MYTHS AND MYSTERIES OF INDEPENDENCE DAY

The Fourth of July is upon us, and whether you’re gathering with friends for a barbecue, enjoying local festivities, or simply taking a moment to reflect at home, it’s an ideal time to reconsider some of the traditions and assumptions surrounding America’s most patriotic holiday.

Like almost all holidays, Independence Day has many myths. Here are six, along with the facts behind them:

Myth No. 1 – On July 4, 1776, the Continental Congress declared independence from Great Britain and announced the formation of the United States of America.
False. The formal vote to declare independence was taken two days earlier. It was not until early August that enough delegates signed the document to make it official. On July 4, the document was merely read aloud to a crowd outside Independence Hall in Philadelphia. The last delegate, Thomas McKean of Delaware, didn’t sign until January 1777.

Myth No. 2 – Thomas Jefferson was the sole author of the document.
False. Jefferson was one of five contributors to the language. Benjamin Franklin, John Adams, Robert Livingston, and Roger Sherman were the other delegates who made equal contributions to the wording. Jefferson put pen to paper (in this case, parchment) and has mistakenly been credited with being the sole author for all these years.

Myth No. 3 – There were fireworks on July 4, 1776, to celebrate the document and the newly formed nation.
False. Fireworks weren’t used in an official celebration until July 4, 1777, one year later.

Myth No. 4 – Betsy Ross designed and made the first American flag.
False, in part. The Philadelphia seamstress made one of the first flags, but the design was created by George Washington, Robert Morris, and George Ross (her late husband’s uncle) and presented to her around the time of the Declaration.

Myth No. 5 – The Declaration of Independence galvanized the colonists to rally for the idea of a revolution against the British and the creation of a new nation.
False. Not all colonists supported severing ties with the crown. Four delegates from New York refused to vote on July 2, 1776, when the body decided to create the document. In North Carolina, several Loyalists were imprisoned and exiled to prevent them from undermining the patriotic cause. An estimated 60,000 to 80,000 Loyalists left the colonies during the American Revolution, either returning to the UK or fleeing to places like Canada.

Myth No. 6 – The Liberty Bell cracked during the celebration on July 4, 1776.
False. The Liberty Bell is connected to the Declaration of Independence and Fourth of July celebrations, but not because of its famous fracture. It was just one of the bells that rang out on July 4, 1776, in Philadelphia.

The Liberty Bell continued to chime during events celebrating the document for years. It also tolled to mark the British surrender at Yorktown in 1781, the signing of the Treaty of Paris in 1783, and the gathering of the Constitutional Convention in 1787. During the early 1800s, the Liberty Bell became a symbol among abolitionists, earning its moniker. In 1846, a small crack was repaired so the bell could be rung to commemorate George Washington’s birthday. Soon after chiming on Feb. 22, 1846, the crack widened, silencing the bell forever...

THE SMILING MAN IS REAL

 This story is from a writer on Reddit. I am not sure if this is true or not but it gave me chills...

The Smiling Man is real. I’m not saying this as some twisted way to gain attention. This isn’t clickbait or some cruel joke either. This is a warning for anyone who finds themselves walking alone in the darkness of the night. He is still out there, prowling whatever street or alleyway for his next victim. Before I tell you about the night that left me scarred for life and subjected me to an existence of constantly looking over my shoulder, I will need to provide a little backstory.

I’m twenty-six years old and live in a major city. I won’t reveal the name of it in case any thrill seekers get any dumb ideas. I work long hours in an office in the middle of the city. The parameters of my job are not important. I spent four years performing the same routine. Get up, take the bus, work, take the bus, come home, repeat.

The day that it happened was like any other day. I took the bus to work, listening to the Archive 81 story for the umpteenth time. I was particularly tired that day due to my upstairs neighbor hosting a get together. I had to fight the urge to drift off so I wouldn’t miss my stop. Thankfully I didn’t and I trudged my way into the office. The workday was pretty normal. I completed mind draining tasks while trying not to drift off. The first unexpected event of the day occurred when my boss asked me to work overtime on a proposal with him.

