The Mystery of the Ghost Ship Carroll A. Deering

Introduction

In the annals of maritime history, the story of the Carroll A. Deering stands out as one of the most perplexing and enigmatic tales. The five-masted schooner, named after its captain, disappeared without a trace in the waters off the North Carolina coast in 1921. The ship was found abandoned, with its sails set and food prepared but untouched. The crew, however, was nowhere to be found. The mystery surrounding the Carroll A. Deering has captivated the imagination of many, giving rise to numerous theories and speculation. In this article, we will delve into the dark history of this ghost ship and explore the possible explanations for its eerie disappearance.

The Disappearance

On a fateful day in late January 1921, the Carroll A. Deering vanished into thin air. The ship, which had been making its way from Barbados to Norfolk, Virginia, was last seen passing by the Cape Lookout Lightship on January 29th. The crew had reportedly shouted across that they had lost both anchors, but there was no sign of distress. Two days later, the Coast Guard spotted the ship off Cape Hatteras, but it was eerily abandoned. The sails were set, and everything appeared to be in order, except for the missing crew.

Theories quickly emerged to explain the baffling disappearance. One prevailing theory suggested that there had been trouble among the crew, possibly a mutiny or a fight. However, the idea of a mutinous crew abandoning a perfectly good vessel seemed implausible. Another theory emerged when another ship, the Hewitt, also disappeared around the same time. Could the two ships have collided? The lack of any floating wreckage or life preservers argued against this possibility.

The Pirate and Bolshevik Plots

As the investigation into the Carroll A. Deering continued, a message in a bottle was discovered on the North Carolina coast in April 1921. The note claimed that the Deering had been captured by an oil-burning boat. This revelation sparked a flurry of speculation and prompted the involvement of the State Department. The possibility of pirates seizing the ship, along with its cargo and crew, gained traction. Newspapers even reported on the potential involvement of Bolshevik agents in a plot to steal ships and transport them to Russian ports.

The Hoax and Investigations

The hopes of unraveling the mystery of the Carroll A. Deering were dashed when it was revealed that the message in the bottle, the only concrete evidence of foul play, was a hoax. The man who purportedly found the note, Christopher Columbus Gray, confessed to fabricating it in an attempt to discredit the staff at the Cape Hatteras lighthouse. The revelation of this hoax led to investigations by various government agencies, including the U.S. Navy, Treasury, State Department, Department of Commerce, and Department of Justice. However, without any substantial evidence, the investigations eventually fizzled out, leaving the fate of the Deering's crew unresolved.

Comparisons to Other Mysterious Disappearances

The disappearance of the Carroll A. Deering is not an isolated incident in maritime history. Three years prior, the USS Cyclops vanished along with all passengers and crew, leaving nearly 300 people missing. The Cyclops had a similar route to the Deering, departing from Brazil, stopping in Barbados, and then heading up the U.S. coast. The possibility of the ship being sunk by a German vessel during World War I was considered, but no concrete evidence was ever found to support this theory or provide answers.

The Bermuda Triangle Connection

Although myths about the Bermuda Triangle did not emerge until decades later, the Carroll A. Deering's connection to this notorious stretch of ocean has fueled speculation about supernatural events. The Bermuda Triangle, known for its alleged disappearances, has been the subject of countless theories. However, Coast Guard Captain R. L. Gaskill, who witnessed the Deering heading into shore, dismissed these claims as mere newspaper sensationalism. According to him, the crew's decision to abandon ship in treacherous conditions was a logical response, and there was no mystery surrounding their disappearance.

Unraveling the Mystery

The true fate of the crew of the Carroll A. Deering remains unknown to this day. Theories ranging from mutiny and piracy to collisions and supernatural events have been put forth, but none have been conclusively proven. The ghost ship continues to intrigue and mystify, reminding us of the mysteries that lie hidden beneath the vast expanse of the world's oceans.

Conclusion

The Carroll A. Deering, a once-proud schooner, now stands as a testament to the enduring allure of maritime mysteries. Its disappearance in 1921 has left a void in history, with no answers to the questions that continue to surround it. As we delve into the annals of nautical lore, the story of the ghost ship serves as a reminder of the profound mysteries that can arise from the depths of the ocean. While we may never uncover the truth behind the Carroll A. Deering's enigmatic disappearance, its legend lives on, perpetuating the fascination with maritime mysteries and the uncharted wonders of the sea.

Sources

The Washington Herald, February 3, 1921

Evening Star, February 4, 1921

New-York Tribune, March 12, 1921

The State Department, June 21, 1921

The Evening Leader, June 21, 1921

Chronicling America, Map of the Carroll A. Deering's route

The Evening World, September 2, 1921

The New York Evening Journal, April 26, 1921

The Washington Times, June 24, 1921

The Evening Star, July 1, 1921

The Sun, August 15, 1921

The Daily Ardmoreite, August 23, 1921

The Evening World, September 2, 1921

The Evening Herald, September 3, 1921