Disappearances and Strange Occurrences - 1492 to 1900

The books listed give sources and references except where noted

1492

CHRISTOPHER COLUMBUS
"Psychic in the Devil's Triangle" - James Paul Chaplin, Page 21
Supposed reports of compass malfunctions and a flaming fireball crashing into the sea. No sources.

"The Bermuda Triangle" - Adi-Kent Thomas Jeffrey, Page 20, 21
Reports of a fireball crashing into the sea and compass malfunctions in the area of the triangle. No sources

"The Bermuda Triangle Mystery-Solved" - Lawrence David Kusche
Reports of a bolt of fire that fell into the sea, compass malfunctions and a light on the horizon in the area
of the triangle. The Sargasso Sea is also referred to. Good detail on the compass problem.


1609, July

SEA VENTURE
"The Bermuda Triangle" - Adi-Kent Thomas Jeffrey, Page 21
Wrecked off of a reef near Bermuda, first colonization of the Island of Bermuda.

1800 top

U.S.S. PICKERING
"Without a Trace" - Charles Berlitz, Page 24
Between Guadeloupe and Delaware, 90 people on board.

1813, January 1

U.S.S. PATRIOT
"The Bermuda Triangle" - Adi-Kent Thomas Jeffrey, Page 47
Disappeared the week of January 1st, 1813 with Theodosia Alston-Burr on board. Theodosia was the daughter
of former Vice President Aaron Burr, and the wife of Joseph Alston, governor of South Carolina. Supposedly the
American packet ship had permission from the British to sail to New York with their knowledge that the
governor's wife was on board. The PATRIOT had dismantled it's guns and stored them below decks as an act
of peace to the British. The book lists a few seamen's death bed confessions as to what happened onboard and
a few rumors are discussed.


1814, October

U.S.S. WASP - This is the second WASP, the first was captured by the British.
wasp28-0395a.gif (92547 bytes) Marines Aboard USS Wasp Engage HMS Reindeer. June 1814, just months before she disappeared. Copy of painting by Sergeant John Clymer

"The Bermuda Triangle" - Adi-Kent Thomas Jeffrey, Page 63
Lists the date as the fall of 1814. Captain Johnston Blakeley. This second WASP first set sail on May 1st,1814
with 22 guns and a crew of173. Supposedly disappeared en route to South Carolina. Port of departure not noted.
"Without a Trace" - Charles Berlitz, Page 24
Has date as October, 1814. Lost in the Caribbean with 140 persons.

1824

U.S.S. WILDCAT
"Without a Trace" - Charles Berlitz, Page 24
Disappeared en route from Cuba to Tompson's Island with 14 persons on board.

1840, August top

ROSALIE or ROSSINI - There is confusion as to the actual name, reports show up using both.
"Into Thin Air" - Paul Berg, Page 52

"Mysteries of the Unexplained" - Reader's Digest
Lloyd's of London has a record for the ROSSINI for the time frame involved. It was a large French vessel en
route from Hamburgh to Havana. It was loaded with wines, fruit and silk. It ran aground in the Bahama Channel
on August 3rd, 1840. All hands were rescued and the ship was later towed in by a salvage company. There is
mention of "curious circumstances", but no detail as to what they might be is given.

"Psychic in the Devil's Triangle" James Paul Chaplin, Page 32
French vessel discovered on course from Europe to Havana. Found crewless with sails set and a cargo of
wines, fruits and silks still in her holds. No sources given.

"The Bermuda Triangle Mystery-Solved" - Lawrence David Kusche
Good information, references and records on file. It appears that the ROSSINI and the ROSALIE are the same
ship.

"Without a Trace" - Charles Berlitz, Page 24
Found abandoned with only a canary onboard, bound for Cuba from France.

1843, March 3

U.S.S. GRAMPUS
"The Devil's Triangle" - Richard Winer, Page 67
U.S. Navy ship. Disappeared on the way to port at Charleston. Last seen by the MADISON off St. Augustine,
Florida on March 3rd, 1843

"Without a Trace" - Charles Berlitz, Page 24
Disappeared March 1843 off St. Augustine Florida with 48 persons onboard.

1854, April top

BELLA - Cargo schooner
"Among the Missing" - Jay Robert Nash
Disappeared en route from Rio de Janeiro to New York by way of Kingston Jamaica with 40 persons onboard.
No mention of weather conditions. Possible capsize from improperly stowed coffee cargo. Sir Roger Doughty
Tichborne was onboard, there seems to be some controversy surrounding him.

"Without a Trace" Charles Berlitz, Page 24
Schooner abandoned in West Indies area.

1855, February 26, 28

JAMES B. CHESTER
"Into Thin Air" - Paul Berg, Page 56

"Psychic in the Devil's Triangle" James Paul Chaplin, Page 32
A three masted schooner found abandoned and floundering in the Sargasso Sea by the MARATHON. Personal
effects were strewn about and the lifeboats were in place and the cargo was secured. No sources.

