What happened to the Mary Celeste crew?

Adrift, undamaged ship full of cargo but not its crew

The Mary Celeste was a ship that was found abandoned in the middle of the ocean but completely intact. (Photo: Antonio Ciero Reina/Shutterstock)

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On Dec. 5, 1872, an eerie sight emerged on the Atlantic Ocean. The British brigantine Mary Celeste was discovered adrift, deserted by its crew, but undamaged and full of cargo. On this episode of Tracks Through Time, FreightWaves Deputy Editor Brielle Jaekel speaks with the author of “The Ghost of the Mary Celeste” to learn more about the mystery and some of the theories behind the crew’s disappearance.

FreightWaves Classics articles look at various aspects of the transportation industry’s history. Click here to subscribe to our newsletter!

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Brielle Jaekel

Experienced journalist with roles including lead, deputy editor, managing editor, associate editor, staff reporter, staff writer, and editorial assistant.