ONCE KNOWN AS AMAZON

[Jeff Thorpe]

Astute observers may notice the date this poem was written - 07 November 2022, was 150 years from an
important date in the story

ONCE KNOWN AS AMAZON

© Jeff Thorpe 07 November 2022

I write of Amazon, not the famed technology enterprise
no, a ship which achieved just as much renown,
a tantalising tale, no need at all to fertilize,
that’s become a legend which has never lain down.

Built in Nova Scotia, Canada, the brigantine launched in 1861
given the name Amazon, her history blighted from the start,
her captain died on her maiden voyage, objectives undone,
subsequent misadventures told a repute awkward to impart.

Yet, despite the inauspicious beginning, Amazon paid her way
until 1867 at Cape Breton Island, badly damaged in a storm.
In ’68, for 1750 dollars, an American bought the wreck in decay,
spent eight thousand restoring it, a remarkable transform.

With US registration, Richard Haines renamed the vessel Mary Celeste
though her wobbly past continued to plague her
for in late 1869, with Haines’ reserves distressed,
creditors seized the vessel, her fate once more saw transfer.

A consortium headed by James H Winchester bought the ship,
and over three years she underwent a major refit,
Winchester and new captain Benjamin Spooner Briggs joined at hip,
main shareholders with capital to commit.

Briggs was a skilled sailor and devout Christian, 37 years of age,
with wife Sarah he had two children, Arthur aged seven and Sophia two,
his whole family were seafarers, father and four brothers on same page,
as such, he chose for Mary Celeste a capable crew.

November 7, 1872 saw Mary Celeste set sail from New York
bound for Genoa, Italy, 1700 barrels of industrial alcohol as cargo,
seemingly an unthreatening voyage, almost a cakewalk,
Captain Briggs, Sarah, Sophia and seven crew wrapped up the tableau.

On 04 December, Mary Celeste was found adrift and deserted
in the Atlantic off the Azores Islands, dishevelled but in seaworthy condition,
ship’s lifeboat was missing, cargo intact, situation disconcerted
though no sign or suspicion of any threatening ignition.

All personal possessions were undisturbed, the craft amply provisioned,
last log entry nine days earlier, 400 miles from where found,
no clue as to what had happened, unable to be envisioned,
all on board never seen again, highly likely they had drowned.

Mary Celeste intact, she was sailed to Gibraltar, 600 miles away
by crew of Dei Gratia which had found her derelict,
a huge salvage windfall they expected as payday
their position under maritime law not one to contradict.

However, court hearings did not concur, suspicions aroused,
possible mutiny, piracy by Dei Gratia, insurance or salvage fraud.
Frederick Solly-Flood, Gibraltar Attorney General, especially loud-mouthed
was convinced of crime committed, all avenues to be explored.

Notwithstanding, no evidence was found of wrong-doing
and in due course the salvagers received a payment,
just a pittance of $46,000 insurance, a shock to all previewing,
without doubt to the ire of the claimant.

Under new owners Mary Celeste continued in service
up to 1885 when her captain wrecked her by design off the Haitian coast,
true insurance fraud confirmed after rumours did surface,
this further ignominy ensured she had reached the finish post.

Mary Celeste’s story featured world- wide, numerous theories addressed
including Arthur Conan Doyle’s fictitious account in 1884,
erroneously, this analysis did no more than congest,
ship being called Marie Celeste and known as this by many evermore.

In spite of post-mortems on-going till early twenty-first century
the Mary Celeste mystery has never been uncovered,
as researchers have found, the saga anything but rudimentary
elusive truth continues to be smothered.

[Terry]

Great story Geff and very well researched.

Cheers and Happy New Year Mate

Terry