And now, tonight's presentation of radio's outstanding theater of thrills, Suspense.
Tonight, we bring you one of the great mysteries of the sea.
A ship found drifting in perfect condition, but with no human aboard.
We call it, the mystery of the Mary Celeste.
So now, starring John Danaer, here is tonight's Suspense play, The Mystery of the Mary Celeste.
On December 9th, 1872, the American brigantine Mary Celeste was discovered adrift and derelict, close off the coast of North Africa.
She had sustained some storm damage, but she was still an able ship.
Her sails were set, her cargo was intact, conditions in her cabins and folkshows seemed normal.
There was no evidence of violence.
Yet not a sign was found of the crew that had manned her.
Officers, men and the captain's wife had vanished, and no acceptable explanation of their disappearance has ever been advanced.
Perhaps this is that story.
It would start in New York City's harbor district on the night of November 7th, 1872, the eve of the Mary Celeste's departure from that same harbor.
Stop! Stop or I'll shoot! Stop or I'll shoot!
What is it, officer? What's the matter?
Did you see a man running past this way?
No, I didn't see anybody. I heard the shots.
Who is this, your honor?
He just killed some people.
What?
I thought I heard something.
But I don't now.
Who did the man kill?
A young girl and the man she was with.
And then he killed the girl's mother.
He's a maniac that we've got to get.
I'll look down this way.
I'll help if I can.
All right. More men from the force will be here shortly.
Oh.
I didn't remember killing her mother.
Grace I killed because I couldn't help it.
The man because he came after me when Grace was down.
But I never meant to kill her mother.
And when I heard that I had, I wondered if the officer was right.
And then I was insane.
It was not time to think of it then.
Only time to think of getting away.
And through that night I searched for a ship that was leaving soon.
And one that was badly guarded so I could slip aboard.
When I found her, she was the Mary Celeste.
And the drunken deck watch stayed in his sleep until I was hidden in number two hold.
There I passed two days in a dream.
Neither fully awake nor asleep but always thinking of the horror I had done.
And I knew that escape was wrong.
And that I could never be sane until I cleared my soul of it.
On the third morning I proceeded to make my presence aboard known.
So that I can go to the captain and tell him of my crime.
And take the consequences I so richly deserve.
I climbed to the deck and am immediately seen by a crewman.
Lindley look, who's that?
Who are you mister? What are you doing aboard?
My name is Sam Newcomb and I want to talk to your captain.
You'll talk to him right enough whether you want to or not.
Why'd you get on board?
You'll be lucky if you didn't stay in the 12-4 watch your last night in port because that's when it was.
You're uppity for us to away aren't you? You're no better than a thief.
I admit that. I want no trouble with you. Please.
Take me to the captain. I'll talk to him and no one else.
You take him Boal. I'd better stay forward.
Come on Newcomb.
You're going to make the rest of the trip with us. You better drop your airs or there'll be trouble.
I don't have any airs and I don't think you'll be troubled with my company.
Oh you mean you don't think you'll quarter with a crew?
No.
You expect to be with the officers like an honored guest?
No.
Where then?
I don't know.
You act like you're deaf.
Don't you say that.
I don't.
You what?
Nothing.
I'm sorry I want to talk to you captain.
Watch what you do or say. You'll be over the side.
Here.
Yes come.
Watch your language. The skipper's wife is in the next cabin there.
Well, who's this?
He just came out of number two hole sir. His name's Sam Newcomb.
Got aboard on the 12 to 4 watch hour last night in.
Hubbard's watch. He'll answer for it.
Well Newcomb, will you have to save yourself?
I'd like it if I could talk to you alone sir.
That's all Boal. Tell Hubbard I want to see him as soon as he's off watch.
Yes sir.
You realize Newcomb that you've committed a crime by boarding this ship without permission.
And probably without passport or any other papers I suppose.
I know sir but when I tell you why.
I'm not a bad man sir. Nothing like this ever happened before but something drove me.
I didn't know what I was doing.
Another one who's always wanted to go to sea I suppose.
Oh no sir. I've been sailing for ten years. I'm an able hand.
I came aboard because I had to get away.
You're in trouble?
Yes sir. I don't think it was my fault but I am wrong.
What kind of trouble?
It was a girl sir who I was in love with. I don't know what came over me but...
Yes? What'd you do to her?
