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>> Narrator: IN NOVEMBER 1872,
DURING THE WORST WEATHER SINCE
RECORDS BEGAN, HUNDREDS OF
VESSELS WERE LOST OR ABANDONED
IN THE ATLANTIC.
ONE OF THESE WOULD BECOME A
LEGEND.
THE MARY CELESTE, AN AMERICAN
REGISTERED BRIGANTINE WAS FOUND
400 MILES EAST OF THE AZORES.
SHE WAS SEA-WORTHY, HER CARGO
INTACT AND THERE WAS FOOD
SUPPLIES FOR SIX MONTHS ON
BOARD.
>> IT WAS NOT LEAKING.
THE SAILS WERE DAMAGED.
THOSE THAT WERE--WERE UP AND HAD
NOT BEEN FURLED OR DAMAGED.
ASIDE FROM THAT, THERE WAS NO
REAL STRUCTURAL DAMAGE TO THE
BOAT.
>> Narrator: BUT 10 PERSONS, THE
CAPTAIN, HIS FAMILY AND CREW HAD
VANISHED WITHOUT TRACE, LEAVING
FEW CLUES AS TO THEIR FATE.
>> THEY SEEM TO BE NAVIGATING
THEIR WAY ON FAIRLY ACCURATELY
THROUGHOUT THE--THROUGHOUT THE
VOYAGE EARLIER ON, AND SUDDENLY
THERE'S A DEVIATION TO THE
NORTH.
>> Narrator: AN INQUIRY FAILED
TO DISCOVER WHAT OCCURRED.
AND YEARS LATER, THE MARY
CELESTE TOOK HER SECRETS TO A
WATERY GRAVE.
IN HER WAKE, SPECULATION, WILD
GUESSES, AND MANY THEORIES WERE
PROPOSED, NONE FITTING ALL THE
FACTS OR PROVABLE BY ANY MEANS.
>> TRYING TO UNDERSTAND WHY AN
EXPERIENCED CAPTAIN WOULD DO THE
ONE THING THAT REALLY IS
UNTHINKABLE, WHICH IS TO LEAVE
YOUR VESSEL.
AN EXPERIENCED PERSON WOULD DO
IT ONLY IF HE THOUGHT THE VESSEL
WAS GOING DOWN.
>> Narrator: WHAT FOLLOWS IS NOT
RUMOR, SPECULATION, OR ANOTHER
THEORY WITHOUT PROOF.
AN EXHAUSTIVE INVESTIGATION FOR
THIS PROGRAM HAS DISCOVERED
VITAL NEW INFORMATION INCLUDING
A TRANSCRIPT OF THE MARY
CELESTE'S LOST LOG.
NOW WITH THE HELP OF AN
INTERNATIONAL TEAM OF EXPERTS,
THE TRUE STORY OF THE MARY
CELESTE CAN FINALLY BE TOLD.
>> Narrator: NEW YORK IS THE
GATEWAY TO AMERICA AND THE
PORTAL TO WORLD TRADE.
IN 200 YEARS, THE CITY'S PACE
HAS NOT CHANGED.
BUT IT'S CENTER OF COMMERCE HAS
MOVED.
TODAY, BUSINESS IS CONDUCTED IN
TALL BUILDINGS.
IN THE 19th CENTURY IT WAS DONE
ON THE CITY DOCKS WHEN MERCHANT
SHIPPING MADE NEW YORK ONE OF
THE WORLD'S BUSIEST PORTS WITH
MORE THAN 700 SAILING SHIPS IN
THE HARBOR EVERY DAY.
>> IT WAS PRETTY ROUGH TRADE.
NOTHING WAS SURE, NOTHING WAS
GUARANTEED.
THEY IMPROVISED ALL THE TIME.
THEY WOULD STAY IN A PORT UNTIL
THEY WOULD FIND A CARGO.
THEY'D HAVE AGENTS WHO FOUND
THE CARGO.
LOAD UP, HEAD OFF, TRY TO FIND A
CARGO IN THE OTHER END TO BRING
IT BACK.
>> Narrator: IN THE WINTER OF
1872, STORMS IN THE ATLANTIC
CREATED CHAOS.
SAILING WERE DELAYED, WHARFS
WERE PACKED.
ACTIVITY WAS FRENZIED, AND
ACCIDENTS OCCURRED.
ON AN AMERICAN REGISTERED
BRIGANTINE, THE MARY CELESTE, A
NEW LIFEBOAT WAS SMASHED.
A REPLACEMENT COULDN'T BE FOUND,
AND TO MEET THEIR SCHEDULE, THE
SHIP'S NEW CAPTAIN WOULD BE
FORCED TO SAIL WITH ONLY ONE
LIFEBOAT ON BOARD.
37-YEAR-OLD BENJAMIN SPOONER
BRIGGS WAS AN EXPERIENCED
MASTER, BUT THIS WAS HIS FIRST
VOYAGE ON THE MARY CELESTE.
HE BELIEVED HE HAD A GOOD SHIP,
AN EXPERIENCED AND PEACEABLE
CREW.
AND THOUGH TRANSPORTING
INDUSTRIAL ALCOHOL, ONE OF THE
MOST HAZARDOUS CARGOS OF THE
DAY, HE WAS CONFIDENT IT WAS
SAFE ENOUGH FOR HIS FAMILY TO
COME ALONG, A BELIEF HE WOULD
SOON HAVE CAUSE TO REGRET.
ON THE MORNING OF THURSDAY, THE
7th OF NOVEMBER, THE PILOT BOAT
LED THE MARY CELESTE OUT IN A
FRESHENING BREEZE.
NO SOONER HAD IT SLIPPED OUT OF
THE HARBOR AND INTO THE
ATLANTIC THAN IT WAS BEATEN BY
GALE-FORCE WINDS, ITS NEWLY
REBUILT HULL POUNDED BY AN ANGRY
SEA.
>> IT'S FRIGHTENING, HORRIBLE
STORIES ABOUT PEOPLE WHO WERE
CAUGHT IN WINTER STORMS.
AND THE, UH--THE BOOM WOULD
BREAK, THE SAILS WOULD BLOW OUT.
THEY'RE--THEY WERE BEATEN UP
HUGE BREAKINGS SEAS SEVERAL
TIMES.
YOU READ ABOUT THIS OVER AND
OVER AGAIN.
THE CREW LASHED THEMSELVES TO
THE MASTS SO THEY WOULDN'T BE
WASHED AWAY BY THE BREAKING
WAVES OVER THE HULL.
>> Narrator: THE MARY CELESTE
SURVIVED THE ROUGH CROSSING, AND
ON THE MORNING OF THE 25th OF
NOVEMBER, SHE PASSED HERE, SIX
MILES NORTHEAST OF SANTA MARIA
ISLAND IN THE AZORES, THE LAST
POSITION RECORDED IN THE SHIP'S
LOG.
10 DAYS LATER, AND 400 MILES
FURTHER EAST, THE MARY CELESTE
WAS OBSERVED FROM THE DEI
GRATIA, A BRITISH BRIG.
(wood creaking)
(seagulls crying)
>> THAT'S MARY CELESTE, ALL
RIGHT.
>> Narrator: IN A SCENE
RECREATED FOR A 1935 BRITISH
FEATURE FILM, THE BOARDING PARTY
FOUND THE MARY CELESTE UNMANNED.
>> BLACK CAT!
THAT'S BAD.
>> Narrator: BUT UNLIKE THIS
FILM, THE DEI GRATIA'S CREW
FOUND NO SIGNS OF LIFE AND SOON
MADE FOR THE NEAREST BRITISH
PORT, GIBRALTAR.
THERE, THEY REGISTERED A SALVAGE
CLAIM, WHICH MEANT TELLING THEIR
STORY IN THE VICE-ADMIRALTY
COURT.
>> THE SHIP'S CREW DISAPPEARED,
THE SHIP WAS--WAS FOUND
SHIPSHAPE SAILING THROUGH THE
SEAS ON ITS OWN.
>> Narrator: BUT WHAT THE MEN
COULD NOT TELL THE INQUIRY WAS
WHAT HAD HAPPENED TO THE 10
PERSONS NOW MISSING FROM THE
SHIP.
