Christ Represented

Images, or representations, play a powerful roll in helping to educate.  There is the old saying that a picture is worth a 1,000 words.  The placement of cameras in public places, and on cell phones means that many things can be recorded.  Images also help us to recall past events, and that helps us form and remind us of memories.  A common image in Christian households this time of year may be a Nativity scene.  After all, while Christmas today is becoming more about Santa Claus, the day is reallly about the birth of Christ.  The word Christmas itself comes from Christ's Mass. As I noted in a post two weeks ago, Christmas was not set until after the Emperor Constantine had converted to Christianity; a few years later the Pope declared the date to be Decembert 25.  I recall, as a young child watching as my Mom setup the creche set, and later assisting her in the effort.  The Hummel pieces in the creche were not going to be left to the dropful hands of a young boy.  The creche figurines used in my house today was a wedding gift from my aunt and uncle.   I built the manger out of scaps of dimensional cedar lumber.

Creche set at my house.
Photo by author. 12/ 2015 

Christianity has no qualms about representation of Christ, the son of God, or the prophets or figures of the old or new testament.  Some religions, such as Islam, however, have a different view.  Images were used to help educate the populace.  The United Nations estimates that in the mid-19th century only about 20% of the world's adult population could read or write.  Today, the estimate is at 80%.  Think then, how few would be able to read and write in the early days of Christianity. Therefore, artwork, or images were developed to convey and teach.  Church artwork was to assist the populace in understanding religious events. That was the purpose of the stained glass windows in the Gothic Cathedrals of Europe.   Much of the highly thought of works of art from the Renaissance have a religious theme.  The Church of the Nativity, first constructed in 326 by St Helen, mother of the then Roman Emperor Constantine, was torn down and reconstructed in 530.  When the Ottomans took over control of Jerusalem in 614, it is said they did not destroy the church, as they did most others, because of paintings depicting the Three Wise Men.  Tradition holds that the Maji were from the east and depictions often show them in the dress of a Persian.  We don't know if Christ was born in a stable or a cave, although it was more likely the latter.  In the west, the depiction of a stable seems more common.

Interior of part of Church of the Nativity
Photo by author.  4/2013

The first record of a nativity scene has it being accomplished by Francis of Assissi in the Italian village of Grecio in 1223, nearly 800 years ago.  Having obtained the approval from Pope Honorious III, Francis set up a small scene with Mary, Joseph and the baby child in a cave in that Italian village.  He added an ox and a donkey.  While villagers gathered to gaze upon the depiction, Francis used the representation as a teaching moment, to talk about the story of the birth of Christ.  Over the next couple hundered years nativity scenes would become common--traditional--in European homes.  During that time frame,  shephards and the Maji were added to the representation.

Mosaic  tile floor below current floor in Church of the Nativity.
Mosaic floors were works of art and some often told a story.
Author photo, 4/2013

While the first nativity was not created until the 13th century, artwork or sculpture has been depicting the birth of Christ since before the rise of Constantine as Emperor, although such depictions were likely limited to the catacombs and the sarcophogi of Christians who had passed the bonds of earth.  The depiction of Christ's birth was, and is common, in Byzantine iconography.  Western artists would borrow some Byzantine techniques, but of course would do their own interpretations.  After all, art is meant not to just educate.  It is to inspire.  It is to provide reflection.  It is to challenge. Everyone can be an art critic.   Prior to the printing press, monks in medieval scriptoriums would copy works and duly decorate important writing with artwork, think the bible.

Column with artwork in Church of the Nativity
Author photo, 4/2013

The Saint John's Bible, the first handwritten bible in over 500 years to be commissoned by a Benedictine abbey, was completed a few years ago. The frontispiece for the Gospel of Luke contains a modern day interpretation of the birth of Christ. With the assistance of a work by Susan Sink, let us walk through the nativity scene frontispiece, which is shown below.

Nativity Frontispiece to Gospel of Luke, Saint John's Bible.
See source below.