I found her with another man and I just had to get away sir.
Ah lovesick. Well that doesn't condone...
Oh yes my dear.
Oh I'm sorry I thought I heard you talking.
Yes yes this is Mr. Newcomb. He came aboard illegally the night before we left.
Well where has he been?
It's three days.
In number two hold ma'am.
Have you had food and water?
No ma'am.
Why haven't you come to us before this?
I don't know ma'am.
He was going to tell me why he came aboard.
I don't suppose it's important to anyone but me. I felt that I had to get away and...
It was a girl.
I almost guessed that. A broken heart?
I thought it was. I know it sounds silly but to me it seemed awfully serious and...
I couldn't think of another way to leave as quickly as I wanted to.
Yes yes. Well there's no way I can allow an affair of the heart to influence what I must do in this case.
By reputation I'm a fair and lenient man.
Well I'm a seaman sir. I could work my way.
I'm not so sure you deserve the chance.
Whatever you say sir.
Ben.
Oh please Grace.
Grace?
What's the matter with you?
Nothing sir.
My name. Grace is the name of the girl.
Yes ma'am.
It was learning that the captain's wife was aboard that made me change my mind about telling him the truth.
When I talked to him, especially after his wife came, everything was turned about.
It was as though I was the captain and the stowaway was someone else.
It was as though my wife, my Grace had come in from the next cabin and together we talked to this stowaway.
And we felt sorry for him and wanted to be kind to him.
The wife can't be more than three or four years older than I.
And I feel close to her right away.
I think that even if she doesn't know what I've done, she understands me.
It is a good feeling to have one friend on the ship.
Through her please I am sure I am not restrained and instead sent to take my place with the crew and their folks.
Well, what are you doing here? Couldn't you find a better place to quarter?
I was told where to come.
Ah, Hubbard.
Huh?
Wake up.
Here's the one came aboard during your watch.
Huh?
What did you figure you'd be fined, Hubbard?
A week's pay?
Yeah, that's right.
Newcombe, huh?
Yes.
Why'd you come aboard?
I wanted to get away from New York.
Man's gotta have a better reason than that.
You running away from the police?
No.
What then?
That I wouldn't interest you. It's not important.
It's important to me.
And I want you to know how I feel about it.
Are you gonna get up?
No. I want no trouble with any of you.
You don't want any trouble. You caused me trouble, haven't you? I'll be called up in front of the captain because of you.
That's done. There's no way I can change it.
We've got three weeks before we make Naples. You'll pay for it. I'll see to that.
Through the following days I knew no peace.
There were four deckhands and a first officer, and although I had reason to fight because of the way they beat me and used me, I did not.
I was afraid of my own violence now that I had killed.
The one named Hubbard was the worst. His eyes were always on me, and I wondered why.
There was a night when I woke to find him bending over my bunk. He was smiling.
And from that moment on, even in sleep, I felt him watching me.
On another night, I am on deck. I'm crossing from port to starboard, and when I pass under the main yard, a marlin spike falls from a loft and sticks in the planks beside me, narrowly missing my head.
I look up to see Hubbard smiling down at me from the rigging. I try to avoid him, but he drops to the deck to face me.
I dropped my spike.
I know you did.
What are you gonna do about it?
What do you think?
You take more than any man I've ever known, Nookum.
I'm not proud of that. But why do you keep after me? Why don't you leave me alone?
Because I'm a curious man. I want to know truly why you're on this ship. Your story to the captain about trouble with some woman just doesn't set right.
It's the truth.
Not all of it.
Why do you say that?
Anybody ever tell you you talk in your sleep?
You are listening to The Mystery of the Merry Celeste, tonight's presentation in radio's outstanding theater of thrills, Suspense.
We all have treasured possessions, keepsakes, and mementos which are irreplaceable regardless of cost.
You'd be heartsick if you lost yours, yet probably you are risking their loss by fire every day through carelessness.
So CBS radio reminds you, don't give fire a place to start. Be sure all cigarettes are out before discarding them.
Clear your house of old newspapers, damaged furniture, and inflammable debris.
Repair electrical wiring as soon as it shows signs of wear. These simple rules will keep your valuables safe.
And even save your life.
And now we bring back to our Hollywood soundstage, John Danaer starring in tonight's production, The Mystery of the Merry Celeste.
A tale well calculated to keep you in...
Suspense.
