Wednesday, September 30, 2009

101 Ways, Part 103: Was Suffocated

For a brief intro to the "101 Ways to Say 'Died'" series, click here.

I've been experimenting with mirrors for those occasions when the light isn't right for a particular stone. Unfortunately, the full-length mirror is too heavy and the hand-held only lights up a line at a time. I'm working on it.

I have not been able to find any information on the schooner Globe. I'm assuming that it sank, but have not been able to find it in the newspapers. Then again, the the odd language (suffocated vs. drowned) and the fact that no Massachusetts newspaper reported the loss of this ship in 1841 or 1842 (as far as I can tell) suggests it might have been a stranger incident. No idea.

In Memory of
Mr. LUTHER N.
CURTIS
Son of Mr. Eli &
Mrs. Clarissa Curtis
who was suffocated in the
cabin of the schooner
Globe Feb. 18 1841,
AEt. 21 Years.

Scituate, MA

5 comments:

kfrancher said...

You need to try a convex mirror. You can usually find one large enough in an auto parts store; they're used for back up mirrors by truckers. Something about 8-12 " in diameter should do it

Caitlin GD Hopkins said...

Thanks for the tip!

Unknown said...

My guess is that if it wasn't a shipwreck, the "suffocation" was due to carbon-monoxide poisoning. The cabin was probably sealed pretty tight to keep out the cold February chill (note month of death), and they probably had some kind of lamp, stove, or coal-burning brazier going.

Charles said...

Use a photography reflector - they are much lighter and designed for the purpose. For example: http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/358624-REG/Impact_R1412_Reflector_Disc_Collapsible_.html

Caitlin GD Hopkins said...

Peter,

That seems plausible — and horrifying.