Mystery Ship

IN 1872 the American brigantine Mary Celeste was found abandoned and uninjured some three hundred miles off the coast of Portugal. Ever since then, ingenious theorists, romantic novelists, and downright, old-fashioned liars have labored in vain to explain her mystery. Mr. Bryan has done better than his predecessors, none of whom — one gathers — had the perseverance and industry to collect all the available facts before launching out into fancy. Mr. Bryan’s explanation is entirely logical and reasonable, and until a better one comes along, or more facts are discovered, it will suffice — at least for this reviewer.

It may be permitted, however, to wish that Mr. Bryan had not felt it necessary to do such a thorough job with his background material. The Mary Celeste was built in Nova Scotia, so we have quite a lot about Nova Scotia. She sailed from New York on her last voyage, and we are told at considerable length what New York was like in 1872. Her skipper hailed from Marion, Massachusetts, so that village and all the skipper’s family and friends come in for more than adequate treatment. The case of the Mary Celeste was tried at Gibraltar, and Gibraltar, apes and all, is duly described m word pictures. In fact, one can hardly see the hull for the rigging. This is rather a pity, as this clear and interesting story does not need so much window dressing and is quite able to stand on its own merits. R. E.D.