The Ghost of the Mary Celeste

Cable: Gibraltar, December 13, 1872

To: Board of Underwriters, New York

BRIG MARY CELESTE HERE DERELICT IMPORTANT SEND POWER ATTORNEY TO CLAIM HER FROM ADMIRALTY COURT

HORATIO J. SPRAGUE

Cable: New York, December 13, 1872

To: Horatio J. Sprague, United States Consul at Gibraltar

PROTECT BRIG MARY CELESTE WANT VOYAGE PERFORMED

OGDEN

Cable: Gibraltar, December 14, 1872

To: Parker, New York

FOUND FOURTH AND BROUGHT HERE MARY CELESTE ABANDONED SEAWORTHY ADMIRALTY IMPOST NOTIFY ALL PARTIES TELEGRAPH OFFER OF SALVAGE MOREHOUSE

New York Times—Dateline Gibraltar

December 14, 1872

The brig Mary Celeste is in the possession of the Admiralty Court.

New Bedford Evening Standard—Marine Intelligence

December 21, 1872

Brig Mary Celeste, from New York Nov. 17 for Genoa, is reported by cable as having been picked up derelict and towed into Gibraltar 16th inst. She was commanded by Capt. Benjamin Briggs, of Marion, who had his wife and child with him, and much anxiety is felt for their safety.

The Boston Post

February 24, 1873

It is now believed that the fine brig Mary Celeste, of about 236 tons, commanded by Capt. Benjamin Briggs of Marion, Mass., was seized by pirates in the latter part of November, and that, after murdering the Captain, his wife, child, and the officers, the vessel was abandoned near the western Islands, where the miscreants are supposed to have landed. The brig left New York on the 17th of November for Genoa, with a cargo of alcohol, and is said to have had a crew consisting mostly of foreigners. The theory now is that some of the men probably obtained access to the cargo, and were thus stimulated to the desperate deed.

The Mary Celeste was fallen in with by the British brig Dei Gratia, Capt. Morehouse, who left New York about the middle of November. The hull of the Celeste was found in good condition, and safely towed into Gibraltar, where she has since remained. The confusion in which many things were found on board (including ladies’ apparel, &c.,) led, with other circumstances, to suspicion of wrong and outrage, which has by no means died out. One of the latest letters from Gibraltar received in Boston says: The Vice Admiralty Court sat yesterday and will sit again to-morrow. The cargo of the brig has been claimed, and to-morrow the vessel will be claimed.

The general opinion is that there has been foul play on board, as spots of blood on the blade of a sword, in the cabin, and on the rails, with a sharp cut on the wood, indicate force or violence having been used, but how or by whom is the question. Soon after the vessel was picked up, it was considered possible that a collision might have taken place. Had this been the case, and the brig’s officers and crew saved, they would have been landed long ere this. We trust that if any of New-England’s shipmasters can give any information or hint of strange boats or seamen landing at any of the islands during the past ninety days, that they will see the importance thereof.

The Boston Journal

March 15, 1873

The brig Mary Celeste, found deserted at sea and taken into Gibraltar, as before mentioned, has been libeled and a suit commenced in the United States District Court in this city, the libel alleging that the vessel had obtained American registry by fraud. It has recently been stated that there are strong suspicions that her desertion at sea was done to defraud the insurance companies. Nothing is known as to the fate of her crew. And the whole affair is involved in mystery.

Letter: April 4, 1873

To: Department of State, Washington, D.C.

I beg to enclose a copy of a communication which I have this day received from Prussia, asking for information regarding some of the missing crew of the derelict Mary Celeste. It is somewhat gratifying to learn three out of the five men composing the crew of the Mary Celeste were known to the writer of that communication as being peaceable and first-class sailors, as it further diminishes the probability that any violence was committed on board of this vessel by her crew.

Horatio J. Sprague, United States Consul at Gibraltar

Letter Enclosure

March 21, 1873

INVENTORY of the contents of a desk found on board the American Brig Mary Celeste of New York, by the Marshal of the Vice Admiralty Court of Gibraltar, and delivered to me this day, by the said Marshal; the said desk is supposed to belong to Captain B. S. Briggs, the missing Master.

A desk containing: Twenty one letters; an account book; a pocket-book; a ruler; two pieces of sealing wax; four United States postal stamps; a pencil; a paper cover containing sundry papers, envelopes and accounts; wafers; a case of leads; three receipts signed by J. H. Winchester & Co., New York, viz: for $1,500 dated 3rd October 1872, for $500 dated 16th October 1872; for $1,600 dated 22nd October 1872

Consulate of the United States of America,

Gibraltar March 21, 1873

(Signed) Horatio J. Sprague, U. S. C