Arielle Cruz
The Mary Celeste was carrying around 1,700 barrels of alcohol when it set sail from New York City for Genoa, Italy, on November 7, 1872. The ship was discovered adrift with no passengers on board on December 5, 1872, by the British ship Dei Gratia. The mystery of what happened to the ten people on board remains unsolved, with theories ranging from mutiny and pirate attacks to fears of an imminent explosion caused by fumes from the alcohol barrels.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Number of barrels of alcohol | 1,701 |
| Type of alcohol | Crude alcohol, industrial alcohol, denatured alcohol |
| Cargo status | Largely intact |
| Number of empty barrels | 9 |
| Type of wood used in empty barrels | Red oak |
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What You'll Learn
The Mary Celeste was carrying around 1,700 barrels of alcohol
The ship was discovered adrift and abandoned by the British vessel Dei Gratia on December 4 or 5, 1872, about 400 miles east of the Azores Islands. Despite being deserted, the Mary Celeste was still seaworthy, with its cargo and supplies largely intact. The ship's only lifeboat was missing, and there were several feet of water in the hold, but the vessel remained afloat and posed no immediate danger of sinking.
The disappearance of the crew of the Mary Celeste remains a mystery. Various theories have been proposed, including mutiny, piracy, insurance fraud, and an explosion caused by alcohol fumes. However, no conclusive evidence has been found to support any of these theories, and the fate of the ten people on board remains unknown.
The speculation surrounding the Mary Celeste has endured for over a century, capturing the public imagination and inspiring numerous stories, books, and films. The ship itself met its end in 1885 when a new captain deliberately wrecked it on the coast of Haiti in a failed insurance fraud scheme.
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The alcohol was industrial and non-potable
The Mary Celeste was carrying 1,701 barrels of industrial alcohol, which was intended for use in the manufacturing industry and was not meant for human consumption. This type of alcohol had a high concentration and was not suitable for drinking. The ship's cargo manifest listed the alcohol as "industrial spirits," indicating its intended purpose. The alcohol was likely to be used in the production of paints, varnishes, and solvents, and as a fuel for lamps and stoves. It could also have been used as a precursor to other chemicals.
The alcohol was produced from the distillation of molasses, a byproduct of sugar refining, and was then processed further to increase its potency and purity. This industrial alcohol was not subjected to the same taxes and duties as potable alcohol, making it a cheaper alternative for industrial use. However, measures were put in place to ensure it was not consumed, including the addition of denaturants, which give it a bitter taste and can cause illness if ingested.
The industrial alcohol on board the Mary Celeste was most likely destined for businesses and factories in Italy, where it would have been a valuable commodity. The ship's cargo was insured for a significant amount, reflecting the value of the industrial alcohol it carried. This type of alcohol was in high demand during that time, and its transportation and trade were an important economic activity.
The fact that the Mary Celeste was carrying industrial alcohol provides an insight into the nature of its voyage and the cargoes that were transported during that era. It also raises questions about the potential risks associated with transporting such large quantities of flammable and toxic substances, especially on a ship that met such a mysterious fate.
The mystery surrounding the Mary Celeste has intrigued people for generations, and the nature of its cargo is just one aspect that continues to spark curiosity and speculation. While the primary focus of the mystery remains the disappearance of the crew, the story of the ship's cargo of industrial alcohol provides a fascinating insight into the practicalities of 19th-century trade and the potential dangers inherent in such ventures.
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Most of the cargo was intact when the ship was found
The Mary Celeste was a ship carrying 1,701 barrels of alcohol from New York to Genoa, Italy, in 1872. On December 5, 1872, the ship was spotted sailing erratically in the Atlantic Ocean by the British ship Dei Gratia. The crew of the Dei Gratia boarded the Mary Celeste and found it deserted, with its sails slightly damaged and several feet of water in the hold. However, the ship was still seaworthy, and most of the cargo was intact. The mystery of the Mary Celeste is one of maritime history's most enduring mysteries.
The ship had left New York City on November 7, 1872, with Captain Benjamin S. Briggs, his wife, their two-year-old daughter, and a crew of eight. The last log entry, dated November 25, showed that the ship was near the Azores Islands. Ten days later, the vessel was spotted by the Dei Gratia, drifting towards Genoa on its intended course but with no one at the wheel. The crew's belongings were still in their quarters, and most of the cargo of alcohol was intact. There was a six-month supply of food and water on board, but no sign of the people who had been travelling on the ship.
