Hello,   Reading the posting on this morning's Digest was a good reminder of how many ways a person could have "died at sea."      What a potentially life-threatening occupation it was in 1800's !          Anthere were no "life preservers" or "lifeboats,"  etc., in the 1800's.    And no doctors on those ships !    And, no helicopters to bring an injured or sick mariner to shore !     Etc.        And, how many mariners knew how to swim?     And how many knew how to "tread water?"    In the news over the weekend was a man who had tread water for 18 hours.      And, "lockjaw" -  an early symptom of "tetanus."   Eventually the patient can't open their jaw.    How many mariners got a "tetanus shot" before they got on the ship?   ...  Just a reminder that I'm always interested in the KIDDER name.    Especially in John KIDDER, born  Maine,  who "drowned at sea in 1887."      His oldest son migrated from Maine to the Hawaiian Islands in 1870's.    How long of a trip was that?   ..And, James CLARK left from New Bedford, MA, in 1844 on a ship which was heading out for a 4-year voyage to the Indian Ocean.     He got on as a "greenhand"  and then "deserted" in Australia.     How many ports did that ship stop in during that 4-year voyage?       Just  curiousity-questions.   Betty             (near Lowell, MA, USA)