I had never been told that I talked in my sleep until the one named Hubbard said I did.
He may have been lying, but I could not trance that.
Therefore I carefully abstained from regular sleeping habits, allowing myself short naps only when I knew that Hubbard was at the helm or some other ship's business that he could not leave.
The horror that I had done became a secret that pressed against my head, wanting escape.
But I held it in and I took the abuse of the men aboard.
The only kindness and relaxation I find are during the moments when I chance to meet the captain's wife.
Off watch one night, when it is not safe to sleep, I am alone, taking a cup of tea in the galley when she comes in.
Oh, Mrs. Briggs.
Mr. Newcomb, I've been thinking of you. I haven't seen...
Well, you look ill. Is there something wrong?
Nothing, ma'am. Oh, my sleep has not been so good.
And your cheek is bruised. What happened?
Nothing serious. Some trouble with the other hands.
Have you told the captain?
No, no, ma'am.
Why not? I shall.
No, please, don't. I've caused enough trouble. I wouldn't want there to be any more.
May I have some tea, Mr. Newcomb?
Oh, yes, ma'am.
Thank you.
I think you're a very kind man, Mr. Newcomb.
Oh, you do?
Yes. To protect the other hands, for one thing. They're a rough lot, I know.
No, no, worse than most men, ma'am.
You're very unhappy, aren't you?
This girl, Grace...
I know this is hard for you to understand, but really, no one girl is worth ruining your life for.
Not even losing sleep for.
Yes, ma'am.
I wish you'd stop calling me ma'am.
Perhaps if you did, you could talk to me about this girl.
I think it would do you good, don't you?
I don't know.
Tell me about her. I'm sure she's quite beautiful.
I thought so.
And you plan to be married?
Yes.
But she changed her mind.
Well, she was never sure. She was ambitious for me.
That's natural.
And I disappointed her like I did my family, my mother, everybody.
I'm always thinking that I'm doing my best, but I always disappoint people.
What did she want you to be, this girl?
Oh, a ship's master like your husband. We dreamed of the day she could sail with me like you do on this ship.
You mustn't lose faith in yourself. It took my husband years to get his papers.
There are no years for me anymore.
She wouldn't wait.
No, she wouldn't wait. You must have waited, but she wouldn't.
She promised to wait, but she didn't. She never understood that it took time.
She was ambitious, and she pushed me for my officer's papers, and I failed.
My family pushed me, too, when I wasn't ready, and they made me fail.
And I went away, six months trip to South America. I tried to jump overboard, and they stopped me.
And I got back and found her married to a ship's captain.
And her mother was there laughing at me. I tried to tell her that I was happy about it.
Then Grace smiled at me, and something happened.
Mr. Newfield. I was only going to kill her. I didn't even know the others were there.
I hit her, and when she went down, the man came after me, and I hit him, too.
When you get in a mix-up like that, you just don't know what you're doing.
Time means nothing. It's like everything else.
Mr. Newfield. And then her mother. I don't remember that.
But she's dead, too, and then they blame me. Maybe I did.
Miss Briggs, where are you going?
Stay away from me. Oh, no, you've been nice to me.
Why did it have to be you that I told everything?
No, please, please. And I like you. Why did it have to be you?
No, no, no. No, I don't want to kill you. I never wanted to kill anybody.
Let me go. No, please. I won't hurt you. You've been nice to me.
Stay away from me. I won't touch you. I won't touch you.
But you've got to promise. You won't tell.
I don't know why I said those things. They aren't true.
I get mixed up. I dream things, and then they seem real after I wake up.
That's why I'm such a liar. I always lie.
Nothing I told you was the truth. Nothing. You believe that?
Yes. Yes.
And you won't tell anybody what I said?
I won't tell anyone.
I'm glad. Now, come, Mrs. Briggs. Finish your tea.
We'll talk about something else.
No. No, I've got to go to my cabin.
Mrs. Briggs!
Don't tell.
I knew she would tell, and so I hid.
I went back to Number 2 Hole, where I had felt safe before.
I don't know how much time passed.
There they find me. I see their lantern as they come closer.
The truth is out, and there's no place for me to go.
So I stand up and wait.
Captain, I hear him, I think.
Yes, Hopper. Keep your pistol ready. We'll have to be careful.
Yes, sir.
There he is, sir. Come out of there, Nogum.