There are many theories about what happened to the crew of the Mary Celeste. Some speculate that the crew drank the alcohol onboard and mutinied, while others suggest that alcohol vapours expanded in the heat and caused an explosion. Another theory is that Captain Briggs mistakenly believed the ship was taking on too much water and ordered the ship to be abandoned. Frederick Solly-Flood, the Attorney General of Gibraltar, believed that a crime had been committed and that the crew had gotten drunk and committed murder. However, there were no signs of violence or missing cargo, casting doubt on claims of mutiny, murder, and piracy.
The mystery of the Mary Celeste has never been solved, and the fate of the crew remains unknown. The ship itself inspired numerous stories, books, and movies, including a short story by Arthur Conan Doyle in 1884 and a film by MacGregor, who investigated the incident. The Mary Celeste remains a fascinating enigma in nautical history.
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Theories suggest fumes from the alcohol caused an explosion
The Mary Celeste was carrying 1,701 barrels of alcohol when it set sail from New York City on November 7, 1872.
One of the theories surrounding the mysterious disappearance of the crew of the Mary Celeste is that fumes from the alcohol cargo caused an explosion. This theory was first proposed in the 19th century and has been the subject of much speculation and investigation.
According to the theory, the alcohol vapours may have expanded in the heat and blown off the main hatch, or leaked through porous barrels, causing an explosion. The displaced hatches and the absence of damage from an explosion suggest that an inspection or an attempt to air out the ship had taken place. Proponents of this theory argue that the captain, Benjamin S. Briggs, may have feared an imminent explosion and ordered the evacuation of the ship in a panic. This theory is supported by the fact that the ship's lifeboat was missing, indicating a hasty abandonment.
While there were no signs of fire or explosion when the ship was found, chemist Dr Andrea Sella from University College London tested this theory in a 2006 experiment. Dr Sella simulated the conditions aboard the Mary Celeste using butane gas and paper cubes to represent wooden barrels. The experiment created a pressure-wave type of explosion with a wave of flame but relatively cool air behind it, resulting in no soot or burning. Dr Sella concluded that this replication matched the facts of the case and could have been terrifying enough to cause the crew to abandon ship.
Another variation of this theory involves the ship's pumps. One of the two pumps on the Mary Celeste was found to be disassembled, and it is possible that the captain did not know how much water the ship was taking on board. In combination with coal dust and construction debris from a recent refit, this could have contributed to fears of an explosion and the decision to abandon ship.
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The ship was discovered adrift with no passengers on board
On December 5, 1872, the Mary Celeste was discovered adrift by the British ship Dei Gratia. The ship was last seen on November 7, 1872, when it set sail from New York City for Genoa, Italy, carrying 1,701 barrels of alcohol, with Captain Benjamin S. Briggs, his wife, their two-year-old daughter, and a crew of eight on board.
The Dei Gratia spotted the Mary Celeste sailing erratically but at full sail near the Azores Islands in the Atlantic Ocean. Captain David Morehouse of the Dei Gratia sent a boarding party to the ship. Below deck, they found that the ship's charts had been tossed about, but the crew's belongings were still in their quarters. The ship's only lifeboat was missing, and one of its two pumps had been disassembled. There was also around three and a half feet of water in the ship's bottom, though the cargo of alcohol was largely intact.
The last entry in the captain's log showed that the Mary Celeste had been nine days and 500 miles away from where the ship was found by the Dei Gratia. It appeared that the ship had been drifting towards Genoa on its intended course for 11 days with no one at the wheel to guide her. The disappearance of the ten people on board remains a mystery.
There are several theories as to what happened to the crew of the Mary Celeste. One theory is that the crew got drunk off the alcohol onboard and mutinied, but this was deemed unlikely by a researcher who interviewed crew members' descendants. Another theory suggests that alcohol vapors expanded in the Azores heat and blew off the main hatch, prompting those onboard to fear an imminent explosion. However, this theory is contradicted by the fact that the boarding party found the main hatch secured and did not report smelling any fumes. Another theory is that Captain Briggs erroneously believed his ship was taking on too much water and was about to sink. This theory is supported by the discovery of the sounding rod on deck, indicating that it had been recently used to measure the water level in the hold.
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Frequently asked questions
The Mary Celeste was carrying 1,701 barrels of alcohol.
The ship was carrying industrial alcohol, also known as crude alcohol or denatured alcohol.
Most sources agree that the cargo was largely intact, with only nine of the barrels empty or some others porous and leaking.
The crew of the Mary Celeste disappeared and were never seen or heard from again.
There are many theories about what happened to the crew, including mutiny, murder, piracy, insurance fraud, and abandonment due to fear of explosion caused by alcohol fumes.