My normal route to the bus station was a ten-minute walk through a police patrolled park and a couple blocks of alleyways and side-streets. Usually, the sun hadn’t completely set when I walked this path. Since this wasn’t a normal night, the sky was pitch black. The traffic lights were still on, but there was virtually no traffic. I brushed this off to it being late and everyone was already cozy in their homes.

When I entered the park, the silence was deafening. I couldn’t even hear any sounds of nature. No crickets, no birds. Just the sounds of my feet hitting the pavement. I felt slightly anxious by this but wasn’t all that concerned. Every time I look back on my stroll through the park, I cringe at my lack of concern. Even in the dead of night, I would’ve at least heard crickets. But there was nothing.

By the time I exited the park, I was approaching the structures that signaled my entrance back into the city. I wanted to take a shortcut to the bus stop as I didn’t want to spend any more time in the dark. So, I turned down a short side-street as a way to cut my journey in half. The second I turned onto that road; I saw him.

My blood ran cold. At the far end of the street, on my side, was the silhouette of a man dancing.

I couldn’t believe what I was seeing. It was the smiling man from the story.

The rational side of my mind tried to reason that it was some drunk guy, but I knew what I was seeing. I mean, the story was about an insane person stalking an unsuspecting man on a nightly stroll. That could actually happen in real life. It was happening right in front of me.

Speaking of the story, he was exactly the way the original author described. His dance was similar to a waltz, in which he indeed finished each box with an odd forward stride. As he danced closer, he passed under a lit lamp and my fears were confirmed.

Although I saw his features for only a split second, I knew he fit the author’s description to a tee. He was tall and lanky, about six eight. The old suit he was wearing was similar to the one I was wearing, except slightly looser and lacking a tie. He had thin shoulder length black hair that swayed in the midnight air as he waltzed closer.

It was his face that scared me the most and I will be forever haunted by it. His eyes were wider than humanly possible, head tilted back slightly, staring off at the night sky. The “painfully wide cartoon of a smile” was stretched across his lips, his teeth as white as the moon. I stood there for what felt like hours, paralyzed and staring in disbelief. I spent my whole life consuming horror stories like it was candy, but never once had a reason to believe any of it was real. Yet here it was. Dance walking towards me.

The realization that he was still coming closer snapped my body out of its trance. I remembered the author’s mistake of attempting to pass him, so I turned back the way I came and went down another side-street. I tried walking as swiftly yet quietly as possible. I feared that provoking him in any way could instigate a chase and I wasn’t ready for that.

When I entered the other side-street, I increased my pace to that of a power walk. I repeatedly glanced over my shoulder, fearing I would see his head poke out. But he was nowhere to be found. I decided to briefly watch the sidewalk in front of me. The idea of him jumping out in front of me covered me with goosebumps. The street and sidewalk in front of me were completely empty. I crossed the street of a small four-way intersection while looking both ways. I realize now my mistake of not looking behind me while doing so.

The second I made it across, I glanced behind me and stopped dead in my tracks. On the opposite corner of the four way stop from me was the same smiling man. He had one arm wrapped around a light pole while the other hung loosely at his side. He was leaning forward, his arm barely keeping him from toppling over. He was facing me but still looking skyward, his devilish smile still wide on his lips. How did he get there so quickly? How did I not hear him? I knew that he moved fast in the story, but this was ridiculous. I was utterly petrified and stood there for some time, watching him as he stared off at the sky.

My mind wandered a bit while I stared him down. I recalled how in the story, he cartoonishly tiptoed towards the protagonist until stopping a car length away. I quivered over the thought of what happened after that scene. But you probably predicted that my experience didn’t match his. It was much worse.