The eye is first drawn to the gold shaft emanating from the manger.  This shaft of gold, at least to me, is a dissonance to the overall piece. It is abrupt, and it dominates the image.  While the Christ child is not visible, one knows simply of his presence by use of the gold, which is commonly used throughout that bible to represent the presence of the divine.  Gold angels to either side of the shaft form a cross of gold, hinting at the fate which awaits the child born to a mother and foster father.  What I find interesting is that the gold shaft looks like a person with their hands raised up, like the touchdown signal.  Notice the + symbol between the two "arms" which represents the star of Bethlehem.  To one side of the manger is Mary, who is the only person to be in colored garments, she gently leans to the manger and quietly gazes into the crib to see the face of God the son.  Behind Mary is one of the three Maji.  The opposite side the gaze into the make-shift crib is held by shepherds.  What is interesting in this piece is that the oldest shepherd is a women, not a man as most manger scenes depict.  It is thought that mainly women and children were the likely shepherds tending the flock.  Also of interest are the three animals guarding the entrance to the stable or cave.  The donkey and ram can easily be placed in a biblical context, as noted by Sink, yet the third large animal is an ox. Sink notes that the depiction of the ox is based on one of the Neolithic cave paintings at Lascaux, France.  (The cave paintings are estimated to be up to 20,000 years old.)  The movement of the ox, she says, reminds of the "Little Drummer Boy." where the ox and lamb kept time."  Yet, she also notes that the four evangelists are represented in many medieval manuscripts by a symbol--in the caes of Luke it is an ox.  To me, the ox also represents the first nativity scene created by St. Francis.  The manger, Sink notes, almost looks like a book, and she attributes that to its having been drawn in "reverse perspective" style, which is a common technique in Byzantine Icons. The use of some Byzantine style makes me think of the Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem which marks the site of birth of Christ.

Cover of Gospels and Acts of the St. John's Bible
From Google images.

What is powerful about the image is how it connects.  It connects to early humans by imaging an ox original to a Neolithic painting.  It connects to our  present day culture by the ox keeping time, as in the "Little Drummer Boy."  It connects to the Byzantine Church of the Nativity by marking the location of the birth of Christ.  Such is the power of the represenations of the Nativity.  This is the power of art.  Yet, there is more.  While the gold draws the eye, and at the same disrupts our view of this work of art, it also directs the eye to the large-sized letters done in gold at the bottom rendered over varied colors.  These words harken, as noted by Susan Sink, to Zechariah (the father of John the Baptist in presaging John's preaching) when he says, "By the tender mercy of our God, the dawn from on high will break upon us, to give light to those who sit in the darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace (Luke 1:78-79).

Location of birth of Christ
Photo by author,  4/2013

The work by Donald Jackson in the Luke frontispiece of the Saint John's Bible, is one representation of Christ. In our mind many of us will have our own view of Christ. Our represenation is derived from our experiences, our culture and our prayer life. For some, the image is ever changing as one experiences new facets in life.  The irony of the Nativity is that its power is in the humble essence of that moment. Christ was not born among the powerful, rather he was born to ordinary persons from a small town, and born well south of his hometown.  He was not even born in a building, but a cave with animals around. He was even to be a refugee due to the slaughter of the innocents. One commentator abbreviated Pope Francis' remarks on the Nativity saying "Christ uses humility and love to save the world, not impressive force or a magic wand."   Christmas is not just about Christ coming to us, but we being brought closer to Christ.  In so doing, it should also bring us closer to each other. As we celebrate Christmas this year, perhaps this post will add to your mental picture of Christ. Artwork of the Nativity informs, and reminds us of the birth of Christ, but in the end its meaning is much more.

Merry Christmas!

Sources:  

Image of Nativity scene found at:  http://archive.artsmia.org/illuminating-the-word/selected-pages.cfm

Sink, Susan.  2013. The Art of the Saint John's Bible.   A Saint John's Bible Book. Liturgical Press, Order of Saint Benedict, Collegeville, MN.

The Order of Saint Benedict, Collegeville, MN.  2005 Gospels and Acts, The Saint John's Bible. Liturgical Press



  

Drums of War, Drums of Peace

 This morning’s newspaper, the “Wisconsin State Journal” listed television specials that would be available over the next week. In scanning the list, I took note of some that I have never seen, such as “Santa Run Over by a Reindeer” among those that are now customary.  One has been made note of this year as it is celebrating its 50th season which involves the hapless boy and his wondrous dog—“A Charlie Brown’s Christmas”. Some will be on for at least the second time within the month. It is not unusual for a television special to be adapted from a popular songs, such is the case with the former. Indicative of how times have changed, one such television special that was made out of a popular song is not now in the listing. As a child it was my mother’s favorite Christmas television special, one she would make a point of wanting to watch. “The Little Drummer Boy” was adapted from a song first written in 1941, and first recorded by the Trapp Family singers in the mid-1950’s. Originally known as Carole of the Drum, it was retitled and popularized by Harry Simeon in a group called the Harry Simeon Chorale, in 1958. The television special premiered in 1968. It was a different time from today. The older baby boomers, who are now retired, would be just graduating from high school, and the largest year of the baby boom cohort would not even have reached teenage years. The large child cohort likely added to the popularity in the creation of the childhood-based television specials.

