[As August 2009 marks the close of our eighth year of weekly publication, we shall spend this month enjoying "the blast from the past" with selections from Poor Mojo's Almanac(k): Year Two (issues 51-100). Please, enjoy!—Your Giant Squid, Editor-in-Chief, PMjA]

[originally published in issue #53]

Theories:
in Zürich, earthquake is recorded
Near the Azores Fracture Zone
1) Seaquake

Crew of 8, wife (melodean, sewing machine), two-year old daughter
Benjamin Morehouse, captain and owner

December 4th, 1872
Found floating derelict

Compass knocked over, destroyed
Hatch covers blown off
1700 barrels of crude alcohol
9 completely dry
2) Explosion caused by gas build-up

They crawled aboard, two men from the Dei Gratia
Looked into the Captain's quarters, an unmade bed filled with toys

A table (maybe) filled with food
wine glass stems with fingerprints
meat just barely cool
the orange cat lounging on a plate

3) A giant squid

Found no navigational tools nor life boat
sextant, navigation book
captain's chronometer, ship's registry
and captain's log all missing
A halyard attached, trailing behind the vessel

4) Pirates

She sailed without a crew for nine days
Water in the hull

Axe-cut on the rail. Stains on the deck

5) Murder.