I watched in a mix of utter disbelief and pure terror as he let go of the lamppost. And then he started moving toward me again. He took slow, graceful steps, dragging his feet across the ground with the backfoot shooting into the air, as if he was skating across the concrete. His arms swayed side to side as he did so. And then he stopped again, in the middle of the intersection. Still looking at the sky, still smiling.

At this point, some of you reading are yelling at me to simply make a break for it. But I couldn’t. I just stood there completely frozen. I once read that severe anxiety and fear could cause someone to literally freeze, unable to move even if they wanted to. That was what happened to me. I desperately wanted to flee and not stick around, but my body wouldn’t listen.

Similar to the protagonist, I found my voice. I decided to choose my words carefully to avoid an incoherent whimper escaping my mouth. I took a deep breath and asked him, “Who are you?” I stuttered as I said this. The fear in my own voice made me feel much more afraid. But the man didn’t respond nor move.

After about a minute of dead silence, I asked another question, “What the hell do you want?” My fear increased some more as I sounded like I was on the verge of tears. But he still didn’t react at all. He just stood there in the middle of the road, still smiling.

After what felt like forever, I had the urge to say something else. I will forever regret saying what I said at that moment. I told the man, “I’m not afraid of you.” The shaky tone in my voice didn’t sound convincing. I almost didn’t believe myself.

What happened next is what utterly destroyed me. It still haunts my dreams to this day, and I hope no one ever has to experience this kind of fear.

Almost a minute after speaking, the man’s head slowly tilted down. His head stopped and was perfectly upright, eyes staring directly at me. I watched in horror as his smiling face slowly morphed into one of absolute rage. His smile turned upside down, his teeth still visibly glowing in the moonlight. His eyes were still as wide as before, his eyebrows furrowing into a big frown.

This was enough to break my paralysis. He must have known I could move again as he lunged towards me. I ran as fast as I could down the street, tears streaming down my face. While running, I looked behind me and was horrified that the man was giving chase, anger still cemented on his face. I ducked into an alleyway and continued running. I ran out of that alleyway, on another side-street, and down another alley. I was hoping to lose him in the twists and turns, but I didn’t. He was too fast. And he was gaining on me.

I turned down one more alley and saw I was fast approaching a chain link fence. It was too late for me to slow down or turn back, so I leapt off the ground and latched onto the fence. The fence shook as I scrambled up it as fast as I could. I pulled myself up onto the top, not looking back. I managed to throw my right leg over when suddenly, a hand grabbed my left leg.

I was too scared to turn and face him as he tried pulling me down. I resisted his efforts, but he was proving to be very strong. During the tug of war, I felt an incredible sensation of agonizing pain erupt from my leg. The sudden pain gave the pump of adrenaline I needed to tug with all the strength I could muster. The man’s grip on my leg released and I let myself fall to the ground on the other side of the fence. My right ankle exploded in a fiery pain.

I pulled myself up to my feet, struggling to keep balance due to my injuries. I turned towards the fence and saw him. He was standing there; his face having returned to the initial smile. His head was still upright, staring me down through the holes of the fence. After what felt like forever, he tilted his head up to the sky again. He turned around, very slowly, and began dance-walking away. Just like that.

I bought a gun and signed up for firearm training. I fear the smiling man will come back for me. If it is switching cities, looking for victims, I want to be ready if he decides to settle an old score. The author motivated me to write this story to you now. To warn you that the smiling man is still out there. Although I can barely call him a man. Monster or devil seems more fitting. I hope to God none of you stumble upon him. So, I'm begging you. Don’t go out into the city in the dead of night. You may never know what monster lurks in the darkness...

SOURCE

THE SAGA OF INDRID COLE

The Grinning Man is reported to be human-like in appearance, though he is commonly associated with UFO activity and is sometimes believed to be an alien. It is also believed to be possible that he is connected with the Men In Black. In his first sighting, he was described as being over six feet tall and wearing a reflective, green suit with a black belt. He had a dark complexion and small, beady eyes set far apart. He was described as not having any nose, ears, or hair.  In his second known encounter, his suit was said to be blue instead of green, but still retained its reflective property. Other than that he was described as looking perfectly natural with slicked back hair, a coat with the top two buttons unbuttoned, and having pants lighter than the coat but still the same material. He was also described as being quite tan, though not dark, and looking like any normal human being.