From television special, Little Drummer Boy
Source:  Google Images

It is not like Little Drummer Boy is not still popular. While it has been parodied, it is nonetheless being sung by groups more popular to the current millennial and X generations—with names such as Pentatonix. Even Justin Bieber has sung this tune. Yet, the original television special has fallen out of date. It may be its marionette style characters within a cartoon background, or it could be that its scenes of the Three Kings and a nativity scene are not as in vogue as they were in a more religious time. One popular takeoff of the song was in a Bing Crosby Christmas special, in the year that he passed, where he sang The Little Drummer Boy while David Bowie sang a tune particularly written for the occasion Peace on Earth. The story goes that Bowie only appeared on the show because his mother liked Bing Crosby. However, because he despised The Little Drummer Boy, song writers developed the words to be sung in accompaniment. That arrangement is now known as “Peace on Earth/Little Drummer Boy.”

Little Drummer Boy
Source:Google images

The two stories in that arrangement go well together. And the stories continue to have meaning in the world today. The Middle East is awash with strife. ISIS is ruling significant parts of Syria and Iraq, not to mention its attacks in the west. Christians are being forced to convert, be killed, or made to pay gold in accord with Islamic tradition. Muslims kill Muslims. In Israel, settlements continue on Palestinian land holdings, and more and more Christian Palestinians are forced out of a homeland they have known for over 2000 years and a land that gave birth to Christianity. But, the hate expands beyond the Middle East. Hindus are killing Christians in India, and in Africa Boko Harem, a group aligned with ISIS, continues to terrorize and kidnap Christians. Christians are being harassed by the Chinese government, well beyond church crosses being removed by the authorities. The drums of war, led by jihadists, are enveloping the world.

Israeli Settlement on land confiscated from Palestinians
Near  Bethlehem
Source: 2013 photo by author

In the television special of “The Little Drummer Boy,” a boy is orphaned when thieves kill his parents and torch his house. He escapes, but yet the event he experienced leads to his being misanthropic. Aaron become a refugee in the chaotic world of the Middle East during a time of a Roman census. What Aaron experienced in that Christmas special is similar to the actions taking place in the Middle East in current time. ISIS executes and enslaves not only Christians, but even Muslims.  There is one main difference, few children escape the capture of ISIS and instead are sold into slavery or made, against their will, to become soldiers in their jihad. ISIS is one of the main reasons for the Syrian refugee crisis. Aaron, with carnival troupe in which he hooked with in the desert, would come across the three Magi as they travel to Bethlehem to see the Christ child. While performing with the inept performers in Jerusalem, Aaron lets out a tirade of hate. He does not see kindness and caring, and if he did his hardened heart and soul would not fully recognize those actions. After the Paris attacks, and the thought-to-be lone wolf attack in San Bernardino, refugees from the Mid-East are facing a hardened heart of other nations concerned with the risk if not a terrorist entering, then the potential for radicalization once on their soil.

Steeple of the Church of the Nativity
Bethlehem, West Bank, Palestine
Source:  2013 photo by author

Aaron’s pet sheep is run over by a Roman charioteer as they attempt to reunite with a camel sold against Aaron’s wishes to the Magi. Knowing of their intellect and power Aaron assumes the kings can heal his pet sheep. But, the kind king bends down and tells Aaron only one other can heal his pet and points to the babe lying in a manger. Aaron possessed little. He had no gold, frankincense or myrrh. But, he did have a talent of playing his drum.  So that is what he does. The light of Christ shines on Aaron and Babaa. His heart and soul softens upon seeing that baby boy lying in a manger. Christ brought peace to Aaron’s heart. Near the end of their Peace on Earth/Little Drummer Boy rendition both Crosby and Bowie together sing:

Every child must be made aware
Every child must be made to care
Care enough for his fellow man
To give all the love that he can

Manger Square with Church of the Nativity
Bethlehem
Source: 2013 photo by author

The story of The Little Drummer Boy is about an orphaned refugee  of Middle-Eastern descent trying to find his place in what he views as a cruel and sinister world, but in the end it is about the gift of his kindness in sharing his talent by playing his drum.  But, more importantly, it is about the gift the light of Christ which leads to Aaron’s redemption. The mercy of God, in this Holy Year of Mercy. The world could still learn from the parable of The Little Drummer Boy. My mom would be disappointed that the show no longer plays. She would be disheartened about the strife in the world.  But, she would also have hope for days of glory brought on by the drums of peace.

O Christmas Tree

I have some fond memories are of putting up and decorating our Christmas tree.  I still recall, even over 35 years after her death, my mom being the one to put up the last ornament on the tree.  It was her favorite ornament--a peach.  I also recall some overly large blue spruce trees.  One was over eight feet high in a room with a ceiling just over seven feet.  That tree made innumberable pricks in my hands from putting on the lights.  Some memories are not so fond; we all have our own struggles over Christmas tree lights.  The Christmas tree is one recognized symbol of the Christmas season, and it is becoming one of the more controversial symbols as well. Its origns, however, predate the rise of Christianity.   Some have taken to calling them Holiday trees. Two years ago I wrote a post about Christmas cookies, and today turn attention to Christmas Trees.

Hovel Family Christmas Tree, about 1960
 A true traditional Hovel tree, as wide as it is tall

While the controversy over what is more "green" a real tree or an artificial (fake) tree still goes on, the new controversy is whether or not such trees should continued to be allowed in the public square.  An alderperson in a New Jersey community resigned after that community's Christmas tree lighting ceremony.  The mayor of the community noted that what ever one calls it, it is still a Christmas tree.  Our increasing secular culture desires to remove aspects or symbols with religious undertones, even resorting to euphemism.  Yet, a tree continues to be installed in Capitol buildings, in city halls and other public buildings.  There is even one on the lawn of the White House.  Is a Christmas tree a recognition of a religion?  Many different persons will have a different interpretation of that aspect.  As the nation becomes less and less religious will we find this symbol of Christmas fading away?Or, will remain and be repurposed.  Some non-Christians put of a tree at this tiime of year.  Some nones have made a sitcom-created idea part of their holiday celebration.  Christmas is big money in the nation, but it represents a gathering of family and friends for those who practice Christianity, for those who are agnostic, or those who are among the inceasing "Nones."  December 25, is becoming less about the day in which the birth of Christ is celebrated and more about celebration.  What is being celebrated?  That is left to the individual.

Hovel family tree, about 1983

The continuing controversy over Christmas, and its symbols, including the Christmas tree is part of an overall cultural revolution.  Christmas is celebrated on December 25, not because it is known as the actual day of the birth of Christ, but because the Roman Emporer Constantine celebrated it in about 336 AD.  This point in the year was also the Roman festival of Saturnalia.  A few years later Pope Julius I proclaimed that date as the celebratory date of Christ's birth.  This time of the year was chosen to coincide, not unlike All Saints day, with a pagan festival celebrations.  At about this same time of year, Dec 21 or 22, the winter solstice occurs and this feast was celebrated by pagan and druids as recognizing the death of the sun and their prayer for the sun to return.  The celestrial body we know as the sun, that medium sized star, plays an important role in our life on earth, and hence it was an important aspect of pagan celebrations.  One can think of the Eygptian sun god, Ra.  It is possible that Constantine and Julius had their own reasons for setting the date.  After all, Jesus was refugee of Jewish heritage born in Bethlehem, and December is the month of the Jewish Hanukkah celebration.

