The Log That Went Silent at 5 A.M.

Name: The Log That Went Silent at 5 A.M.
Genre: Documentary

The ship's surviving records trace an ordinary voyage toward the Azores—and then abruptly stop.

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Transcript

When found, the Mary Celeste's lifeboat was gone—and every person aboard had vanished.
On December 4th, 1872, it drifted near the Azores, deserted but seaworthy.
It had left New York for Genoa on November 7th, carrying 10 people. Captain Briggs sailed with wife Sarah and their two-year-old daughter.
Sarah complained about the alcohol cargo's thumping and bumping.
At 5 a.m. on November 25th, the last log entry showed eight knots.
The ship passed near Santa Maria, then the surviving record fell silent.
Nine days later, the Dei Gratia crew spotted her 400 miles east of the Azores.
The boarding party found nobody aboard, with sails partly set and hatches lying on deck.
Inside, 3.5 feet of water sloshed in the ship's bottom.
I called our quarters “our little home.”
The crew's belongings appeared intact; ship papers and Briggs's navigational instruments were missing.
One pump was disassembled, yet six months of food and water remained aboard.
The Dei Gratia crew sailed the ship about 800 miles to Gibraltar.
After more than three months, the court found no evidence of foul play.

A sword and the ship's rail appeared to carry wiped blood—while sharp cuts scarred both bows.

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