>> IN FACT, "INQUIRY" IS ALMOST
A MISNOMER BECAUSE THE INQUIRY
IS FAR MORE INTERESTED IN
WHETHER THEY CAN OR CAN'T GIVE
PRIZE MONEY TO THE MEMBERS OF--
THE CREW MEMBERS OF THE DEI
GRATIA RATHER THAN WHAT ACTUALLY
HAPPENED TO THE CREW OF THE MARY
CELESTE.
>> Narrator: FOUR MONTHS LATER,
STILL NO NEWS OF THEIR FATE AND
NO PROOF OF WHY THEY
DISAPPEARED, THE INQUIRY ENDED
WITH THESE MATTERS UNRESOLVED.
TODAY, WHEN A VESSEL IS FOUND
ABANDONED, INVESTIGATORS
CONSIDER EVERY ASPECT OF THE
CASE, AS OUR TEAM HAS BEEN
ASSEMBLED TO DO.
COMPARING THE KNOWN FACTS WITH
THOSE THAT ARE MISSING TO
DISCOVER THE TRUTH.
>> AND YOU CAN SEE THE PATTERN
OF TRAJECTORY IS GOING
EASTWARD...
>> FOLLOW THE SLOPE OF THE
PLANKS OR DID IT GO FROM THE
EDGES...
>> THE SEAM IMMEDIATELY ABOVE
THE WATER LINE WOULD BE THE ONE
THAT OF IMMEDIATE CONCERN.
>> WHAT ARE THE PIECES OF
EVIDENCE THAT WE KNOW THAT CAN
GUIDE US TO UNDERSTANDING WHAT
HAPPENED?
>> Narrator: WHAT IS KNOWN COMES
FROM THE FEW ITEMS THAT HAVE
SURVIVED, LIKE THIS RECENTLY
DISCOVERED PHOTOGRAPH.
IT'S THE ONLY IMAGE THAT EXISTS
OF THE MARY CELESTE AFTER SHE
WAS TAKEN INTO CUSTODY.
THE PHOTOGRAPHER WAS HORATIO
JONES SPRAGUE, THE U.S. CONSUL
AND ONE OF THE FIRST OFFICIALS
TO BOARD THE SHIP, AND THERE ARE
ORIGINAL COURT DOCUMENTS WHICH
ARE PRESERVED IN GIBRALTAR'S
GOVERNMENT ARCHIVES.
>> THIS RECORD IS A HANDWRITTEN
TRANSCRIPT, WHICH IS OFTEN
REFERRED TO AS THE VIVA VOCCE
EVIDENCE OF WHAT OCCURRED.
IT'S A TRANSCRIPT OF WHAT WAS--
OF THE ORAL TESTIMONY OF THE
MEMBERS OF THE CREW OF THE DEI
GRATIA WHO FOUND THE SHIP AND
BROUGHT HER INTO GIBRALTAR.
>> Narrator: BUT IN 1872, THE
INQUIRY DIDN'T HAVE ALL THE
FACTS, AND SOME OF THOSE THEY
DID HAVE WERE MISUNDERSTOOD.
(thunder crashes)
NOW USING RECENTLY FOUND AND
VITAL NEW EVIDENCE, IT IS
POSSIBLE TO RECONSTRUCT THE
FRIGHTENING SEQUENCE OF EVENTS
WHICH LED TO THE DISAPPEARANCE
OF THE 10 PERSONS ON THE MARY
CELESTE.
ON THE 5th OF DECEMBER, THE CREW
OF THE DEI GRATIA OBSERVED A
STRANGE VESSEL.
IT WAS SAILING ERRATICALLY AND
SEEMED TO BE IN DISTRESS.
CAPTAIN DAVID MOREHOUSE CHANGED
COURSE TO OFFER ASSISTANCE AND
WAS SURPRISED TO DISCOVER IT WAS
THE MARY CELESTE.
IT HAD LEFT NEW YORK EIGHT DAYS
BEFORE HIS OWN SHIP AND BY NOW
SHOULD BE UNLOADING IN GENOA,
WHERE IT WAS BOUND, NOT HERE,
400 MILES EAST OF THE AZORES.
HE HAILED THE SHIP, AND WHEN NO
REPLY CAME, HE SENT A BOARDING
PARTY TO INVESTIGATE.
OLIVER DEVEAU LED THE MEN.
FIRST OFF, DEVEAU CHECK THE
SHIP'S PUMPS.
THERE WERE TWO, AND UNUSUALLY,
HE FOUND ONE OF THEM TAKEN
APART.
>> LOOKING AT IT FROM A SAILOR'S
POINT OF VIEW OR HISTORIAN'S
POINT OF VIEW IS THAT THE
SOUNDING ROD WAS OUT ON DECK.
>> IT WAS EITHER FOR MAINTENANCE
OR SOMETHING HAD GONE WRONG.
>> Narrator: THE PUMPS EXTEND
FROM THE DECK DOWN TO THE
BILGES, THE DEEPEST PART OF THE
HULL.
THEY REMOVE SEAWATER FROM LEAKS
AND SEEPAGE FROM CARGO.
>> YOU DROPPED A METAL ROD THAT
YOU PUT ASH ON, AND YOU DROPPED
A METAL ROD ON A LANYARD AND
THEN WITHDREW IT, AND YOU COULD
SEE HOW FAR UP THE ROD THE ASH
WAS WET TO YOUR DEPTH.
>> Narrator: CREWS USUALLY
STORED THE SOUNDING ROD IN THE
PUMPS OR ON THE DECK NEARBY.
>> THE REASON IT WAS ON DECK IT
SO YOU CAN SOUND FREQUENTLY.
WOODEN BOATS LEAKED, AND
SOMETIMES, THEY WOULD DEVELOP
RATHER LARGE LEAKS VERY QUICKLY.
>> Narrator: SOUNDING THE PUMPS,
DEVEAU FOUND THAT THE MARY
CELESTE HAD TAKEN ON LESS THAN 4
FEET OF WATER.
>> I WOULD HAVE SAID THAT ON A
VESSEL OF THAT TYPE, KNOWING HOW
HER DESIGN WAS AT THE STERN,
THAT 3 1/2 FEET OF WATER WOULD
NOT BE A WORRYING FACTOR.
>> Narrator: REASONABLE SURE THE
MARY CELESTE WAS NOT ABOUT TO
SINK, DEVEAU WENT BELOW.
HE FOUND SOME CABINS FLOODED.
IN THE SKYLIGHT, A PANE OF GLASS
WAS BROKEN.
BUT BENEATH IT WAS THIS ROSEWOOD
HARMONIUM.
IT BELONGED TO THE CAPTAIN'S
WIFE, SARA BRIGGS, AND IT WAS
COMPLETELY DRY.
THE MEN FOUND WORKING CHARTS BUT
NOT THE SHIP'S PAPERS NOR HER
NAVIGATIONAL INSTRUMENTS OR
MAPS.
OTHERWISE, PERSONAL EFFECTS DID
NOT SEEM TO BE DISTURBED.
TOPSIDE, THE CREW FOUND BOTH
MASTS SECURED.
THE SAILS SET WERE TORN.
RIGGING WAS IN DISARRAY AND
MISSING THE PEAK HALYARD, THE
LONGEST ROPE ON THE SHIP.
THE MAIN CARGO HATCH WAS WEDGED
AND SECURE.
THE COVERS ON TWO OTHERS WERE
OFF.
SAILS AND SUPPLIES THEY HELD
WERE WET.
NO LIFEBOATS WERE FOUND BUT
THERE WAS EVIDENCE THAT ONE HAD
BEEN FIXED TO THE CARGO HATCH.
DEVEAU THOUGHT THERE'D BEEN A
RAPID DEPARTURE.
HE COULDN'T TELL WHEN IT
HAPPENED, AND HE WASN'T SURE
WHY.
IN GIBRALTAR, AUTHORITIES WERE
SUSPICIOUS.
THERE SEEMED NO REASON WHY AN
EXPERIENCED CAPTAIN WOULD LEAVE
A SEA-WORTHY VESSEL UNLESS HE
WAS FORCED TO GO.
AND THE INQUIRY BEGAN BY
INVESTIGATING THOSE WHO HAD THE
MOST TO GAIN FROM THE RECOVERY
OF THE SHIP, THE DEI GRATIA'S
MEN.
CROSS-EXAMINING THEM WAS
GIBRALTAR'S ATTORNEY GENERAL AND
POLICE MAGISTRATE, THE HONORABLE
FREDERICK SOLLY FLOOD.
>> IT COMES TROUGH WITH SOLLY
FLOOD'S LINES OF QUESTIONING.