According to reports made by Woodrow Derenberger, Indrid Cold came from a planet named Lanulos in the Genemedes galaxy, and there were two other "grinning men" by the names of Demo Hassan and Karl Ardo. 

Indrid Cold was first seen on October 16, 1966, when two boys, Martin "Mouse" Munov and James "Jimmy" Yanchitis, in New Jersey were walking on Fourth Street when they saw a surreal figure standing near a fence. As they walked closer, the figure was a tall bald man wearing a metal green suit who was staring right at them with a huge grin. The idiosyncratic man chased them until they got away from him. UFO sightings were also reported around the area. 

"Jimmy nudged me...and said "Who's that guy standing behind you?" I looked around and there he was...behind that fence. Just standing there. He pivoted around and looked right at us. Then he grinned a big old grin." 

According to Night Mind, the boys only recalled the more frightening details of their encounter later on. They would recall that the man in the green suit was unusually tall and had unnatural facial features, such as the lack of ears and a nose. Even though most sources mention the New Jersey sighting, Indrid Cold and the grinning man could be completely different entities.

On November 2, 1966, in Parkersburg, West Virginia (around the same area and time as the Mothman came about), Woodrow Derenberger was driving his way home on Interstate 77 until he heard a crash. Then, an unidentifiable vehicle appeared to land in front of his truck. He described it as "an old-fashioned kerosene lamp chimney, flaring at both ends, narrowing down to a small neck and then enlarging in a great bulge in the center." The Grinning Man came out of the vehicle with a dark tan, and walked up to Derenberger and telepathically said his name was "Indrid Cold" and he meant no harm. Cold said he just wanted to know more about the human race and he would visit Derenberger again. After the encounter, Derenberger stated that Cold revealed he was from the planet Lanulos in the galaxy of Genemedes.

During the same period in Point Pleasant, West Virginia, the Lilly family had been reporting poltergeist activity in their home, such as diamond shaped lights. The Lillys' daughter, Linda, was sleeping one night and awoke to see a man standing over her.

Valiant Thor, who may have presented himself as “Indrid Cold” to the Derenberger family, appeared at Howard Menger’s UFO convention in High Bridge, New Jersey in 1957. Publisher Gray Barker worked with Thor to convince several contactees to approach authorities and publish books, in an apparent attempt to influence public opinion on a variety of political issues.

"It was a man, a big man. Very broad. I couldn't see his face very well, but I could see that he was grinning at me. He walked around the bed and stood right over me. I screamed again and hid under the covers, when I looked again he was gone."

NEWS BREAK: THE CASE OF SUZANNE MORPHEW

A Colorado man indicted again in connection with the murder of his wife in a homicide case that drew national headlines has been living in Arizona and was arrested in Gilbert by Arizona Department of Public Safety detectives.

It is unclear why Barry Morphew, 57, was living in the Phoenix area. He had an address at the Stardust Trailer Park in Cave Creek, tax records showed. Morphew was being held in Arizona while authorities sought to extradite him to Colorado to face first-degree murder charges in the death of Suzanne Morphew. She was reported missing on Mother's Day 2020 and later found dead.

Barry was indicted the first time in 2021 on charges of first-degree murder and tampering with physical evidence after Suzanne, 49, was reported missing on May 10, 2020. Those charges were later dropped in April 2022 before Barry's trial date and before Suzanne's remains were discovered. The charges were dropped without prejudice, leaving the opportunity for prosecutors to charge him in the future with new evidence.

A district attorney for the San Luis Valley in rural south-central Colorado announced June 20 that on June 18, a grand jury had indicted Barry on a first-degree murder charge in Suzanne's death and that Barry had been arrested in Gilbert. Law enforcement in Colorado "has never stopped working to obtain justice" for Suzanne, the mother of two, and her family, Colorado 12th Judicial District Attorney Anne E. Kelly said at a June 20 news conference announcing the new indictment and arrest.

