# Any New Theories on the "Mary Celeste"? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [July 19, 2013, 11:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-new-theories-on-the-mary-celeste/663987 "2013-07-19T23:07:43Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![ralph124c](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/8797f3/32.png) [@ralph124c](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ralph124c)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2013, 11:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-new-theories-on-the-mary-celeste/663987/1 "2013-07-19T23:07:43Z")
The ship was found abandoned, with everything in place-even the captain’s watch was found when the ship was boarded. The port that the ship was sailed to set up a board of inquiry, the board concluded that the crew abandoned ship because they were afraid that the alcohol cargo was about to explode. As far as i know, this is what most naval historians conclude. Have there been any recent theories about it? ---
**Author:** ![Amateur\_Barbarian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/59ef9b/32.png) [@Amateur\_Barbarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Amateur_Barbarian)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2013, 11:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-new-theories-on-the-mary-celeste/663987/2 "2013-07-19T23:09:57Z")
Basically, no. A lot of details were mis-reported and then blown out of proportion, making it all seem a great deal more mysterious than it was. Going back to primary data and clues, it was: An alcohol fire, with some injuries, a fear that the ship was going to explode, everyone rushing into the lifeboat… and for some reason never making it back. That’s all that’s needed for Unca Occam. And the same applies to Oak Island: a hoax by person or persons unknown leading to over 200 years of mania and self-delusion. ---
**Author:** ![Shagnasty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9dc877/32.png) [@Shagnasty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shagnasty)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2013, 11:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-new-theories-on-the-mary-celeste/663987/3 "2013-07-19T23:31:20Z")
> [@Amateur\_Barbarian](#): > > Basically, no. A lot of details were mis-reported and then blown out of proportion, making it all seem a great deal more mysterious than it was. Going back to primary data and clues, it was: An alcohol fire, with some injuries, a fear that the ship was going to explode, everyone rushing into the lifeboat… and for some reason never making it back. That’s all that’s needed for Unca Occam. I never thought it was all that strange either. It has happened with pleasure boats too. Everyone decides that going for a quick swim sounds like a great idea and everyone jumps in only to realize a few minutes later that there is no one left on the boat and the ladder is still up so they all drown. I don’t know that much about the architecture of the Mary Celeste but I can easily imagine a version of the same thing in which a small emergency leads to panic, everyone evacuates the boat quickly and can’t get back on again once they realize the original threat isn’t the one that is going to kill them. ---
**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2013, 12:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-new-theories-on-the-mary-celeste/663987/4 "2013-07-20T00:10:02Z")
Daleks. ---
**Author:** ![Tom\_Tildrum](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e95f7d/32.png) [@Tom\_Tildrum](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tom_Tildrum)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2013, 11:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-new-theories-on-the-mary-celeste/663987/5 "2013-07-20T23:42:12Z")
> [@Shagnasty](#): > > It has happened with pleasure boats too. Everyone decides that going for a quick swim sounds like a great idea and everyone jumps in only to realize a few minutes later that there is no one left on the boat and the ladder is still up so they all drown. [Open Water 2](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0470055/). ---
**Author:** ![Skypist](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skypist/32/169_2.png) [@Skypist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skypist)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2013, 2:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-new-theories-on-the-mary-celeste/663987/6 "2013-07-21T02:17:01Z")
Makes me think of the _MV Joyita_. > **[MV Joyita](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MV_Joyita)** > > MV Joyita was an American merchant vessel from which 25 passengers and crew mysteriously disappeared in the South Pacific in October 1955. She was found adrift with no one aboard. > The ship was in very poor condition, with corroded pipes and a radio which, while functional, had a range of only about 2 miles (3.2 km) because of faulty wiring. However, the extreme buoyancy of the ship made sinking nearly impossible. Investigators were puzzled as to why the crew had not remained on board and wait... There were mattresses piled on the starboard engine and some bloody bandages on board. ---
**Author:** ![AaronX](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/7bcc69/32.png) [@AaronX](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AaronX)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2013, 9:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-new-theories-on-the-mary-celeste/663987/7 "2013-07-21T09:20:48Z")
How about the group in the mountains found without their clothes and with weird injuries? ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Miskatonic](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mr.miskatonic/32/310_2.png) [@Mr.Miskatonic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Miskatonic)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2013, 12:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-new-theories-on-the-mary-celeste/663987/8 "2013-07-21T12:33:43Z")
