Wondering if a Solar Eclipse Could Save Lives.

After reading my title, you are probably wondering if I have lost my mind; how could a solar eclipse save lives?  I may have lost my mind, in fact I may have lost it many times in various places, but even so, an eclipse did save lives.

 

An English fellow, who immigrated in 1832 to the U.S., was a prominent astronomer and joined the U.S. Coast and Geodetic Survey.  According to www.history.com, he "studied the large-scale geography of California, Oregon, and Washington".  At that time in history and in that area, he was always in Indian territory.  In 1869, he planned to take another scientific trip to the Chilkat Valley.  He was warned that earlier the Chilkat Indians had been angered by earlier white-man provocation, but he went anyway.  Here is an old picture of the Chilkat:

 

 



 He met with the tribe and didn't get a very warm welcome.  Since he knew astronomy, he knew that a solar eclipse was due and predicted that the sun would be blocked the following day.  To the Chief's and all the Indians' surprise and awe, it happened just as Davidson predicted.  That put him in good standing with the tribe and he went on with his surveys.  The eclipse not only saved the project, it saved his life, too.

Here is another picture of the Chilkat Indians:

 

OK, you may wonder why I put this on my blog today.  Yep, it happened on this day back in 1869.  George Davidson died in 1911 and up until his death, he continued to be a prominent member of the scientific community.  Now, I hope all the Indians you meet will be friendly, and have yourselves a great day, you hear?