HE'S--HE IS CONVINCED IN HIS OWN
MIND THAT THERE WAS FOUL PLAY.
>> HE WAS CERTAINLY VERY
PERTINACIOUS.
HE KEPT AT IT AND NOSED AWAY
UNTIL HE FOUND SOMETHING.
>> Narrator: THE ATTORNEY
GENERAL ORDERED SURVEYS AND
TESTS NOT USUALLY DONE FOR A
SALVAGE INQUIRY.
A DESCENDANT OF CAPTAIN BRIGGS,
CELESTE FOWLS, RECALLS ONE OF
THE MOST CONTROVERSIAL TESTS--
AN ANALYSIS OF STAINS FOUND ON
THE SHIP AND ON AN ITEM OF
SPECIAL INTEREST TO THE COURT.
>> THERE WAS A SWORD ON BOARD,
AND HE CLAIMED THAT THAT HAD
SOMETHING TO DO WITH IT.
HE SPECULATED THAT *** WAS
INVOLVED AND THAT THE CREW OF
THE DEI GRATIA WAS SOMEHOW
RESPONSIBLE.
>> Narrator: OLIVER DEVEAU
ADMITTED HE HAD FOUND THE SWORD.
HE HAD DRAWN IT FROM ITS
SCABBARD, DISCOVERED IT HAD A
RUSTY BLADE AND THOUGHT NO MORE
ABOUT IT.
>> THIS IS THE SWORD THAT
BELONGED TO MY GREAT-GREAT-
UNCLE, THE CAPTAIN OF THE MARY
CELESTE, BENJAMIN SPOONER
BRIGGS.
IT WAS ON BOARD WHEN THE SHIP
WAS FOUND.
>> Narrator: BUT WHAT DEVEAU
CALLED RUST THE ATTORNEY GENERAL
BELIEVED TO BE BLOOD.
>> WE USE TO PLAY WITH IT WHEN I
WAS A CHILD, AND SO IT'S NICKED
UP A LITTLE BIT.
>> Narrator: IN GIBRALTAR, A
LOCAL DOCTOR EXAMINED THE
STAINS.
HIS FINDINGS BACKED UP DEVEAU'S
GUESS--THE STAINS WERE RUST.
COMPARING THE LOGS OF THE DEI
GRATIA WITH THAT OF THE MARY
CELESTE, MR. SOLLY FLOOD
DISCOVERED THAT THE DEI GRATIA
HAD SAILED NORTH OF THE AZORES
WHILE THE MARY CELESTE HAD
TAKEN A SOUTHERLY ROUTE.
HE NOW ACCEPTED THAT THE SHIPS
PROBABLY MET WHERE OLIVER DEVEAU
CLAIMED, BUT HE WAS NOT
CONVINCED CAPTAIN BRIGGS LEFT
HIS SHIP BEFORE THAT OR OF HIS
OWN FREE WILL.
NOW THE COURT WEIGHED THE
POSSIBILITY THAT THE MARY
CELESTE'S OWN CREW HAD MUTINIED,
SPECULATING ABOUT WHY THEY MIGHT
HAVE REBELLED.
>> THE AUTHORITY OF A SKIPPER,
OF A CAPTAIN ON A VESSEL LIKE
THAT WAS THE AUTHORITY OF THE
HAND OF GOD.
HE COULD PUNISH, HE COULD FIRE,
HE COULD WITHHOLD WAGES, BUT
MUTINY WAS ALWAYS PUNISHABLE BY
DEATH.
THERE ARE PLENTY OF PRECEDENTS
FOR THAT.
SO THERE'S NO REAL REASON ON THE
FACE OF IT TO THINK THAT--THAT
THERE MIGHT HAVE BEEN A MUTINY.
>> Narrator: CAPTAIN BRIGGS CAME
FROM MARION, MASSACHUSETTS, A
TOWN BUILT BY SEA CAPTAINS FOR
SEA CAPTAINS.
(church bell tolling)
BENJAMIN SPOONER BRIGGS WAS A
SEA CAPTAIN'S SON, ONE OF FOUR
BROTHERS AND A SISTER BOUND IN
LIFE AND DEATH TO THE SEA.
RAISED WITH THE VALUES AND
EXPECTATIONS SHARED BY MARINERS
IN THIS PART OF THE WORLD,
FAITH, FAMILY, AND COMMUNITY
BUILT AROUND THE CHURCH.
>> IT'S THE PLACE WHERE THE
WHOLE TOWN HAD ITS WORSHIP, HAD
ITS UM--HAD ITS TOWN MEETINGS,
HAD ITS PUBLIC GATHERINGS.
ALL OF ITS LIFE CENTERED AROUND
THIS ONE BUILDING, THE SEA
CAPTAINS' MEETING HOUSE.
>> Narrator: THE BRIGGS FAMILY
WERE PROMINENT MEMBERS OF
MARION'S FIRST CONGREGATIONAL
CHURCH, AND BENJAMIN MARRIED THE
MINISTER'S DAUGHTER, SARAH COB.
>> SARAH AND BENJAMIN WERE
MARRIED IN A HOME JUST UP THE
ROAD FROM THIS CHURCH, ALMOST
WITHIN SIGHT.
>> Narrator: SARAH OFTEN SAILED
WITH HER HUSBAND.
ONCE THEIR SON ARTHUR WAS BORN,
HE WENT ALONG.
BUT AS THE BRIGGSES PREPARED FOR
THEIR FIRST VOYAGE ON THE MARY
CELESTE, IT WAS DECIDED THAT
ARTHUR WOULD STAY IN MARION,
WHERE HE HAD JUST STARTED
SCHOOL, WHILE SARAH WOULD HAVE
ARTHUR'S 2-YEAR OLD SISTER
SOPHIA FOR COMPANY.
>> SHE HAD HAD HER HARMONIUM ON
BOARD, AND SHE HA--THERE WERE
TOYS FOR THE CHILDREN.
SO I'M SURE I IMAGINED THAT
CHANGED THE CULTURE ON BOARD THE
SHIP.
(organ playing)
>> SHE WOULD PLAY THE HYMNS AT
THEIR MORNING SERVICE.
IT WAS THIS GENERAL SORT OF
SENSE THAT IT LENT MORE CIVILITY
AND CONTROL TO THE--TO THE
SAILORS AND ALONG WITH THAT WAS
THE, WELL--IT JUST FURTHERED
THIS AIR OF, "YOU'RE NOT SORT OF
WILD BOYS OUT THERE."
(chuckles)
>> Narrator: THE BRIGGS FAMILY
WERE WELL-KNOWN AND RESPECTED IN
SHIPPING CIRCLES.
THE AUTHORITIES IN GIBRALTAR HAD
NO REASON TO SUSPECT THAT
CAPTAIN BRIGGS WAS ANYTHING
OTHER THAN HE SEEMED.
BUT HIS CREWMEN HAD NO ONE TO
SPEAK FOR THEM.
>> CREWS WERE NOT THE MOST NOBLE
OF CITIZENS OFTEN.
NEVER HAD ANY MONEY.
THERE WAS A REPUTATION FOR
DRINK.
THEY WERE OFTEN TREATED POORLY.
>> Narrator: IN AMERICAN PORTS,
GOVERNMENT AGENTS REGISTERED
FOREIGN CREWS.
A VESSEL'S OWNERS WERE
RESPONSIBLE FOR HIRING THEM.
COULD CAPTAIN BRIGGS HAVE MADE A
MISTAKE CHOOSING THIS CREW?
>> IT WAS A SOUND VESSEL, WITH
AN EXPERIENCED CAPTAIN, WHO FELT
SAFE ENOUGH TO BRING HIS FAMILY
WITH HIM.
THERE'S A MEASURE WITH THIS
CREW.
>> Narrator: THREE CREWMEN KNEW
ONE ANOTHER.
THEY CAME FROM NEIGHBORING
ISLANDS IN NORTHERN GERMANY, A
COINCIDENCE WHICH LED ATTORNEY
GENERAL SOLLY FLOOD TO SUSPECT
THEY MAY HAVE BEEN ACCOMPLICES
IN A CRIME.
>> I AM ANTON...
LORENZEN.
>> Narrator: MORE THAN 70 YEARS
LATER, THIS FEATURE FILM DID
MORE SUSPECT THAN GERMANS.
IT BLAMED THEM, NAMING TWO OF
THE CREWMEN, THE LORENZEN
BROTHERS.