> [@AaronX](#): > > How about the group in the mountains found without their clothes and with weird injuries? If you are referring to the [Dyatlov Pass Incident](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dyatlov_Pass_incident) there are a lot of details to that story that were embellished later. What seems to have happened with them is that they were caught in an avalanche or destroyed their campsite by accident, then suffered hypothermia, experienced paradoxial undressing, and died from exposure & panic injury from exposure. Most of the ‘weird injuries’ are just scavengers eating them. ---
**Author:** ![Sailboat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sailboat/32/461_2.png) [@Sailboat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sailboat)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2013, 9:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-new-theories-on-the-mary-celeste/663987/9 "2013-07-21T21:58:14Z")
Oh _sure,_ like we’re going to believe nothing someone named **Mr. Miskatonic** telling us nothing weird happened. ---
**Author:** ![Zjestika](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/8edcca/32.png) [@Zjestika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zjestika)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2013, 10:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-new-theories-on-the-mary-celeste/663987/10 "2013-07-21T22:02:22Z")
> [@Shagnasty](#): > > I never thought it was all that strange either. It has happened with pleasure boats too. Everyone decides that going for a quick swim sounds like a great idea and everyone jumps in only to realize a few minutes later that there is no one left on the boat and the ladder is still up so they all drown. I read this a couple days ago and it’s stuck with me. I find it absolutely horrifying. ---
**Author:** ![Crafter\_Man](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crafter_man/32/458_2.png) [@Crafter\_Man](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crafter_Man)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2013, 10:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-new-theories-on-the-mary-celeste/663987/11 "2013-07-21T22:45:28Z")
> [@Shagnasty](#): > > It has happened with pleasure boats too. Everyone decides that going for a quick swim sounds like a great idea and everyone jumps in only to realize a few minutes later that there is no one left on the boat and the ladder is still up so they all drown. Has this ever happened? Cite? ---
**Author:** ![basset\_hound](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/basset_hound/32/1432_2.png) [@basset\_hound](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/basset_hound)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2013, 8:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-new-theories-on-the-mary-celeste/663987/12 "2013-07-22T20:24:37Z")
> [@Crafter\_Man](#): > > Has this ever happened? Cite? Everything except the drownings. Hank was one smart non-native Texan. 🙂 > **[King of the Hill season 10](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hank's_on_Board)** > > The tenth season of King of the Hill originally aired Sundays at 7:30–8:00 p.m. (EST) on the Fox Broadcasting Company from September 18, 2005 to May 14, 2006. > The showrunners for the season were John Altschuler and Dave Krinsky. Ten episodes in this season are holdover episodes from the season 9 (9ABE) production line, as well as one episode from the season 8 (8ABE) production line ("Bystand Me"). The AABE production line (much like The Simpsons 3G production line for seasons eight and nine) i... ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2013, 9:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-new-theories-on-the-mary-celeste/663987/13 "2013-07-22T21:01:25Z")
> [@Sailboat](#): > > Oh _sure,_ like we’re going to believe nothing someone named **Mr. Miskatonic** telling us nothing weird happened. :dubious: ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Miskatonic](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mr.miskatonic/32/310_2.png) [@Mr.Miskatonic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Miskatonic)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2013, 12:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-new-theories-on-the-mary-celeste/663987/14 "2013-07-24T00:17:40Z")
You.have.no.choice. /uses evil hypnotic eye. ---
**Author:** ![ralph124c](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/8797f3/32.png) [@ralph124c](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ralph124c)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2013, 5:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-new-theories-on-the-mary-celeste/663987/15 "2013-07-24T17:55:55Z")
I can understand the captain ordering the crew into the lifeboat-but why not furl the sails first (so that the ship would not move away from them)? The captain probably planned on staying out in the boat for a few hours-if no fire/explosion, they would have returned to the ship. ---