Our tree for 2015, after being set in the stand

Christians took to celebrating their religious holidays in relation to pagan feast days.  Christmas was no different.  In the same manner the Christmas tree has its roots in pre-Christian times.  Evergreen branches were brought into German homes during the solstice and were decorated with apples.  Winter in the latitude of Germany, and points north, means very short days, and one has to think that evergreen branches gave some semblance of life and hope for the future.  The Germans continued this custom as they embraced Christianity.  It became only a short leap for them to start bringing in a tree to further define and enhance this custom.  However, one report has the first Christmas Tree having been put up in Riga, Latvia 505 years ago.  Whereever the first tree appeared today we still recognize it more as an import from Germany.  Christmas trees took on a more widespread custom thanks to the Queen of England who had her husband, who was of German heritage, decorate a tree for their children to recognize the custom of his homeland.  Just as we have Anglophiles in this nation who follow Kate, followed Diana, and their children, so too this act spurred a whole industry of Christmas trees.  Well to do would try to out do the other with their decoration on the Christmas trees.  At first candles were used, and than an associate of Thomas Edison would devleop the first lights for the Christmas tree in 1882.  It did not take long for well decorated glass ornaments to make their way from Germany to other countries.

A Christmas Swag I handcraft every year with all natural materials
Branches cut from the tree, dried home-grown flowers and pine cones

A new industry has spawned, and it was more than just electic lights.  Christmas tree farms started to be established at the end of the 19th century.  It would only take a few decades for the first fake tree to come about.  I have a certain disdain for fake trees and my hope is that I can continue to put up a real tree for many years to come.  I have often referred to fake trees as oversized toilet brushes.  Much to my amazement, in doing reserach for this post, I found that the first fake Christmas tree was made by the Addis Brush Company, a company known for their toilet brushes.  So, yes, fake trees evolved from an oversized green colored toilet brush.  In some locations real trees are discouraged by insurance companies as fire risk.  Just as they limit wall, door and ceiling decorations in schools, so to fake trees.  After many years of having placed a real tree in its Great Hall, one university this year succumb to continued constant pressure from its insurance provider to use a fake tree.  To get to the size of the real tree, it has to be one massive toilet brush.

2015 Decorated Christmas Tree

One Christmas tree association, affiliated I am almost sure with the fake tree side, say their studies show that 79% of households in the US will put up a Christmas tree, and of that number 80% will be fake trees.  At work this week I did my own, nonscientific poll.  Survey says...of the 51 persons asked if they put up a tree in their home will it be real or fake, 25 said real, 22 said fake and 4 will not put up a tree.  Perhaps my place of work tends to be more associated with homeowners, and able bodied workers who have the capability to put up a real tree.  Showing a continued evolution in the industry, of those who put up a real tree, 12 have or will put up a frasier fir, with the next highest being Balsam at three.  Four did not know what type of tree they put up.  One new tree entering popularity is the Canaan, which combines the smell of the balsam and the less needle drop of the frasier.

Upclose Photo of the Tree

The Germanic tradition of Christmas trees endures.  Some call it a Christmas tree, others a holiday tree, and while it seems to have become yet another controversial symbol, it is nontheless part of our common culture. It is a custom handed down from its original pagan roots of evergreen boughs, rebadged with a tree for Christmas.  I know not what the future holds for the Christmas tree.  Yet, through all the years since the first pagans placed boughs in their dwelling one aspect, whether literal or figurative, comes through from the pagan celebrations, Jewish Hanukkah, to Christianity--light.  the early pagans saw the sun as having died and celebrated its new birth.  Hanukkah is also known as the Festival of Lights.  In a similar way we Christians celebrate the birth of the savior during the dark days of winter in the northern hemisphere.  He turns darkness to light.  The candles we light,the lights we put up to decorate our home and tree all are to show that light can overcome darkness. Symbols are important to our cultural celebrations, and in the formation of our memories. The Christmas tree is a symbol of light over darkness, and a symbol of hope.  Traditions, symbols and the memories formed, become part of our culture.  These traditions remind us of our past and help form our future. In any event, without a Christmas tree where would Santa put the toys for good little girls and boys?

Images from author, and family archives

High Sea

 Two of the most famous shipwrecks most easily recalled by most in the US are the Titanic and the Edmund Fitzgerald. Both occurred under different circumstances, and in different bodies of water-- one in the Atlantic, and the other in Lake Superior. Many bodies of water are homes to lives and ships lost due to actions of other persons, or acts of nature. Even with all of our modern weather technology ships still sink. The sinking this past fall of the El Faro, which was lost during a hurricane in the Atlantic is proof of that point. Ships may face other fates, such as mutiny, but by and large sinking today is usually due to weather. Yet, there is a lesser known ship that saw a different fate, and what occurred is still being debated today. The ship did not sink, but its crew and passengers were nowhere to be found.