TODAY, AT THEIR VILLAGE IN THE
FRISIAN ISLANDS, UWE LORENZEN
CONTINUES HIS FAMILY'S SEARCH
FOR THE TRUTH, CHALLENGING
ACCUSATIONS WHICH HAVE CAST A
SHADOW ON THEIR LIVES.
>> Interpreter: THESE *** ALL
CAME FROM GOOD FAMILIES.
THERE WAS RESPECT AND ORDERLY
HOUSES WHERE CHILDREN WENT TO
SCHOOL AND LEARNED THE
PROFESSION OF ***.
>> Narrator: THE LORENZENS WENT
TO SEA BECAUSE THERE WERE FEW
PROSPECTS FOR WORK.
*** MARTENS FROM AMRUM, AN
ISLAND NEARBY ALSO SIGNED ON AS
CREW.
AUTHORITIES IN GIBRALTAR FOUND
HIS TRUNK ON BOARD.
BUT THE LORENZENS' POSSESSIONS
WERE MISSING, AND WITH NO
INQUIRIES ABOUT THEM FROM
GERMANY, THE ATTORNEY GENERAL
SPECULATED THAT THE BROTHERS
MURDERED THOSE ON BOARD, ESCAPED
IN THE SHIP'S LIFEBOAT AND WERE
NOW HIDING OUT IN THESE REMOTE
ISLANDS, THEIR FAMILIES
PROTECTING THEM.
>> (speaking German)
>> Interpreter: THERE WAS NO
REASON TO COMMIT A CRIME.
VOLKERT OWNED A HOUSE.
BOY WAS ENGAGED TO GET MARRIED
ON HIS RETURN.
IN FACT, ON THE 1st OF MARCH,
VOLKERT WAS HIMSELF MARRIED AND
IN HIS ABSENCE, HIS CHILD WAS
BORN.
HE NEVER SAW HER, AND I CAN'T
IMAGINE THAT HE WOULD NOT WANT
TO COME BACK TO SEE HIS WIFE AND
CHILD.
THAT'S IMPOSSIBLE FOR ME TO
ENVISAGE.
AND THIS AMRUMER, *** MARTENS,
HE WAS VERY WELL-OFF.
HE HAD A HOUSE, AND HE HAD A
WIFE WHO WAS EXPECTING A SECOND
BABY.
HE WAS CONSIDERED A RICH MAN
BECAUSE HE WAS ABLE TO BUY TWO
HOUSES OUTRIGHT.
THERE WAS NO NECESSITY TO STEAL
OTHER PEOPLE'S POSSESSION OR
COMMIT A CRIME.
THIS IS DOUBLY IMPOSSIBLE.
THERE WAS NO REASON FOR THEM TO
COMMIT A CRIME.
>> Narrator: LATER, IT WAS
DISCOVERED THAT THE LORENZENS'
POSSESSIONS WERE MISSING BECAUSE
THEY DIDN'T HAVE ANY.
THEY LOST EVERYTHING IN A
SHIPWRECK EARLIER THAT YEAR AND
HAD SIGNED ON THE MARY CELESTE
TO RETURN HOME.
(thunder crashes)
THE MARY CELESTE WAS BUILT IN
CANADA IN 1860.
THEN SAILING UNDER THE NAME OF
AMAZON, SHE WAS INVOLVED IN A
NUMBER OF ACCIDENTS, UNDERWENT
MAJOR REPAIRS, AND WAS RENAMED
MARY CELESTE.
10 YEARS LATER, SHE WAS ACQUIRED
BY J.H. WINCHESTER, ONE OF THE
MOST REPUTABLE SHIPPING
COMPANIES IN NEW YORK.
SHE GAVE HER NEW OWNERS GOOD
SERVICE FOR TWO YEARS, BUT BY
1872, SHE WAS COMING TO THE END
OF HER WORKING LIFE.
>> THE SHIPS THAT WERE STEEL
THAT HAD STEAM ENGINES TENDED TO
BE MORE RELIABLE, FASTER, AND
SO THEY SUPERSEDED THE WOODEN
SHIPS.
SO FEWER AND FEWER WOODEN SHIPS
WERE BEING BUILT AND WERE OUT
THERE.
>> MOST OF THOSE SHIPS DIDN'T
LAST VERY LONG.
IF THE VESSEL LASTED MAYBE 10 OR
11 YEARS, IT'S LIKE HAVING AN
OLD CAR.
YOU KNOW, HOW MUCH MONEY ARE YOU
GONNA KEEP PUTTING IN TO IT
AFTER ABOUT THE TENTH YEAR?
NOT MUCH IF IT STARTS TO--TO
FALL APART.
>> Narrator: CAPTAIN WINCHESTER
BELIEVED THERE WAS STILL MONEY
TO BE MADE FROM THE MARY
CELESTE, AND WHEN A SHARE BECAME
AVAILABLE, CAPTAIN BENJAMIN
BRIGGS BOUGHT IN.
MISSING HIS FAMILY DURING LONG
VOYAGES, HE LOOKED FORWARD TO
RETIRING FROM THE SEA IN A FEW
YEARS.
IN THE MEANTIME, HE WOULD BE THE
MARY CELESTE'S MASTER, TAKE A
SHARE OF HER PROFITS, AND WITH
ALTERATIONS TO THE SHIP, HIS
FAMILY COULD ACCOMPANY HIM.
A MONTH BEFORE DEPARTURE, THESE
CHANGES WERE MADE.
THE MAIN CABIN WAS ENLARGED.
A SECOND DECK WAS BUILT TO BOOST
THE CARGO SPACE.
THIS RAISED THE MARY CELESTE BY
5 FEET, ADDED 4 FEET TO THE
OVERALL LENGTH, NOW 103 FEET,
AND INCREASED THE SHIPS WEIGHT
FROM 206 TO 282 TONS.
ON THE GRAND TURK, MARINE
ENGINEER CAPTAIN IAN MCDOUGAL IS
SURPRISED NO QUESTIONS WERE
ASKED ABOUT THESE CHANGES DURING
THE INQUIRY.
>> TODAY, TO RAISE A VESSEL BY 5
FEET WOULD BE ALMOST AN UNHEARD-
OF SITUATION WITHOUT IMMENSE
CALCULATIONS BY THE NAVAL
ARCHITECTS.
I MEAN, EVEN IF, ON A SHIP LIKE
THIS, IF WE CHANGED THE
CONSTRUCTION OF OUR CANNONS FROM
ALUMINUM TO CAST IRON, WE WOULD
HAVE AN IMMENSE DIFFERENCE IN
OUR STABILITY CRITERIA.
>> Narrator: BUT IN GIBRALTAR,
THE COURT COULD FIND NO EVIDENCE
THAT THE MARY CELESTE, WAS
UNSEA-WORTHY OR ANY OTHER REASON
WHY 10 PERSONS WOULD LEAVE THE
SAFETY OF THEIR SHIP.
(birds honking)
IN MARCH 1873, ALMOST FOUR
MONTHS AFTER THE INQUIRY BEGAN,
JUDGE SIR JAMES COCHRAN RULED.
HE GRANTED THE SALVAGE CLAIM.
THE MARY CELESTE AND HER CARGO
HAD BEEN INSURED FOR $46,000.
THE SALVERS WERE AWARDED ONLY A
SIXTH OF THAT, EVIDENCE, SOME
SAID, THAT THE AUTHORITIES DID
NOT BELIEVE THEIR VERSION OF
EVENTS.
>> WERE THE CREW MEMBERS OF THE
DEI GRATIA TELLING THE TRUTH?
'CAUSE THERE MAY BE AN ELEMENT
OF TRUTH IN WHAT SOLLY FLOOD
FELT.
WAS THERE FOUL PLAY?
DID SOMETHING GO ON?
>> Narrator: THE DEI GRATIA'S
CREW HAD RISKED THEIR LIVES AND
THEIR VESSEL TO BRING THE MARY
CELESTE TO GIBRALTAR.
DISAPPOINTED BY THE WAY THINGS
TURNED OUT, THEY LEFT PORT AND
CLOSED THIS CHAPTER IN THEIR
LIVES.
BUT FOR OTHERS, A NEW ONE WOULD
BEGIN 12 YEARS LATER WHEN ARTHUR
CONAN DOYLE WROTE A SHORT STORY
WHICH WAS INSPIRED BY THESE
EVENTS.