Keep your lantern down, Hopper. Keep us out of the light. He's dangerous.
I won't cause any trouble, sir.
Get him out of there!
I won't cause any trouble, sir!
It's all right, sir. He's down.
Dirty scum, lock him up!
I am not sure how many days passed, but I found comfort in being locked up,
because I could sleep without the fear of Hubbard leaning over me,
listening for what I might say.
Then there was one night when shouting on deck woke me up.
I couldn't hear the words being in the middle of the ship, but soon the shouting stopped,
and it was silence.
It was a new silence that I studied for a long time.
I heard no footsteps on the deck.
I heard no voices.
I heard no creaking timbers.
It was a dead ship.
I wait for the one daily meal that they allow me.
No one comes.
Then I shout.
Let me out!
Get me out of here!
Somebody come! Let me out!
If one were insane, he would surely break at a moment like that.
I was locked up and alone on a ship that was held motionless,
as if gripped by some great hand.
But I did not break.
I dismantled my bunk and from the wood and fashioned a ram with which I attacked the door.
The task of freeing myself consumed most of the day.
And such was my concentration that I didn't realize the exact moment that the ship began moving,
as if the great hand had released its grip and set her free.
And I was free.
I come out on deck to find a cloudless sky and empty sea horizons all around,
as if I am alone in the world, the wheels spinning idly with no one to attend it.
I lash it after fitting a new course to the sail she is wearing.
The whole ship is mine.
I am master and crew.
And I have found peace and well-being,
as if I've been absolved of any wrongs I had to do.
Because what, if not Providence, held the ship that night and sent the others to certain death in the endless sea?
What, if not kind Providence, decided that I, I alone would survive?
The meek and humble shall inherit the earth.
This narrative I swear to be true.
And on this second day of December, the year of our Lord 1872,
I hereby sign it and seal it in a bottle to be delivered to the ocean currents,
in the hope that someday it will drift back to the hated world from which I am forever parted.
According to scientific theory,
a strange phenomenon takes place now and again off the coast of Africa,
near where the Mary Celeste was found.
Great rivers of sand are swept out from the coastal deserts.
When certain conditions prevail, this sand is constantly being swept out.
The sand is being swept out of the coast of Africa,
and the sand is being swept out of the coast of Africa,
and the sand is being swept out of the coast of Africa.
When certain conditions prevail, this sand is concentrated by the ocean currents.
Millions of tons are massed until an island is born, lives briefly,
and then is swept away by a shift in the currents that created it.
One such island formed under a small ship during World War II,
held it for a number of hours, then released it,
much in the same manner that Sam Newcomb's Providence acted.
of the Mary Celeste, but no one knows.
According to some reports, Sam Newcomb's signed confession did drift ashore many years later.
If that is true, perhaps another of the many mysteries surrounding the Mary Celeste has
been solved.
That mystery was a short length of line that reportedly was found secured to the stern
of the ship, close up under the transom where someone would hide.
Attached to this line was a man's leather belt that had parted in the middle.
Could Sam Newcomb have hidden there when the salvage crew was put aboard to sail the ship
to Gibraltar?
Could he have hung suspended there against the weakening belt until it parted and let
him sink silently into the sea?
Suspense, in which John Danner starred in tonight's presentation of the mystery of
the Mary Celeste.
Next week, the story of a murder plan that was discovered and which led to a double execution.
We call it the eavesdropper.
That's next week on Suspense.
Suspense is produced and directed by Anthony Ellis.
Tonight's script was written by Gil Dowd.
The music was composed by Lucian Morrowek and Rene Gerrigang and conducted by Wilbur
Hatch, featured in the cast were Victor Perrin, Joseph Kearns, Paul Fries, Ben Wright, Joe
Duvall and Helen Kweeb.
Have you heard any good Geiger counters lately?
Better stick to the ones you own.
The latest dodge of the lads in the lookout for easy money is to hold up a Geiger counter
until any old used bricks make like solid uranium.
Tomorrow night our FBI in peace and war tackles a slick confidence man with a rigged Geiger
counter and a fistful of beautifully engraved uranium stock certificates.
Be sure to meet the FBI in peace and war on most of these same CBS radio stations tomorrow
night.
Stay tuned for five minutes of CBS news to be followed on most of these same stations
by the Jack Carson Show.
You hear America's favorite shows on the CBS radio network.
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