"Mysteries of the Unexplained" - Reader's Digest
Found February 28th in the Mid Atlantic in fine condition. The compass and ship's papers were gone. There were
signs of hastily gathered possessions. All lifeboats were in place.


"Without a Trace" - Charles Berlitz, Page 24
Found abandoned southwest of the Azores.

1855, March 1

CITY OF GLASGOW
"The Devil's Triangle" - Richard Winer, Page 86
399 passengers and 81 crew members, a black hulled vessel with sails and a steam engine. It vanished without
a trace. No sources given.

1868 top

VIEGO
"Among the Missing" - Jay Robert Nash
Spanish merchantman. No sources given.

"The Bermuda Triangle Mystery-Solved" Lawrence David Kusche
Spanish merchantman. No confirmed record that the ship ever existed.


1872, December

VICTORIA
"Among the Missing" - Jay Robert Nash
A brig that departed New York to England when the MARY CELESTE left. It disappeared with all hands. No
sources given.

1872, December 4

MARY CELESTE - Abandoned brigantine found by the ship DEI GRATIA. The MARY CELESTE had been
originally named the AMAZON and seemed to have a history of bad luck.
captbriggs1.jpg (5499 bytes) Briggsfamily.gif (15746 bytes)
Captain Benjamin S. Briggs-captain of the Mary Celeste on her final voyage Capt. B.S.Briggs' Wife Sarah &Daughter


"Among the Missing" - Jay Robert Nash
First named AMAZON and launched in 1861, name changed to the MARY CELESTE in 1868. No reason given.
Captained by Benjamin Spooner Briggs. From New York to Genoa, Italy with a load of alcohol valued at 3,400
dollars. Found abandoned on December 4th, 1872 by the ship DEI GRATIA, commanded by Captain David Reed
Morehouse, in the proximity of the Azores. The binnacle had been knocked over and the compass destroyed. The
sextant, chronometer and ship's register were reported missing when boarded. Possibly one lifeboat was missing.
The DEI GRATIA then towed the ship to Genoa for salvage rights. - No sources.

"Limbo of the Lost - Today" - John Wallace Spencer - See also AMAZON in book's index.
Brigantine with a crew of 10. Found abandoned on December 4th, 1872 by the ship DEI GRATIA, commanded by
Captain David Reed Morehouse on December 4th 1872 in the afternoon, between the Azores and Portugal. No
lifeboats on board and all hatches open. The compass was broken and the ship's chronometer, sextant, ship's
register and navigation book missing. The ship's log was on board with the last entry being: 0800, 11-25,1872 -
passed six mile off the eastern tip of Saint Mary's Island, Azores, 800 miles from Portugal. The ship had a cargo
of 1,701 barrels of alcohol with a value of 42,000 dollars. Money and personal items were found left behind.
Originally named the AMAZON, it was launched in 1861 at Spencer Island Shipyard, Nova Scotia. The first captain
Robert McLellan died 9 days after the registration of the new ship on June 10, 1861. The second captain, John
(Jack) Nutting Parker crashed into a fishing boat. In the Straights of Dover she crashes into a brig, sinking it. On
November 9, 1867 she runs ashore at Cow Bay, Cape Bretton Island. - No sources.

"Mysteries of the Unexplained" - Reader's Digest
Listed as a brigantine captained by Benjamin Spooner Briggs en route from New York to Genoa with a load of
alcohol (not the imbibing kind). Found abandoned by the DEI GRATIA with Captain David Reed Morehouse as the
as the master, on December 4, 1872 between the Azores and Portugal. The ship's log was found, the last entry
having been dated November 25, 1872 at 0800 hours. Two hatch covers were off and the ship's boat was gone and
the ship's binnacle had overturned. Morehouse and Briggs had dined together one month before. Sources listed.

"Mystic Places" - Time Life Books
Listed as a brigantine captained by Benjamin Spooner Briggs with 10 people on board. Found abandoned by the
bark DEI GRATIA commanded by Captain David Reed Morehouse on December 4, 1872 between the Azores and
Portugal. The lifeboat was gone and the binnacle was knocked out of place. The compass was also shattered. Six
foot gashes were discovered on the bow just above the waterline. The ship's log was found with the last entry
having been made 9 days earlier on November 25, 1872. No sources.

"Psychic in the Devil's Triangle" - James Paul Chaplin
Listed as a 282 ton brigantine with a length of 103'. Captain Benjamin Spooner Briggs sailed November 7th, 1872
from New York to Genoa, with a load of over 1700 barrels of alcohol. The brig was found by the bark DEI GRATIA
commanded by by Captain David Reed Morehouse on December 4th, 1872. Money and personal items were left
behind. Navigational instruments missing (no detail). The captain's logbook was missing. A crew was placed on
the MARY CELESTE from the DEI GRATIA and both ships sailed for Gibraltar. The MARY CELESTE arrived
there one day after the DEI GRATIA. No sources.

