Mary Celeste: Legends




There are many legends about the Mary Celeste. People say:

  • there were half eaten breakfasts and cups of hot tea in the dining room of the ship.
  • the ship’s cat was still on board.
  • the ship was clean and tidy
  • the weather was good when the crew 'disappeared'
  • the ship was lost in the Bermuda Triangle.

Unfortunately none of this is true.

What do we know?

The official enquiry into the Mary Celeste relies on evidence from Captain Moorehouse and his boarding party. They describe the ship as ‘in a bad state’ and 'not fit for human habitation'.

In the dining room there were no cups of hot tea or abandoned breakfasts:

the stove was knocked out of its place, and the cooking utensils were {thrown} around.

Nor was the ship mysteriously clean and tidy.

The whole ship was a thoroughly wet mess. The Captain's bed was not fit to sleep in and had to be dried.

So what really did happen?


Next > Facts




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