The Daily Miscellany Times

Mystery of the 'Mary Celeste'   
December 4, 1872

  On this day in 1872 the American brigantine Marie Celeste was found adrift in the Atlantic ocean between the Azores and Portugal. The ship has set sail from New York on November 7. It was bound for Genoa. The Brittish ship Dei Gratia found the ship adrift. The ship was deserted. The captain, Benjamin S. Briggs, was missing. The entire crew of eight was also missing. Also listed onboard, but missing, was the wife and daughter of the captain.

The ship was hardly damaged. There was slight damage to the rigging. The entire cargo of 1,700 barrels of alcohol was untouched. The captain's table was set for a meal which was never eaten. There was no message aboard, and there was no indication of what could have happened to the crew and passengers of the Marie Celeste. 

Sources: Sources: Comptons Encyclopedia, On this Day