The Mary Celeste
The ship Mary Celeste left New York City for Genoa, Italy, in 1872, only to be discovered at sea partially flooded and missing a lifeboat, but otherwise intact, seaworthy, packed with supplies, and empty. The disappearance of the 10 people on board remains one of history’s greatest maritime mysteries. Books, plays, and movies were written about the many theories surrounding the ghost ship, including pirate takeovers, mutiny, waterspouts, sea monsters, and deadly rampages by former slaves. In 2007, however, Smithsonian magazine outlined exhaustive research that revealed the most likely scenario: Coal dust fouled the boat’s pumps, which led the captain to order the crew and passengers to abandon ship in the belief that he was closer to land than he really was.
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