The Sword That Looked Wiped Clean

Name: The Sword That Looked Wiped Clean
Genre: Documentary

A forensic survey tests whether the abandoned ship concealed a massacre, collision, or staged disaster.

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Transcript

A sword in the captain’s cabin showed blood—then looked wiped clean.
Above it, investigators reported blood-like rail marks and cuts near both bows.
Yet the brigantine was found seaworthy, drifting near the Azores without anyone aboard.
Dei Gratia's Oliver Deveau boarded Mary Celeste. His party found nobody aboard.
Once the recovered ship reached Gibraltar, Solly-Flood ordered Austin and Portunato to survey it.
The captain's and crew's personal belongings were left undisturbed aboard the ship.
Below the waterline, no damage from collision, grounding, or other injury was found.
The deckhouse stood 6 feet above deck, with no cracks in its planking or paint.
Below, cargo was largely intact: 1,701 barrels of industrial alcohol.
Seamen's chests and clothing were dry, and even some razors remained free from rust.
A sewing-machine oil phial was perpendicular; the thimble and cotton reel were not upset.
Spare glass panes were unbroken, the harmonium undamaged, and the music books dry.
But no bills of lading or manifest were found aboard the Mary Celeste.
Sarah's letter dated November 7th, 1872, was the last word received from any of the 10 people aboard.
Sarah referred to their quarters aboard the Mary Celeste as “our little home.”
The physical evidence showed damage, but no scene matching possible violence.

Solly-Flood's survey had found no wreck capable of explaining the abandonment—so the court still had to decide whether the marks meant murder.

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