**Author:** ![Lucas\_Jackson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lucas_jackson/32/303_2.png) [@Lucas\_Jackson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lucas_Jackson)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2025, 5:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-new-theories-on-the-mary-celeste/663987/16 "2025-05-05T17:01:38Z")
Bumping this thread as it’s the most recent my (feeble) searching could find (and the most aptly named) Anywho, I was randomly listening to YouTube channels while getting dressed for work and stumbled across this one [[DarlkFind]](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wvBpR2q1Htg) (somewhere around to 12 minute mark) > **[Mary Celeste Mystery Finally Solved And It's Not Good](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wvBpR2q1Htg%2F)** > > For copyright matters, please contact: juliabaker0312@gmail.comWelcome to the PapaLimpu! Here, we dive into the most exciting and unbelievable things that th... in which they state, quite confidently, that, in 2025, the lifeboat from the Mary Celeste has been found. Not only that, remains were found that have been DNA matched to surviving family members. They also say that it confirms the earlier theory by Dr Andrea Sella that fumes from leaking alcohol caught fire causing an explosion which in turn caused the captain to abandon ship. > **[Solved: The Mystery of the Mary Celeste](https://www.ucl.ac.uk/news/2006/may/solved-mystery-mary-celeste)** > > It is a riddle that has fascinated us for more than 100 years - what really happened to the crew of the legendary ghost ship? Now one scientist claims to know. Fascinating, if true. A quick Googling didn’t turn up corroborating accounts, but before I had a chance to dig deeper, I had to leave for work. ---
**Author:** ![Saint\_Cad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/saint_cad/32/18907_2.png) [@Saint\_Cad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saint_Cad)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2025, 5:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-new-theories-on-the-mary-celeste/663987/17 "2025-05-05T17:07:56Z")
> [@Mr.Miskatonic](#): > > What seems to have happened with them is that they were caught in an avalanche or destroyed their campsite by accident, then suffered hypothermia, experienced paradoxial undressing, and died from exposure & panic injury from exposure. Most of the ‘weird injuries’ are just scavengers eating them. Since this zombie has be resurrected, the accepted theory is that the wind and topology together set off a slab avalanche that buried their camp. ---
**Author:** ![Lucas\_Jackson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lucas_jackson/32/303_2.png) [@Lucas\_Jackson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lucas_Jackson)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2025, 5:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-new-theories-on-the-mary-celeste/663987/18 "2025-05-05T17:36:24Z")
> [@Saint\_Cad](#): > > Since this zombie has be resurrected, the accepted theory is that the wind and topology together set off a slab avalanche that buried their camp. Not buried their camp, but slid down with their camp intact. Afraid that the would be buried, they cut their way out and fled. The search party found their camp pretty much intact. > [@Zjestika](#): > > > [@Shagnasty](#): > > > > It has happened with pleasure boats too. Everyone decides that going for a quick swim sounds like a great idea and everyone jumps in only to realize a few minutes later that there is no one left on the boat and the ladder is still up so they all drown. > > I read this a couple days ago and it’s stuck with me. I find it absolutely horrifying. As long as other posts are being referenced… a very close friend of mine was boat picnicking with his girlfriend and her family. They stopped on a small island in a lake. They didn’t tie the boat well and it blew off. He decided to swim for it but the wind was blowing it faster than he could swim and he drowned. ---
**Author:** ![Jackmannii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackmannii/32/311_2.png) [@Jackmannii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackmannii)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2025, 12:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-new-theories-on-the-mary-celeste/663987/19 "2025-05-06T00:13:09Z")
> [@Lucas\_Jackson](#): > > …they state, quite confidently, that, in 2025, the lifeboat from the Mary Celeste has been found. Not only that, remains were found that have been DNA matched to surviving family members. They also say that it confirms the earlier theory by Dr Andrea Sella that fumes from leaking alcohol caught fire causing an explosion which in turn caused the captain to abandon ship. > > [Solved: The Mystery of the Mary Celeste | UCL News - UCL – University College London](https://www.ucl.ac.uk/news/2006/may/solved-mystery-mary-celeste) > > Fascinating, if true. Oddly, they talk about the lifeboat being “charred”, but somehow that’s consistent with no charring or fire damage being seen on the Mary Celeste? And a ship leaky enough to have a bunch of water in the hold (but functional pumps) managed to accumulate enough alcohol dripping out of the barrels to create ignitable fumes? Seems like a re-creation of the supposed explosion should’ve used alcohol fumes (not butane gas). Caveats aside, the theory does make more sense than a giant squid attack or other wild explanations. ---
**Author:** ![APB](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/8e8cbc/32.png) [@APB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/APB)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2025, 12:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-new-theories-on-the-mary-celeste/663987/20 "2025-05-06T12:00:28Z")
> [@Lucas\_Jackson](#): > > Fascinating, if true. I’m calling BS on this. The team was allegedly from the University of Southampton and led by ‘Emma Thompson’. But these days any British university will have a very aggressive PR department which would ensure that this sort of story was all over the media. ‘Public impact’ is the all-important mantra. The PR people would therefore be orgasmic with delight if they were handed this story. As would any journalist. Yet there is nothing. Also, none of the people called Emma Thompson associated with Southampton University works in the relevant subject area and the picture of her in the video is actually that of an Australian medical GP. [Story: Meet Dr Emma Thompson, RACGP Rural GP in Training of the Year | Rural Health Pro](https://www.ruralhealthpro.org/s/rhp-news/a2T2P0000000ql0UAA/story-meet-dr-emma-thompson-racgp-rural-gp-in-tr) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-new-theories-on-the-mary-celeste/663987.md?page=2)