"Strange Stories, Amazing Facts" - Reader's Digest
Brigantine, two masted square rig with 10 people on board.Listed in the 1871 American Lloyd's Registry as a
brigantine of 206 tons. Captain Benjamin Spooner Briggs in command with a cargo of barrels of alcohol. Found
abandoned by the bark DEI GRATIA commanded by Captain David Reed Morehouse on December 4th, 1872 at
3pm. Pots of cold food hung over cold fires, and a half eaten breakfast in the captain's cabin were found. Personal
belongings and valuables were left behind. Life boat was still in place. Strange grooves were found cut into the bow.
The last entry in the ship's log was dated November 24th. The chronometer, sextant and cargo documents were
missing. Abel Fosdyk says he was on board and left papers giving detail of what had happened on board,
supposedly the grooves in the bow were to support a deck of some kind and one day during a swimming race it
broke with with everybody on it and dumped them into the ocean with those who were already in the water.

"The Bermuda Triangle" - Adi-Kent Thomas Jeffrey, Page 114
Disappeared in 1872.

"The Bermuda Triangle Mystery-Solved" - Lawrence David Kusche
Brigantine of 282 tons, 103', mastered by Captain Benjamin Spooner Briggs with a cargo of 1700 barrels of alcohol
bound for Genoa from New York. Found abandoned by the bark DEI GRATIA, commanded by Captain David Reed
Morehouse on December 4th, at 38 Degrees, 20' N by 17 Degrees 15' W, or 590 miles west of Gibraltar. Life boat
gone. Logbook was found but the rest of the papers were gone as were the navigation instruments (no detail). Last
entry in the log was November 24th at 100 miles west of the Azores. The forehatch was found open. The swimming
contest is mentioned here also, but with no mention of the marks on the bow. Both ships sailed on to Gibraltar.
Sources are listed.

"The Devil's Triangle" - Richard Winer, Page 160
Brigantine found December 5th by the DEI GRATIA, east of the Azores, some weather damage to ship. No sources.

"Without a Trace" - Charles Berlitz, Page 24
Brigantine found north of the Azores, 10 persons on board.

1880, January top

H.M.S. ATALANTA - English naval training ship
"Limbo of the Lost-Today" - John Wallace Spencer
A British training vessel captained by Francis Stirling with 300 trainees vanished from Bermuda to England. A
massive search follows. The British gunboat AVON finds masses of wreckage from an unidentified vessel off
Azores, close to the usual route of training vessels. In April of 1880 there was a report that the steamer TAMAR
had sighted a capsized copper bottomed ship. The captain later denies the report. On April 28, 1880 a message
in a bottle is found from the ATALANTA but is later proved to be a hoax. On April 20th the British ship WYE
leaves Gibraltar to search the area of Vigo Bay, Spain where portions of a wrecked vessel washed onto shore.
Nothing new is discovered. On June 2, 1880 the captain of a vessel that arrived Queenstown from Demerara said
he passed a raft that was bolted together and there were corpses dressed in white. Supposedly the raft and two
corpses dressed in white uniforms was seen by another vessel. On June 15th, 1880 another bottle was picked up
with another note in it. The note stated: "April 17, 1880: training ship ATALANTA. We are sinking in longitude
27 degrees, latitude 32 degrees. Any person finding this note will please advertise in the daily paper. John L.
Hutchings, Distress." On June 21st, 1880 a piece of barrel stave was found on the beach at Cow Bay, Nova Scotia.
A message was written on it with lead pencil which stated: "ATALANTA going down, April 12, 1880; send this to
Mrs. Mary White, piers, Sussex. James White." No sources.

"Psychic in the Devil's Triangle" - James Paul Chaplin, Page 35
A British naval training ship under the command of Captain Francis Sterling. It sailed from Bermuda bound for
England in the winter of 1880. Extremely bad storms in the area reported at the time. No sources.

"The Bermuda Triangle Mystery-Solved" Lawrence David Kusche
A British ship with 290 cadets and officers. Sailed from Bermuda to England on January 31st. There was a report
that the steamer TAMAR had sighted a capsized copper bottomed vessel, later the captain of the TAMAR denies
the report. The British gunboat AVON finds masses of wreckage off the Azores. Possible unusually bad weather
reported in the area.

"Without a Trace" - Charles Berlitz, Page 24
A training ship, vanished while sailing from Bermuda to England with 290 persons onboard.

1884 top

MIRAMON
"Among the Missing" - Jay Robert Nash
Referred to as an Italian schooner bound for New Orleans that disappears in the triangle. No sources.

"The Bermuda Triangle Mystery-Solved" - Lawrence David Kusche
No record of a ship with this name.


1886

LOTTA
"Among the Missing" - Jay Robert Nash
A Swedish bark bound for Havana from Goteborg, vanished in the triangle north of Haiti. This book says the date
of it's disappearance as 1866. No sources.

"The Bermuda Triangle Mystery-Solved" Lawrence David Kusche
No record of a ship with this name.