>> HE CHANGED THE NAME TO MARIE
CELESTE--IT'S CLEARLY THE SAME
VESSEL--AND CREATED A VAST AND
REALLY UNPLEASANT RACIST STORY
OF AFRICAN-AMERICANS REBELLING
AND TAKING THE SHIP TO AFRICA,
SLAUGHTERING THE FAMILY.
>> Narrator: CONAN DOYLE WENT ON
TO CREATE SHERLOCK HOLMES, THE
GREATEST FICTIONAL DETECTIVE OF
ALL TIME.
BUT INSTEAD OF CLOSING THIS
CASE, HIS STORY HAD THE OPPOSITE
EFFECT.
>> DOYLE, I THINK 50 YEARS LATER
SAID HE WISHED HE'D NEVER TOLD
THE STORY, HAD NOTHING TO DO
WITH IT.
IT WAS DOYLE'S STORY THAT SEEMED
TO KICK OFF THIS MAD SERIES OF
SPECULATION.
>> STORIES OF PIRATES, SEA
MONSTERS.
>> MOVING ISLANDS, ALL KINDS OF
NATURAL PHENOMENA.
>> WELL, THE SHIP SAILED OVER
THE LOST CITY OF ATLANTIS.
THIS MYSTICAL BEINGS CAME DOWN
AND STOLE THE CREW.
>> SEA QUAKES OR BAD WEATHER.
>> "IN A FIT OF FUNDAMENTALIST
RELIGIOUS MANIA, BRIGGS
BUTCHERED THE CREW."
>> I DON'T THINK WHEN PEOPLE
JUST THINK OF IT AS
ENTERTAINMENT, THAT THEY SORT OF
THINK OF THE FEELINGS OF THE
PEOPLE INVOLVED.
>> Narrator: NEITHER THE
WRECKAGE OF THE LIFEBOAT NOR THE
REMAINS OF THOSE FOUND ON BOARD
WERE EVER FOUND.
WITHOUT PROOF THEY PERISHED, IT
WAS DIFFICULT FOR THEIR FAMILIES
TO ABANDON HOPE THAT THEY MAY
HAVE SURVIVED.
>> FOR ARTHUR, IT WAS A BIG
QUESTION MARK IN HIS LIFE, A
HUGE ONE AND SOMETHING THAT
WHILE HE WAS LIVING, PEOPLE HAD
ALL KINDS OF CRAZY THEORIES AND
SPECULATIONS, AND I'M SURE IT
WAS HARD FOR HIM TO HEAR AND TO
DEAL WITH.
>> Narrator: THE PRINCIPAL OWNER
OF THE MARY CELESTE WAS CAPTAIN
JAMES HENRY WINCHESTER.
CAPTAIN WINCHESTER MADE A
SURPRISING CLAIM AFTER THE
PUBLICATION OF CONAN DOYLE'S
STORY.
HE NOW PROPOSED THAT GASES WERE
PRODUCED BY THE SHIP'S CARGO OF
INDUSTRIAL ALCOHOL.
THEY MIXED WITH FOUL AIR IN THE
HOLD, PRESSURE BUILT UP...
(explosion)
BLOWING THE HATCHES OFF.
FEARING FIRE OR A MASSIVE
EXPLOSION, CAPTAIN BRIGGS
ABANDONED HIS SHIP.
THIS THEORY WAS ACCEPTED BY THE
NEXT OF KIN, STARTING WITH THE
MISSING CAPTAIN'S BROTHER, JAMES
BRIGGS.
>> THE WHOLE FAMILY'S
INTERPRETATION OF THE STORY
REVOLVED AROUND MY GRANDFATHER,
SOME COMBINATION OF WEATHER
CONCERNS AND FEAR THAT THE
ALCOHOL WAS GOING TO EXPLODE.
(thunder crashes)
>> HEAT HAD CAUSED THE HATCH TO
BLOW OFF BECAUSE THE CARGO WAS
ALCOHOL AND DID NOT TRAVEL WELL
IN THE HEAT.
AND IT GOT HOTTER OFF THE
AZORES.
>> Narrator: BUT THE FACTS DID
NOT SUPPORT THIS THEORY THEN,
NOR DO THEY TODAY.
WHEN THE MARY CELESTE WAS FOUND,
HER MAIN CARGO HATCH WAS WEDGED
AND SECURE.
THE TWO HATCHES WHICH WERE OFF
DID NOT ACCESS THE CARGO HOLD,
BUT SMALL COMPARTMENTS FOR
STORING SAILS, ROPES, AND OTHER
SUPPLIES THE CREW WOULD COLLECT
BEFORE ABANDONING SHIP.
AND WEATHER RECORDS CONFIRM
THERE WAS VERY LITTLE DIFFERENCE
BETWEEN TEMPERATURES IN NEW YORK
AND THE AZORES.
>> CERTAINLY WASN'T ENOUGH TO
MAKE ALCOHOL EXPAND TO THE STAGE
WHERE IT MIGHT EXPLODE IF IT
COULD EXPLODE, WHICH IT CAN'T
UNLESS IT HAS SOME SORT OF
IGNITING DEVICE.
BUT PEOPLE HAVE A LOT OF FUN
WITH THIS, WITH THIS THEORY OF--
OF THE EXPLODING--EXPLODING
ALCOHOL.
(explosion)
>> Narrator: DURING THE INQUIRY,
INVESTIGATORS REMOVED 50 BARRELS
FROM THE HOLD.
18 OF THESE WERE OPENED, AND ALL
WERE FOUND INTACT.
NONE OF THE EXPERTS WHO
ORIGINALLY INSPECTED THE SHIP,
INCLUDING CAPTAIN WINCHESTER,
FOUND ANY PROOF THAT A FIRE OR
EXPLOSION HAD OCCURRED.
WHAT NEW EVIDENCE DID CAPTAIN
WINCHESTER HAVE NOW?
>> WELL, THE CARGO ARRIVES IN
GENOA EVENTUALLY.
NINE OF THE 1,700 BARRELS OF
ALCOHOL ARE ACTUALLY EMPTY.
AND IT SUGGESTS THAT THERE WAS A
LEAK OF SOME SORT, THAT THIS
ALCOHOL GOT OUT SOMEHOW.
>> Narrator: WHEN THE CARGO WAS
UNLOADED IN GENOA, IT WAS
THOUGHT THE NINE EMPTY BARRELS
HADN'T BEEN FILLED PROPERLY IN
NEW YORK.
BUT COULD THE SOLUTION TO THIS
MYSTERY HAVE ANYTHING TO DO WITH
HOW THESE BARRELS WERE MADE?
THE EMPTY ONES WERE ALL RED OAK
WHILE THE OTHERS WERE WHITE OAK.
>> YOU CAN'T SAY ANYTHING ABOUT
THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE BARRELS
WHETHER IT WAS DIFFERENT OR NOT,
BUT THERE WOULD BE A DIFFERENCE
IN THE TIMBER ITSELF IN THAT RED
OAK IS A DIFFERENT WOOD THAN
WHITE OAK.
>> Narrator: AS THEY GROW, THE
TWO SPECIES LOOK ALIKE.
IT IS ONLY WHEN THEY ARE CUT AND
EXAMINED UNDER A MICROSCOPE THAT
THEIR DISTINCTLY DIFFERENT CELL
STRUCTURE IS APPARENT.
>> THESE SYSTEMS IN RED OAK ARE
OPEN, AND WHEN THE WOOD IS
HARVESTED AND DRIED, THEY REMAIN
OPEN.
IN WHITE OAK HOWEVER, SMALL
BUBBLE-LIKE FORMATIONS FORM
WITHIN THE VESSELS, AND THIS
CHANGES THE PERMEABILITY
DRASTICALLY.
>> Narrator: PROFESSOR HOLDLEY
APPLIES LIQUID SOAP TO A PIECE
OF RED OAK.
HE BLOWS AIR THROUGH IT TO
DEMONSTRATE JUST HOW POROUS RED
OAK IS.
>> AND THAT SURELY SHOWS HOW
PERMEABLE THE OAK IS TO THE
PASSAGE OF ANY GAS OR AIR OR
LIQUID THAT COULD PASS THROUGH
IT.
>> Narrator: BARRELS MADE OF RED
OAK WERE BOUND TO LEAK.
AND THEY WOULD HAVE DONE SO LONG
BEFORE THE MARY CELESTE REACHED
THE AZORES, THEIR CONTENTS
PUMPED OUT.
