I saw a TV documentary about the Mary Celeste that suggested that the cargo of methylated spirit,or industrial alcohol,or whatever volatile substance was in the hold,had a bearing on the crews'(viz the skipper / owner & his family) abandonment of the vessel, ie they thought it was about to blow up,and lay aft of the stern in a lifeboat,but still attached by a long warp.....which then somehow slipped,leaving them unable to catch up and re-board. Or perhaps they were worried about the other half of the cargo ( woodpeckers ).