An Arizona DPS detective saw Morphew driving a black Ford pickup about 11 a.m. June 20 and conducted a traffic top near Civic Center Drive and Gilbert Road, according to court records. Morphew was taken into custody without incident on a warrant issued for his arrest issued following the indictment, court records said. A $3 million bond has been set, according to the Chaffee County Sheriff's Office in Colorado.

The indictment came 21 months after Suzanne's remains were located on Sept. 22, 2023, in a shallow clandestine grave near Highway 17 in Saguache County, Colorado. The location where the remains were found is about one hour south of the Morphews' residence near Salida, Colorado, the indictment said.

There were no visible signs of trauma to the remains, the indictment said. Toxicology testing, however, found traces of a chemical mixture used to tranquilize deer called BAM in the bone marrow of the remains belonging to Suzanne, the indictment said. Several people told investigators that before moving to Colorado in 2018, Barry was a deer farmer in Indiana, where he used BAM to sedate deer, the indictment said. Prescription records also showed that Barry was the only private citizen in the entire state of Colorado who had access to BAM at the time of Suzanne's death, the indictment said.

Law enforcement officers also found a dart gun, a tranquilizer gun and tranquilizer darts stored in a gun safe at the Morphews' residence, the indictment said. Law enforcement officers also found the needle cap from a dart in a dryer in the home along with a pair of men's shorts that appeared similar to the shorts Barry was seen wearing on a video on May 9, 2020, the day before Suzanne's disappearance, the indictment said.

A forensic pathologist told investigators it was unlikely Suzanne's body decomposed at the location where it was found, the indictment said. Many of the bones were significantly bleached, there was no hair mass, and there was a lack of evidence of animal and bug activity in the area, the indictment said. The bike clothing found at the site matched clothing Suzanne was known to wear. However, the clothing, unlike the remains, was not decomposed, the indictment said.

"All these features would have been expected if this had been the original gravesite where decomposition occurred," the indictment said.

In early interviews, Barry told investigators his marriage to Suzanne was "the best" and the two had had a "wonderful weekend" before she went missing, the indictment said. But investigators learned that Suzanne had confided to people in the weeks and months leading up to her disappearance that she was unhappy with the marriage, maintained notes of problems in the marriage and had discussed plans with a close friend to divorce Barry, the indictment said.

What's more, Suzanne had been having a "secret affair" with an old acquaintance who lived out of state, the indictment said. She communicated with him daily over LinkedIn and WhatsApp, the indictment said.

Suzanne communicated with this person at 2:11 p.m. on May 9, 2020, just 32 minutes before Barry returned home that day. It was her last known electronic message to anyone, the indictment said.

A forensic download of Barry's phone showed he had deleted a text chain with Suzanne, the indictment said. Investigators found a screenshot on his phone of a single text that remained from the conversation with Suzanne that said, “I’m done. I could care less what you’re up to and have been for years. We just need to figure this out civilly," according to the indictment.

Barry has heavily denied having anything to do with her disappearance. In May 2023, he filed a $15 million lawsuit against prosecutors and investigators, accusing them of violating his constitutional rights...

THE MYSTERIES OF THE DENVER INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT

Denver International Airport (DIA) has been the center of bizarre and mysterious rumors for decades. From secret underground bunkers to eerie artwork with hidden meanings, these theories have captured the imagination of travelers and conspiracy enthusiasts alike. With so many strange stories, it's no wonder the Denver airport conspiracy theories remain popular today. But how much of it is true, and how much is just speculation?