BUT IF THE MISSING 450 GALLONS
OF ALCOHOL HAD REMAINED IN THE
HOLD, OLIVER DEVEAU WOULD HAVE
SMELLED FUMES WHEN HE FIRST
BOARDED THE SHIP.
(bell tolling)
IN GIBRALTAR, AUTHORITIES FOUND
NO EVIDENCE THAT THE CARGO WAS A
FACTOR IN THIS CASE.
INSTEAD, THEY FOCUSED ON WHERE
AND WHY THE SHIP WAS ABANDONED
TO SATISFY THEMSELVES THAT THE
SALVERS WERE TELLING THE TRUTH
AND ENTITLED TO AN AWARD.
CRUCIAL EVIDENCE WAS THE LAST
ENTRY IN THE MARY CELESTE'S LOG
AND WHERE CAPTAIN MOREHOUSE
CLAIMED THE SHIPS HAD MET.
IS IT NOW POSSIBLE TO DISCOVER
WHAT TRAGIC EVENTS TOOK PLACE
BETWEEN THOSE TWO POSITIONS WHEN
FOR ALMOST 10 DAYS, THERE WERE
NO REPORTED SIGHTINGS OF THE
MARY CELESTE?
AT WOODS HOLE OCEANOGRAPHIC
INSTITUTION IN MASSACHUSETTS,
DR. PHIL RICHARDSON STUDIES
OCEAN CIRCULATION, KNOWLEDGE
THAT MIGHT HAVE HELPED
INVESTIGATORS IN 1872 BASED ON
DATA WHICH WASN'T AVAILABLE AT
THAT TIME.
>> I WAS READING SOME HISTORICAL
BOOKS AND DISCOVERED THAT IN THE
1800s THE U.S. NAVY HYDROGRAPHIC
OFFICE WAS--STARTED PUTTING OUT
PILOT CHARTS OF THE NORTH
ATLANTIC.
AND ON THESE PILOT CHARTS, THEY
SHOWED THE POSITIONS OF DERELICT
SHIPS.
A DERELICT SHIP IS A SHIP THAT'S
BEEN ABANDONED AT SEA.
>> Narrator: BY ANALYZING THESE
CHARTS, DR. RICHARDSON HAS
DISCOVERED THAT THE DRIFT
PATTERNS OF 19th-CENTURY
DERELICTS ARE CONSISTENT WITH
INFORMATION ABOUT CURRENTS WHICH
IS COLLECTED TODAY USING HIGH-
TECH DRIFTING BUOYS.
>> ONCE EVERY 10 DAYS, THEY COME
UP TO THE SURFACE RECORDING
TEMPERATURE AND SALINITY, AND AT
THE SURFACE, THEY SEND THE DATA
BACK VIA SATELLITE.
>> Narrator: DR. RICHARDSON ALSO
TALLIED MORE THAN 1,600
DERELICTS IN THE ATLANTIC BY THE
END OF THE 19th CENTURY.
>> AND I WAS AMAZED TO DISCOVER
THAT THERE WERE MORE
TRAJECTORIES OF DERELICT SHIPS
THAN I HAD OF DRIFTING BUOYS.
>> Narrator: SOME VESSELS ARE
KNOWN TO HAVE DRIFTED THOUSANDS
OF MILES AND FOR MORE THAN A
YEAR, ESPECIALLY IF MADE OF WOOD
AND STILL MASTED LIKE THE MARY
CELESTE.
COULD SHE HAVE SAILED WITHOUT A
CREW FOR 10 DAYS?
>> THIS WAS AN EXCELLENT SHIP.
IT WAS NOT LEAKING.
THE SAILS WERE DAMAGED.
THOSE THAT WERE--WERE UP AND HAD
NOT BEEN FURLED OR DAMAGED.
ASIDE FROM THAT, THERE WAS NO
REAL STRUCTURAL DAMAGE TO THE
BOAT.
SO FOR PRESUMABLY 10 DAYS, IT
SAILED ITSELF.
>> Narrator: WITHOUT A CREW AND
WITH HER WHEEL UNLASHED, THE
MARY CELESTE SAILED WITH THE
WIND AND WAS CARRIED ALONG BY
OCEAN CURRENTS.
>> WHEN THE MARY CELESTE WAS
DISCOVERED, THE JIBS WERE ON A
STARBOARD TACK.
IF YOU COULD CONVINCE YOURSELF
THAT THE MARY CELESTE STAYED ON
A STARBOARD TACK THE WHOLE TIME,
YOU MIGHT BE ABLE TO RECREATE
THE TRACK OF THE BOAT.
>> Narrator: BASED ON THIS
ASSUMPTION, AN ANALYSIS OF OCEAN
CURRENTS AND WEATHER DATA FROM
1872 HAS INDICATED THAT THIS WAS
THE MARY CELESTE'S MOST PROBABLE
TRACK, A DISTANCE OF 444 MILES.
BUT WHAT EVIDENCE IS THERE THAT
CAPTAIN BRIGGS ABANDONED SHIP SO
NEAR THE AZORES AND SOON AFTER
THE LAST LOG ENTRY WAS MADE?
>> CAPTAIN BRIGGS, I DON'T
THINK, WOULD HAVE DONE IT
WITHOUT A SENSE OF CAUTION
'CAUSE SEPARATING FROM THE SHIP
IS A VERY, VERY DANGEROUS THING
TO DO.
YOU MAY NOT--UNLESS YOU'RE NEAR
SHORE.
>> Narrator: THE NEAREST LAND TO
THE MARY CELESTE'S COURSE BEFORE
SHE WAS FOUND ABANDONED WAS
SANTA MARIA ISLAND, WHICH RISES
2,000 FEET AND COULD BE SEEN
FROM UP TO 20 MILES AWAY.
WITH NO SAFE HARBOR ALONG THE
ISLAND'S ROCKY COAST, IT IS
PROBABLE THAT THE SHIP WAS
ABANDONED WITHIN THIS ARC.
DURING THE INQUIRY, GIBRALTAR'S
ATTORNEY GENERAL MISSED A CLUE
WHICH WOULD HAVE ESTABLISHED
THIS FACT.
IN 1884, NOW RETIRED BUT STILL
TROUBLED BY THIS MYSTERIOUS
CASE, MR. SOLLY FLOOD REVIEWED
HIS NOTES AGAIN AND WROTE A
SUMMARY FROM INTERVIEWS AND A
TRANSCRIPT HE MADE OF THE LAST
FIVE DAYS OF THE MARY CELESTE'S
LOG, WHICH HAS BEEN LOST EVER
SINCE.
AFTER HIS DEATH IN 1888, THESE
PAPERS WERE FORGOTTEN UNTIL NOW.
DID MR. SOLLY FLOOD HAVE THE KEY
TO THIS MYSTERY AFTER ALL?
DISASTERS ARE A MATTER OF BAD
TIMING, THE CRITICAL MOMENT WHEN
A NUMBER OF EVENTS COINCIDE WITH
CATASTROPHIC RESULTS.
AFTER ANALYZING THE MARY
CELESTE'S LOG, GIBRALTAR'S
ATTORNEY GENERAL SUSPECTED THAT
TIME ITSELF WAS AN IMPORTANT
FACTOR IN THIS CASE.
HE WAS PUZZLED WHY THE LOG'S
CALCULATIONS DIDN'T ADD UP AND
THAT CAPTAIN BRIGGS HAD TAKEN
THREE WEEKS TO SAIL A DISTANCE
WHICH SHOULD HAVE TAKEN ONLY
TWO.
>> EVEN EXPERIENCED SAILORS LIKE
OUR CAPTAIN BRIGGS, THEY WERE
CONSTANTLY COMING ACROSS NEW AND
REMARKABLE AND FRIGHTENING
EXPERIENCES, AND THEY HAD TO
CALL UPON THEIR SEAMANSHIP AND
THEIR KNOWLEDGE OF BOATS AND
SHIPS AND WEATHER TO DEAL WITH,
AND SOMETIMES THEY WERE TAKEN BY
SURPRISE.
>> Narrator: NOW FOR THE FIRST
TIME, MR. SOLLY FLOODS' PAPERS
CONFIRM THAT THE MARY CELESTE,
ITS CARGO AND CREW HAD COME
THROUGH THE WORST OF THE WEATHER
AND SURVIVED UNHARMED UNTIL THE
20th OF NOVEMBER.
