Mary Celeste: Facts

What Really Happened?

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Much has been written about the famous ghost ship. But there is very little we can say for certain about the Mary Celeste.

The Facts

  • The ship was sailing from New York to Genoa in Italy.
  • On board were 37-year-old Captain Briggs, his wife, Sarah, his two-year-old daughter Sophia and seven crew.
  • The cargo was alcohol.
  • Captain Briggs was an experienced sailor

Probably True

It seems likely that the Mary Celeste was abandoned in a hurry. This part of the legend is probably true

One piece of evidence for this is that their personal possessions were still on the ship. They had left their boots behind, for example.

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Before You Read *Part 1 * Part 2 * Legends * Facts * Theories
Witness * Video * Activities * Mary Celeste Crossword
Matching Exercise * Modern 'Mary Celeste' yacht