One of the most persistent theories about Denver International Airport (DIA) is that it houses a vast network of underground tunnels hiding something far more sinister than a train system. Conspiracy theorists believe these tunnels serve as secret bunkers for the world's elite in case of an impending apocalypse. Some even go as far as to claim that these hidden spaces are home to alien lifeforms or reptilian creatures controlling global events. While DIA does have underground tunnels for transportation and a now-defunct automated baggage system, there is no evidence that they stretch to places like NORAD, nearly 90 miles away. Constructing such a tunnel would take decades, making this theory highly unlikely. However, the rumors persist, fueled by the airport’s own playful marketing that teases its supposed connection to the underworld.

Many speculate that DIA was built as a secret headquarters for the New World Order (NWO), a shadowy organization believed to control world events. The theory gained traction due to the airport’s dedication marker, which mentions a group called the "New World Airport Commission." Strangely, no records exist of such an organization outside of its involvement in the airport's opening. Additionally, some believe the airport's runway layout resembles a swastika when viewed from above, fueling speculation about ties to Nazi symbolism. While DIA officials have dismissed these claims, conspiracy theorists argue that the massive cost overruns and construction delays indicate something hidden beneath the surface—perhaps a global control center waiting to be activated.

DIA seems to enjoy fueling its own conspiracy theories, and nothing proves this more than the talking gargoyle statues near the baggage claim area. These statues, part of an art installation called "Notre Denver," occasionally speak to passersby, sometimes jokingly referring to the Illuminati. The airport even embraces the myth, with the gargoyles saying things like, "Welcome to Illuminati Headquarters… I mean, Denver International Airport!"

Historically, gargoyles have been used in architecture to ward off evil spirits, but at DIA, they’ve become part of its mysterious reputation. The playful approach has done little to convince conspiracy theorists that the airport isn’t hiding something, but it certainly keeps the myths alive—whether as a joke or a cryptic hint at something bigger.

While the Denver airport conspiracy theories make for fascinating stories, there is little evidence to support them. Most of these myths stem from coincidences, artistic choices, and the airport’s unusual design. DIA has embraced the rumors with humor, using them as a unique marketing tool rather than trying to deny them outright. Whether you believe in secret societies or not, one thing is certain—Denver International Airport remains one of the most talked-about airports in the world...

LARRY RANDOLPH: PITTSBURGH DENTIST AND MURDERER

In the fall of 2016, Lawrence Rudolph and his wife Bianca traveled to Zambia so Bianca could kill a leopard.

Larry and Bianca Rudolph were no strangers to guns and big-game hunting. During their 34-year marriage, the couple stalked animals all over the world. But at a remote safari camp in Kafue National Park in Zambia in 2016 — where Bianca was hoping to bag a leopard — her 12-gauge shotgun went off in the early morning hours of Oct. 11. The blast hit the 56-year-old mother of two in the chest, killing her.

Larry, 67, said he was in the bathroom when the gun went off and dashed to the bedroom, where he discovered Bianca lying on the floor. Larry told authorities that Bianca accidentally discharged the weapon as she was packing it into a travel case.

Zambian authorities quickly ruled her death as accidental, but the grieving spouse soon raised the suspicions of American officials. Within days of Bianca's death, he had her body cremated — even though, as a suspicious investigator noted, Larry was a big-game trophy collector with plenty of experience transporting bodies overseas. Soon after, the F.B.I. received tips from Bianca's friend saying Larry had cheated on her and the couple had argued over money.

Authorities discovered he collected nearly $5 million in life and accidental death insurance benefits when Bianca died. At Bianca's funeral, on October 22, family and friends were surprised that there was no Catholic mass or large gathering. When Larry was asked how his wife died, prosecutors would later say that "he used the same clinical phrase that he used with the life insurers: accidental discharge of a firearm."

After a five-year investigation, Larry was arrested in late 2021. During his dramatic trial, he testified in his own defense, saying, "I did not kill my wife, I could not murder my wife, I would not murder my wife."

But on Aug. 1, he was found guilty of murder and mail fraud by a federal jury in Denver. His girlfriend, Lori Milliron, an executive administrator of his dental offices with whom he began a relationship in 2004, was convicted of being an accessory after the fact to the murder, obstruction of justice and two counts of perjury before a grand jury.

