Reading the journal entries Clemens made aboard the AMERICA, there is one note from the editors indicating the illness Clemens suffered from on this trip was something he had apparently contracted in Oct. 1866 while lecturing in Nevada. I don’t see any indication in the journal entries written aboard the AMERICA where Clemens exhibits fear of dying aboard the ship — the Dec. 22 entries appear fun filled with singing and playing leap frog — certainly not a death ship atmosphere — and the midnight entry on that date is almost euphoric describing the full moon and balmy atmosphere. The only death Clemens apparently witnessed or knew of aboard the AMERICA was the child on Christmas Eve. No doubt that things changed aboard the SAN FRANCISCO and the editors document seven deaths aboard that ship before reaching New York. I am not sure where the count of 20 deaths on each vessel comes from. Barb