IT WAS WHAT HAPPENED NEXT THAT
WOULD SEAL THEIR FATE.
TODAY, MARINERS USE SATELLITE
TECHNOLOGY TO FIND THEIR
LOCATION AND NAVIGATE IN OPEN
SEA, BUT IN 1872, CAPTAIN BRIGGS
RELIED UPON HIS TRAINING,
EXPERIENCE, AND THE NAVIGATIONAL
INSTRUMENTS HE HAD ON BOARD, IN
PARTICULAR, THE CHRONOMETER, OR
SEA CLOCK, WHICH MEASURES
DISTANCES EAST/WEST, EVERY
MINUTE REPRESENTING 15 NAUTICAL
MILES.
>> YOUR CHRONOMETER IS ON BOARD
YOUR SHIP, AND IT'S SET TO YOUR
TIME, YOUR PORT OF DEPARTURE.
AND THEN WHEN YOU WANT TO KNOW
YOUR POSITION AT SEA, YOU THEN
HAVE TO TAKE LOCAL TIME, WHICH
YOU CAN DO MOST EASILY FROM THE
SUN AT MIDDAY.
>> Narrator: NO CHRONOMETER WAS
FOUND ON THE MARY CELESTE.
WITHOUT ANY OTHER EXPLANATION
FOR ERRORS IN THE LOG, THE
ATTORNEY GENERAL INQUIRED IF
THERE HAVE BEEN ANY ON BOARD.
ONE, CAPTAIN WINCHESTER
TESTIFIED.
HE SAID IT WAS HIRED FOR THE
VOYAGE AND ASSUMED CAPTAIN
BRIGGS TOOK IT WHEN HE LEFT THE
SHIP.
>> SHIPS GENERALLY HAVE MORE
THAN ONE CHRONOMETER.
SOME SHIPS HAD AS MANY AS 20,
BUT YOU'D PROBABLY HAVE AT LEAST
THREE ON BOARD, A MINIMUM--
MINIMUM OF THREE, AND SO YOU
CAN--YOU CAN CHECK ONE AGAINST
ANOTHER.
SO IF THERE IS A FAULT WITH ONE,
IT SHOWS UP STRAIGHTAWAY.
HAVING ONE CHRONOMETER ISN'T--
ISN'T REALLY A VERY GOOD IDEA AT
ALL.
>> Narrator: WEATHER RECORDS
INDICATE THAT THE MARY CELESTE
ENCOUNTERED AT LEAST THREE MAJOR
STORMS BEFORE THE 20th OF
NOVEMBER.
HAD CAPTAIN BRIGGS HELD TO AN
EASTERLY COURSE, HE'D HAVE MET
MORE OF THE SAME.
INSTEAD, HE MADE A MAJOR COURSE
CHANGE, HEADING SOUTHEAST, A
DEVIATION WHICH TOOK THE SHIP
AWAY FROM BAD WEATHER BUT ALSO
MAIN SHIPPING ROUTES.
THAT EXPLAINED WHY THERE WERE NO
SIGHTINGS OF THE MARY CELESTE
BUT NOT WHY CALCULATIONS IN THE
LOG WERE ACCURATE NORTH/SOUTH
BUT EAST/WEST DIDN'T ADD UP.
WAS THERE A FAULT WITH THE ONLY
CHRONOMETER ON BOARD?
AND IF SO, HOW AND WHEN DID
CAPTAIN BRIGGS FIND OUT?
>> AT SOME POINT RATHER,
SOMETHING'S GOING TO--YOU'RE
GOING TO REALIZE THAT
SOMETHING'S GOING WRONG,
PRESUMABLY BECAUSE YOU'RE NOT
MAKING THE LAND THAT YOUR CHART
SHOULD SHOWING UP.
THAT WOULD BE THE MAIN THING.
ONCE YOU'RE IN THE OPEN SEA, IF
THE CHRONOMETER WAS SERIOUSLY
WRONG, YOU COULD CARRY ON FOR
DAYS OR WEEKS WITHOUT--WITHOUT
KNOWING WHAT WAS WRONG.
(thunder crashes)
>> Narrator: CAPTAIN BRIGGS
REACHED THAT POINT ON THE 22nd
OF NOVEMBER WHEN CONTRARY TO HIS
CALCULATIONS, NO LAND WAS IN
SIGHT.
>> THE SHIP HAD BEEN ON A--ON A
VERY ROUGH VOYAGE.
IT WAS--I BELIEVE IT WAS A HIRED
INSTRUMENT, AND ANYTHING COULD
HAVE HAPPENED ON THAT VOYAGE.
>> Narrator: THE DISCOVERY OF
MR. SOLLY FLOOD'S TRANSCRIPT HAS
MADE IT POSSIBLE TO ANALYZE THE
SHIP'S COURSE.
IT HAS REVEALED THAT THE
CHRONOMETER WAS SLOW BY AS MUCH
AS EIGHT MINUTES.
THE MARY CELESTE WAS 120 MILES
FURTHER WEST THAN CAPTAIN BRIGGS
HAD THOUGHT AND COULD HAVE LED
TO THE SURPRISING DECISION HE
MADE ON NOVEMBER 24th.
>> THE LOG SHOWS THE SHIP
SAILING SOUTHEASTWARDS SOUTH OF
THE AZORES FOR THE PREVIOUS
SEVERAL DAYS AND ONLY ON THE DAY
BEFORE GOING TO SANTA MARIA DOES
IT CHANGE COURSE RATHER MARKEDLY
TO HEAD--AND APPARENTLY GO NORTH
OF SANTA MARIA, WHICH SEEMS
UNUSUAL.
>> Narrator: UNUSUAL BECAUSE
THERE ARE DANGEROUS SHOALS NORTH
OF SANTA MARIA.
BUT AT ITS NORTHEASTERN POINT,
THERE WAS THE ISLAND'S BEST
ANCHORAGE, SAN LORENCO BAY.
WAS CAPTAIN BRIGGS HEADED THERE?
IF SO, WHY?
>> IF THE ISLAND IS KNOWN TO THE
CAPTAIN AND HE WAS AN
EXPERIENCED CAPTAIN, MAYBE HE
SAILED DIRECTLY FOR IT KNOWING--
TO GET A--TO GET A POSITIVE
READING TO KNOW EXACTLY WHERE HE
WAS.
>> Narrator: OR DID CAPTAIN
BRIGGS FEAR FOR HIS SHIP?
WAS HE SEEKING SAFE HAVEN?
>> A SHIP CAPTAIN IN THE 1870s
WOULD HAVE KNOWN HE WAS SAILING
A FLAWED VESSEL.
EXPECTATIONS WOULD NOT AS BEEN
THAT HIGH.
HE WAS A CAUTIOUS MAN, AND HE
WAS SAILING DEFENSIVELY MOST OF
THE TIME.
>> Narrator: NEVER MORE THAN AT
8:00 ON THE NIGHT OF NOVEMBER
24th WHEN THE MARY CELESTE MET
MORE BAD WEATHER.
WINDS OF MORE THAN 35 KNOTS,
HEAVY RAIN AND VERY ROUGH SEAS.
CONDITIONS WHICH REQUIRED ALL
HANDS ON DECK WITH NO GUARANTEES
THAT THEY WOULD BE ENOUGH IN
THIS STORM.
THE NEXT MORNING AT 0500, THE
EXHAUSTED CREW FINALLY SAW LAND.
THE LOG REPORTS THAT SANTA MARIA
WAS NOW ONLY 13 MILES AWAY.
FOR THE NEXT THREE HOURS, THE
WINDS REDUCED BUT WERE STILL
BLOWING AT 20 KNOTS.
SOME CREWMEN COULD HAVE SLEPT,
AND NOW THERE IS PROOF THAT AT
LEAST SOPHIA BRIGGS HAD A MEAL.
IN AN INTERVIEW NEVER REPORTED
BEFORE NOW, OLIVER DEVEAU TOLD
THE ATTORNEY GENERAL THAT HE HAD
FOUND THE MOLDY REMAINS OF A
CHILD'S BREAKFAST ON BOARD.
HE SAW NO TRACE OF OTHER MEALS
PREPARED OR EATEN, INDICATING
THAT ABANDONMENT PROBABLY TOOK
PLACE BETWEEN BREAKFAST AND
NOON. AND WITHIN SIGHT OF SANTA
MARIA.