During the trial, prosecutors argued that Larry masterminded the homicide so he could collect on his wife's life and accidental death insurance benefits and be with Milliron, 64.

Larry's lawyers countered that Bianca and Larry had an open relationship and that Larry had no financial motivation to commit murder. In the end, it may have been Larry's own words that sealed his fate. At a Phoenix steakhouse where Larry and Milliron were dining in 2020, bartender Brian Lovelace overheard and later testified about an explosive argument between the pair, who were regulars.

"Larry and Lori were having a drink," federal prosecutor Bishop Grewell said during opening statements. "The music in the background made it difficult for Brian Lovelace to hear the conversation going on around him, but at some point, all of a sudden, the music stopped. And in that brief interlude, that brief silence between the songs, Larry Rudolph growled, 'I killed my f-----g wife for you!'

"He and Lori were having an argument," continued Grewell. " …And he pulled out the ace up his sleeve. The trump card that he could use to win any argument with Lori. What more did she want from him? He killed his wife for her. For her. Nobody would have heard him if the music hadn't stopped just then and there; but there it was."

Larry, who took the stand in his own defense, countered that Lovelace misheard him, arguing that what he said was, "Now they're saying I killed my f-----g wife for you."

But jurors voted to convict. The Pittsburgh dentist appealed the conviction and lost in 2023...

WHAT HAPPENED TO THE MARY CELESTE?

On Dec 5, 1872, the British ship Dei Gratia pulled up alongside the Mary Celeste and found it abandoned and adrift about 400 miles (644 km) east of the Azores. A lifeboat was missing, but there was no damage to the vessel or sign of any struggle. The 10 passengers and crew aboard the vessel were never seen again, and what happened on board the ship has been a mystery ever since. Morehouse sent a boarding party to the ship. Belowdecks, the ship's charts had been tossed about, and the crewmen's belongings were still in their quarters. The ship's only lifeboat was missing, and one of its two pumps had been disassembled. Three and a half feet of water was sloshing in the ship's bottom, though the cargo of 1,701 barrels of industrial alcohol was largely intact. There was a six-month supply of food and water—but not a soul to consume it.

The ship began its fateful voyage on November 7, 1872, sailing with seven crewmen and Capt. Benjamin Spooner Briggs, his wife, Sarah, and the couple's 2-year-old daughter, Sophia. The 282-ton brigantine battled heavy weather for two weeks to reach the Azores, where the ship log's last entry was recorded at 5 a.m. on November 25.

Thus was born one of the most durable mysteries in nautical history: What happened to the ten people who had sailed aboard the Mary Celeste? Through the decades, a lack of hard facts has only spurred speculation as to what might have taken place. Theories have ranged from mutiny to pirates to sea monsters to killer waterspouts. Arthur Conan Doyle's 1884 short story based on the case posited a capture by a vengeful ex-slave, a 1935 movie featured Bela Lugosi as a homicidal sailor. Now, a new investigation, drawing on modern maritime technology and newly discovered documents, has pieced together the most likely scenario.

"I love the idea of mysteries, but you should always revisit these things using knowledge that has since come to light," says Anne MacGregor, the documentarian who launched the investigation and wrote, directed and produced The True Story of the 'Mary Celeste,' partly with funding from Smithsonian Networks.

Did Briggs, then, have a rational reason to abandon ship? MacGregor figured that if she could determine the precise spot from which Briggs, his family and crew abandoned ship, she might be able to shed light on why. She knew from the transcriptions of the Mary Celeste's log slate—where notations were made before they were transcribed into the log—that the ship was six miles from, and within sight of, the Azores island of Santa Maria on November 25; she knew from the testimony of the Dei Gratia crew that ten days later, the ship was some 400 miles east of the island. MacGregor asked Richardson "to work backward and create a path between these two points."

The abandoned ship remains a mystery to this day...