Photo of the Mary Celeste

It was on or about this date in 1872 that Dei Gratia, a ship sailing under the British flag, found an American brig erratically moving about the Atlantic, about 400 miles east of the Azores. (I say “on or about this date” since some reports has it being Dec 4, and others Dec 5.) The Dei Gratia noticed that the ship was the Mary Celeste. The Captain of the Dei Gratia, David Morehouse, found it odd since the Celeste had departed New York City on November 7, or eight days before his departure and should have reached its port in Genoa, Italy. Morehouse made preparations to alter course and move to the Celeste in order to offer assistance. The boarding party would come across an eerie scene. The lifeboat was missing, but all provisions were intact—a six month supply. The pumps for the ship were disassembled, but there was about three to four feet of water at the bottom of the ship. The sails were slightly damaged. The cargo of the ship was over 1700 barrels of industrial alcohol, but the cargo was found relatively undisturbed. An odd sight, but the ship was still able to sail.

Captain Briggs

What was not present were people. The boat had been occupied by the Captain, Benjamin Briggs, his wife and their two year old daughter with a crew of seven. The ships last log entry occurred at 5 am on November 25 with the ship placed about 500 miles west of where it was located by the Dei Gratia. The ship was taken to Gibralter, and a British admiralty court hearing was convened to determine disposition of the cargo. A three month investigation, however, delayed the cargo disposition since thoughts of mutiny or bad crew actors had led to the fate of the ship and its crew. Lack of hard facts led to a wide variety of theories—mutiny, pirates, and even sea monsters, were all within the minds of those who heard about the fate of the crew. It may have been more understandable if the ship had sunk, but the ship was found in generally sound condition with no crew. The winds of fate had pushed it east roughly following its intended course to Genoa. However, not unlike the Edmund Fitzgerald or the Titanic, the Mary Celeste would obtain some level of fame. Titanic has a movie, the Fitzgerald a song. Yet, the Mary Celeste had a documentary film (partly funded by Smithsonian).  However, the real conjecture over the story started with the publication in Britain of an article titled “J Habakuk Jephson’s Statement” in Cornhill Magazine, written by one of the great detective writers—Arthur Conan Doyle. This piece led to a 1935 film with the famous actor Bela Lugosi The magazine story even led the Attorney General, who had competed the original investigation, to reopen the case, proving, not unlike Dan Brown novels, that fiction produces fact in the minds of some.

Poster of the 1935 Movie

A few months after its location east of the Azores, a Boston Post article indicated that Pirates had killed those aboard the ship and then abandoned the ship. The article points to a splatter of blood on the sword of Captain Briggs. This seemed counter to the original investigation and is hard to square with the fact that the provisions were left untouched, and the bulk of the cargo intact. The documentary film threw ice water upon the portrayal of a maniac sailor as portrayed by Lugosi.  The Lugosi character is thought to be based on two brothers who arrived on teh ship with few personal belongings, but the reason they had few provisions was not due to their idea of taking over the ship, but because they had lost their gear in a previous voyage. Yes, a few barrels of the alcohol were disturbed, but those had been contained in red oak, not white oak, and red oak is thought to have a higher leakage rate. The pumps may have been torn apart in order to get them to function. A previous voyage hauled coal, and the thought is coal dust affected the pumps ability to function—meaning they had to be cleaned to function correctly. In the end, the thought is that in rough seas they could not tell how high the water was in the cargo deck and with their last known position it is thought land, the Azore island of Santa Maria, was in sight, the group abandoned ship. Why they did not take more provisions or some of the charts and navigation equipment is not known. They likely thought the conditions on board were worse than they actually were. The ship is thought to have been off course by about 120 miles, probably due to broken equipment. The Captain knew he should have spotted land three days earlier than he had. In the end, the Captain and his family, and the crew were never located. Maybe, they found some small uninhabited island, not unlike the Minnow with the Skipper, Gilligan, Mary Ann Ginger the Professor, and the Howell’s. More likely, the life boat went down in rough seas.

Chart of the Route of the Mary Celeste

The curious case of the Mary Celeste shows the dangers of life on the high seas. This ship did not meet a watery grave.  Nor was there clear evidence of piracy or mutiny.  The answers to the fate of the those aboard likely rests at the bottom of Atlantic.  And, the ghost ship sailed the high seas.

Images from Google Images