THE REASON WHY CAPTAIN BRIGGS
MIGHT HAVE ABANDONED HERE IS
CLEAR.
WHAT IS IT IS WHY.
>> IT USED TO BE LIKE AN OLD
ADAGE THAT YOU NEVER LEAVE A
VESSEL.
UNLESS YOU HAVE TO CLIMB
UPWARDS.
WHICH MEANS THAT IT'S ALREADY
SUNK OR SINKING, YOU KNOW.
YOU DON'T GET IN TO THE LIFE
RAFT UNLESS YOU HAVE TO CLIMB
UPWARDS.
YOU NEVER ABANDON A SEA-WORTHY
VESSEL UNTIL THE LAST.
IT STILL GIVES YOU--AFFORDS YOU
THE BEST PROTECTION.
>> SOMETHING MADE THEM THINK
THAT THE BOAT WAS SINKING, THAT
THE VESSEL WAS SINKING.
>> Narrator: OLIVER DEVEAU ALSO
BELIEVED THAT THIS WAS THE
REASON CAPTAIN BRIGGS ABANDONED
SHIP.
THE BEST EVIDENCE--THAT ONE OF
THE MARY CELESTE'S PUMPS HAD
BEEN TAKEN APART AND COULD NOT
BE USED DURING THE VOYAGE TO
GIBRALTAR.
>> CERTAINLY THE FACT THAT ONE
WAS OUT IS QUITE AN INTERESTING
ISSUE IN A VESSEL THAT ONLY HAD
TWO PUMPS.
YOU'RE 50% DOWN ON YOUR PUMPING.
>> Narrator: MR. SOLLY FLOOD'S
TRANSCRIPT ALSO CONFIRMS THAT
CAPTAIN BRIGGS DID HAVE CONCERNS
ABOUT THE PUMPS WITHIN THE LAST
FIVE DAYS RECORDED IN THE LOG.
>> PUMPS ALWAYS BLOCK UP.
EVEN TODAY, THEY BLOCK UP, AND
IT DEPENDS ENTIRELY ON HOW GOOD
YOUR HOUSEKEEP YOUR SHIP.
IF THE BILGES ARE KEPT CLEAN,
AND THE LIMP SPACES ARE KEPT
CLEAN, THEN THERE'S REALLY NO--
THERE'S NO NEED.
THE INGREDIENTS AREN'T THERE TO
BUG IT UP.
>> Narrator: JUST BEFORE HER
REFIT, THE MARY CELESTE CARRIED
A CARGO OF COAL.
A HEAVY RESIDUE OF DUST WOULD
HAVE REMAINED IN THE HOLD.
THE COURT DID NOT CONSIDER THE
CONSEQUENCES OF THAT DUST
WASHING DOWN INTO THE BILGES AND
FORMING A THICK SLUDGE WITH SEA
WATER DURING THE VOYAGE, NOR DID
IT WEIGH THE EFFECTS OF THE
RECENT WORKS DONE ON THE SHIP.
>> BUT WHEN YOU GO IN FOR A
REFIT OR YOU'VE JUST HAD WORK
DONE, AND YOU HAD THE CARPENTERS
WITH THEIR SHAVINGS, YOU'VE HAD
THE FIXINGS, AND WHETHER IT BE
BE NAILS OR DOWEL PINS AND ALL
THE KIND OF THE DIRT AND THE
SLURRY THAT GOES WITH A BIG JOB
LIKE RAISING IT UP 5 FEET, YOU
COULD EASILY HAVE HAD STUFF
FALLING INTO THE BILGE AND YOU
DON'T EVEN KNOW IT'S THERE.
>> IF THEY HAD FOUND IT, IF
THEY'D TRIED THE PUMP AND NOT
MUCH HAPPENED WITHOUT MUCH
EFFECT, THEN HE WOULD HAVE
STARTED TO THINKING ABOUT
ABANDONING SHIP, CAUTIOUSLY.
>> Narrator: CAPTAIN BRIGGS
COULDN'T BE CERTAIN IF THE PUMPS
WERE BLOCKED AND INDICATING THAT
THE MARY CELESTE HAD TAKEN ON
MORE WATER THAN SHE REALLY HAD.
OR IF HULL PLANKS HAD LOOSENED
IN THE STORM AND HIS SHIP WAS
ABOUT TO SINK.
LOADED TO WITHIN INCHES OF HER
DECK, HE HAD NO WAY OR TIME TO
FIND OUT.
CAPTAIN BRIGGS MADE HIS NEXT
DECISION WITH THE BEST
INFORMATION HE HAD.
>> A LOT OF THE CRITICAL
NAVIGATION GEAR WAS GONE, WHICH
MEANS THEY HAD TIME TO COLLECT
IT.
AND THE THE BOAT WAS GONE FROM
THE SHIP.
THE SAILS WERE LEFT STANDING,
THE FOUR SAILS.
SO THEY DIDN'T DROP THOSE.
THEY DIDN'T STOP, SO IT DOES
SEEM LIKE THERE WAS A RAPID
EVACUATION OF THE BOAT, BUT NOT
INSTANTANEOUS BECAUSE THEY HAVE
TIME TO GATHER THEIR GEAR.
>> HE SHOULD HAVE BEEN ABLE TO
GET TO THE ISLAND, ASSUMING HE
HAD NO DIFFICULTY, WITHIN A
COUPLE OF HOURS.
HE WOULD HAVE BEEN PREPARED.
THERE'S NOTHING INHERENTLY
DANGEROUS ABOUT--ABOUT DOING
THAT, ABOUT GOING OFF IN A SMALL
BOAT.
>> Narrator: WITH 800 MILES OF
OPEN SEA BEFORE REACHING EUROPE
AND ONLY LIFEBOAT THAT WOULD
OVERCROWDED WITH NINE ADULTS AND
A CHILD, CAPTAIN BRIGS WOULD
HAVE SEEN THIS AS THE LAST AND
BEST CHANCE THEY HAD TO SURVIVE.
>> ALL HE CAN DO THEN IS TO
HOPE, AS ALL OF US WOULD, IS
THAT ISLAND UP THERE WOULD BE
HIS NEXT HAVEN.
AND SOMEWHERE BETWEEN THAT
MOMENT AND REACHING THE ISLAND,
THAT LITTLE BOAT WAS OVERWHELMED
BY A SEA OR BY A GUST OF WIND
SOMEHOW AND SANK.
>> Narrator: IN HIS LAST LETTER
HOME, CAPTAIN BRIGGS WROTE THAT
SOPHIA'S FAVORITE BOOK WAS AN
ALBUM CONTAINING FAMILY
PHOTOGRAPHS.
NO SUCH VOLUME WAS FOUND ABOARD
THE MARY CELESTE, NOR HAS IT
TURNED UP SINCE.
PERHAPS DURING THOSE LAST
FRIGHTENING MOMENTS, REALIZING
THEY WOULD NOT BE RETURNING TO
THEIR SHIP, MEMORIES OF HOME
WERE MORE PRECIOUS TO THE
BRIGGSES THAN VALUABLES THEY
LEFT BEHIND.
THOSE WHO STEPPED DOWN FROM THE
MARY CELESTE AND INTO HISTORY
AND LEGEND WERE VICTIMS OF THE
TIMES, WHEN PROFITS WERE LOW AND
RISKS HIGH, SAILING A SHIP PAST
HER PRIME, UNDERMANNED, LOADED
TO HER LIMITS, AND WITHOUT
ADEQUATE EQUIPMENT ON BOARD.
IN JANUARY 1885, THE MARY
CELESTE, UNDER NEW OWNERS WAS
SCUTTLED IN AN INSURANCE FRAUD.
MONTHS LATER, FREDERICK SOLLY
FLOOD COMPLETED HIS VERSION OF
EVENTS, DECLARING THIS TO BE NO
EPISODE OF FOUL PLAY OR FRAUD
AS HE HAD FIRST THOUGHT.
IT WAS A TRAGIC ACCIDENT AFTER
ALL.
TODAY, THE STORY OF THE MARY
CELESTE DEMONSTRATES HOW FAR
SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY HAVE COME
TO PREVENT DISASTERS AT SEA AND
INVESTIGATE THOSE WHICH DO
OCCUR.
IT IS ALSO A REMINDER OF THE
GREAT ERA OF WOODEN SAILING
SHIPS AND THE COURAGE OF THOSE
WHO SAILED IN THEM.