Might it not be more likely that Twain had heard of the widely-told story
of how Columbus had fooled indigenous tribes in Jamaica with predictions of
an eclipse. https://www.sciencenews.org/article/eclipse-saved-columbus


On Mon, Aug 14, 2017 at 10:41 AM, Clay Shannon <[log in to unmask]> wrote:

> Was it Tecumseh, or was it his brother Tenskwatawa, who was known as "The
> P=
> rophet"?=C2=A0- B. Clay Shannon
>
>       From: William Robison <[log in to unmask]>
>  To: [log in to unmask]
>  Sent: Monday, August 14, 2017 6:38 AM
>  Subject: Tecumseh and Hank Morgan
>   =20
> There is a fairly well known story that the Shawnee Chief Tecumseh
> predicted both the solar eclipse of June 16, 1806 and the New Madrid
> Earthquake of December 16, 1811, and used this to convince the Shawnee the
> gods supported war against the white man. One version of the story says
> Tecumseh knew about the eclipse in advance because he had seen it forecast
> in an almanac.
>
> I have read speculation that Twain drew upon this story for the scene in *A
> Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court *in which Hank Morgan out-wizards
> Merlin by predicting a solar eclipse.
>
> Does anyone on the list know if there is evidence to support that?
>
> Thanks!
>
> Bill
>
> --=3D20
> William B. Robison, PhD
> Department Head / Professor of History
> Department of History and Political Science
> Southeastern Louisiana University
> SLU 10895
> Hammond LA 70402
> 985-549-2109 phone
> 985-549-2012 fax
> [log in to unmask]
> http://www.selu.edu/acad_research/depts/hist_ps/index.html
> http://www.tudorsonfilm.com/
> http://www.impairedfaculties.com/
>
> History teaches students to read intelligently, think analytically, write
> clearly, accurately assess past trends, rationally predict future
> developments, and understand the real world. Now *that* is workforce-ready!
>
> History does offer us very real lessons, but they are seldom simple and
> straightforward. To understand and benefit from them, you have to know your
> history very well. That is why history matters as much as math, science,
> technology, or any other subject.
>
> "A young horse is fast, but an old horse knows what's going on."
> =3DE2=3D80=
> =3D93 =3D
> Muddy
> Waters
>
>
>   =20
>