some water ana
provisions. The captain grabs MS
chronometer and sextant, the others
of the crew tumble in and the boat
hurriedly pushes OFF. Fearful OF the
vessel blowing up altogether, theS
row to a little distance and watch'
then suddenly realize that they cannot
oyertake her again. Seine of the crew
would be frightened TO go aeoara
again anyway. so the effort to row as
Fast as the brigantine sails is some
what half-hearted. Thus they watch
for the next explosion, but it never
comes. The Mary Celeste drifts on as
her cargo cools off and finally she Is
bulI down on the horizon. The people
IN the boat eagerly look for another
vessel. but it never comes. They are
many hundred miles from any island
And gradually to them comes the
tragic end so often enacted IN the uh-