The Explanatory Notes from the MTP critical edition references Columbus,
suggesting that Hank was recalling Washington Irving's account of Columbus
exploiting the eclipse.  It also mentions Lou Budd's *Mark Twain Social
Philosopher *that references H. Rider Haggard's *King Solomon's Mines* as
the the source.  There's also a mention of Howard Baetzhold's *Mark Twain
and John Bull*

On Mon, Aug 14, 2017 at 9:37 AM, William Robison <[log in to unmask]>
wrote:

> 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
>
> --=20
> 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." =E2=80=93
> =
> Muddy
> Waters
>



-- 
Ben Click
Professor, English
Director, Writing & Speaking Center
Director, Twain Lecture Series on
American Humor and Culture
(240) 895-4253
St. Mary's College of Maryland