Saturday Spotting - Marie Celeste Crew Mystery

Published in August of 1909 in the Idaho Statesman out of Boise, ID 

HISTORICAL MYSTERIES

MYSTERY OF THE “MARIE  CELESTE.”

By ALBERT PAYSON TERHUNE

     The case of the Marie Celeste is perhaps the strangest of all deep sea mysteries. Sailors, novelists, even psychologists, have sought for years to solve it. The affair has passed into nautical history. Fanctcul writers have added melodramatic or weird touched to the original account, until, at this late day, it is impossible to be certain of each detail’s truth.

     The brig Marie Celeste sailed from New York harbor on November 7, 1873, bound for Genoa, and carrying a cargo of petroleum and alcohol. She had a crew of 10 men and officers (mostly Germans) and was captained by B. S. Briggs, who took on the voyage his young wife and their 2 – year – old child. The Marie Celeste passed the island of St. Mary’s in the Azores on November 24. So much is known form the entries in her log. The rest is mystery.

     On December 4 the Del Gratia, which had left New York for Gibraltar several days later than the Marie Celeste, sighted a vessel moving along in a rather eccentric fashion, under partial all. She was the Marie Celeste. To the hall of the Del Gratia no reply was given. A boat was lowered form the Del Gratia and her mate was rowed across to the Marie Celeste.

     The mate, scrambling aboard, found himself the only living creature upon the vessel. He made a hasty search. The cargo of alcohol and oil was in perfect condition. In the forecastle the sailor’s chests were found undisturbed, their clothing and money untouched. In the cabin there was sheet music on the open melodloin and on the table were scissors, needle, thread and cloth, as though a woman had hastily tossed there the sewing on which she was engaged. A clock ticked on the wall. Toys were strewn carelessly about the floor. In the captain’s stateroom a gold watch hung beside the head of Briggs berth. The impress of a baby head was still to be seen on the pillow of the crib. In the cook’s galley food was set out ready for cooking. It is even said, in one report, that a fire was burning in the stove.

     Nowhere was there the slightest sign of haste, of disorder, of mutinous struggle. Yet every one had deserted the brig. Food and water were plenty, everything was in good condition. There had been no storm. A little bottle of medicine on the captain’s table was standing upright. The least rough weather would have upset it. Why, then if there were no gale, no mutiny, no famine, no pestilence, should the brig’s occupants have vanished? Or, if they deserted the ship why did they leave their clothes, money, jewelry, etc. behind them? If, on the other hand, the ship had been overhauld by latter-day pirates who slaughtered passengers and crew, why were not the valuables stolen?

     In the mate’s cabin was found the log slate. The slate was full of the usual routine entries. At the bottom of the last scrawled: “Fanny, my dear wife -.” Some accounts say that one of the ship’s boats was gone. Others declare the boats were all in place, making the problem of the wholesale disappearance more perplexing. 

Sunday's Cemetery - Cemetery Mistake

Published in July of 1910 by the Oregonian out of Portland, Oregon

GRAVE MYSTERY SOLVED

MISTAKE IN CEMETERY SURVEY IS HELD TO BLAME 

Byron P. Vincent Buried in Absence of Sexton – Hannah Smith Still Cannot Be Found. 

The mystery involving the disappearance of Hannah Smith, May 8, appears to be no nearer solved than nearly two months ago, when the woman with $600 she drew from the bank, dropped out of sight completely.

     The thread of belief that the mysterious grave in Baker Cemetery 14 miles east of Portland on the Base Line road, might offer a clew as to what became of Hannah Smith, was exploded yesterday by Sheriff Stevens, after a thorough investigation of the graveyard incident that set Fairview and that community agog with gossip.

     The new mound of earth was discovered by Mrs. O. H. Jenkins, of Fairview, May 29, when she went to trim and decorate the graves of her father, mother and sister. She was astonished to find a newly-made grave on her family lot. She reported the circumstance to D. W. McKay, the sexton, who lives a few hundred yards from the cemetery.

     The headboard bore the inscription: “Byron P. Vincent, died 1905.” McKay had no record of a Vincent having been buried there and the mystery deepened. A theory was advanced that the grave might contain the body of Hannah Smith.

     While Sheriff Stevens was conducting an investigation yesterday morning he learned that the grave contained the body of Byron P. Vincent, a son of Dr. A. W. Vincent, 207 West Leavitt street, St. Johns, who died five years ago. Dr. Vincent explained the circumstance. He said that when his son died he was unable to find the owner of the cemetery or the sexton at the time, so the burial took place without the sexton having a record. He said that the grave had been partially obliterated by earth from other graves being thrown upon it and when he renewed the mound for Memorial day it had all the appearances of a new grave. He also said there was a mistake in the property lines and that the grave is not in the lot of Mrs. Jenkins, as supposed. 

1869 Mystery House

It might just be that time of year with but it seems articles like these are quite interesting.  We know in the world of gossip with the added media connections those whispers behind cupped hands aren't just between the few doing the gossiping.  I just can’t help but wonder in the world as we know it today what lengths the townspeople would go through to get their answers. 

Salt Lake Telegram, Salt Lake City, UT

Saturday, March 7, 1914

MYSTERY HOUSE

STILL MYSTERY

AFTER 17

YEARS

Erected in 1896 and Elabo-

rately Furnished, Mansion

has Never Been

Occupied.

(Special to the Telegram.)

Bloomington, Ill., March 7. – The

Mystery of the “house of mystery” at

Chrisman, Ill., is still unsolved after

seventeen years.  It is now the resort

of bats and owls and rapidly going to

decay.

   It was in 1896 that the “house of

Mystery” was erected. Without any

Previous announcement one spring

Morning, a gang of workmen from

Some outside point arrived in Chrisman.

simultaneously came carloads of build-

ing material. Upon a large lot on the

main street of the town there was

speedily erected the structure that was

to create so much gossip in succeeding

years. The townspeople quizzed the

workmen concerning the ownership of

the house, but learned nothing. All en-

gaged were sworn to secrecy, and none

broke faith. The progress of the struc-

ture was watched with curious interest.

It was surmised that some well to do

bachelor of the town was preparing a

home for a prospective bride, but all

such pleaded “Not guilty.”

   Decorators and furnishers followed

upon the heels of the carpenters, plas-

terers and painters. The house was

fitted up luxuriously and with every up

to date convenience. It was now felt

that the mystery would soon be solved.

   The dining room was a marvel of

luxury, with carved table and chairs

and a buffet filled with expensive china.

The parlor was equipped with expen-

sive rugs, a grand piano and silk up-

Holstered furniture. The library and

bedrooms corresponeded in magnify-

cence with the other rooms. The sleep-

ing apartments varied in color and fur-

nishings, from the palest blue and

bird’s-eye maple in rich green tones

and heavy walnut.

   After the final touch of the outfitters

and decorators the house was closed.

Time passed and no one appeared. No

blushing bride and happy bridegroom.

There were no developments of any

kind. Weeks, months and years slipped

by and the mystery deepened.

   Six years ago an incendiary set fire

 to the house before the flames were

extinguished the kitchen was badly

damaged. A few days later workmen

appeared from some neighboring city,

repaired the damage and went their

way. Although plied with queries by

The residents, no one would furnish any

information calculated to clear up the

mystery. About the time a municipal

electric lighting plant was installed

by Chrisman and electricians wired the

“mysterious house.”