In early November of 1503, during Christopher Columbus's fourth and final trip to America, his ship was seriously damaged in a storm.
In
early
November
of
1503
,
during
Christopher
Columbus
's
fourth
and
final
trip
to
America
,
his
ship
was
seriously
damaged
in
a
storm
.
Columbus and his men had to live on a small island for several months while they tried to repair their ship and return to Spain.
Columbus
and
his
men
had
to
live
on
a
small
island
for
several
months
while
they
tried
to
repair
their
ship
and
return
to
Spain
.
At first, the local people on the island were very kind to the European visitors, giving them allthe food and clothes they needed to survive.
At
first
,
the
local
people
on
the
island
were
very
kind
to
the
European
visitors
,
giving
them
allthe
food
and
clothes
they
needed
to
survive
.
However, as the months passed, the local people became more and more unhappy with their guests, who were tricking and stealing from them.
However
,
as
the
months
passed
,
the
local
people
became
more
and
more
unhappy
with
their
guests
,
who
were
tricking
and
stealing
from
them
.
Finally the locals decided to stop helping.
Finally
the
locals
decided
to
stop
helping
.
Without food or any way to leave the island, Columbus's group was soon in serious trouble.
Without
food
or
any
way
to
leave
the
island
,
Columbus
's
group
was
soon
in
serious
trouble
.
Luckily for Columbus, he had a book about the stars and planets on his ship.
Luckily
for
Columbus
,
he
had
a
book
about
the
stars
and
planets
on
his
ship
.
It described the movements of all the objects in the night sky.
It
described
the
movements
of
all
the
objects
in
the
night
sky
.
The book, written by a well-known German scientist, said there would be a total lunar eclipse on the evening of February 29,1504 and how long it would last.
The
book
,
written
by
a
well-known
German
scientist
,
said
there
would
be
a
total
lunar
eclipse
on
the
evening
of
February
29,1504
and
how
long
it
would
last
.
Columbus worked out the difference in time between Germ any and North America.
Columbus
worked
out
the
difference
in
time
between
Germ
any
and
North
America
.
He then had a meeting with the local leaders just before the eclipse would take place.
He
then
had
a
meeting
with
the
local
leaders
just
before
the
eclipse
would
take
place
.
In this meeting, Columbus told them his god was angry because the local people were no longer giving food.
In
this
meeting
,
Columbus
told
them
his
god
was
angry
because
the
local
people
were
no
longer
giving
food
.
So his god would take away the moon to punish them.
So
his
god
would
take
away
the
moon
to
punish
them
.
The moment Columbus finished talking, just as he had planned, the moon began disappearing.
The
moment
Columbus
finished
talking
,
just
as
he
had
planned
,
the
moon
began
disappearing
.
The local leaders grew frightened and quickly agreed to provide Columbus with food and anything else he wanted.
The
local
leaders
grew
frightened
and
quickly
agreed
to
provide
Columbus
with
food
and
anything
else
he
wanted
.
But first, Columbus's god had to return the moon.
But
first
,
Columbus
's
god
had
to
return
the
moon
.
Columbus told them he would have to discuss the idea with his god on his ship.
Columbus
told
them
he
would
have
to
discuss
the
idea
with
his
god
on
his
ship
.
Knowing the moon would stay completely hidden for about 48 minutes, Columbus returned just before the moon began to reappear.
Knowing
the
moon
would
stay
completely
hidden
for
about
48
minutes
,
Columbus
returned
just
before
the
moon
began
to
reappear
.
From that day on, until they finally left, Columbus and his men no longer had any trouble getting the food they needed.
From
that
day
on
,
until
they
finally
left
,
Columbus
and
his
men
no
longer
had
any
trouble
getting
the
food
they
needed
.
In early November of 1503, during Christopher Columbus's fourth and final trip to America, his ship was seriously damaged in a storm. Columbus and his men had to live on a small island for several months while they tried to repair their ship and return to Spain.  At first, the local people on the island were very kind to the European visitors, giving them allthe food and clothes they needed to survive. However, as the months passed, the local people became more and more unhappy with their guests, who were tricking and stealing from them. Finally the locals decided to stop helping. Without food or any way to leave the island, Columbus's group was soon in serious trouble.  Luckily for Columbus, he had a book about the stars and planets on his ship. It described the movements of all the objects in the night sky. The book, written by a well-known German scientist, said there would be a total lunar eclipse on the evening of February 29,1504 and how long it would last.  Columbus worked out the difference in time between Germ any and North America. He then had a meeting with the local leaders just before the eclipse would take place. In this meeting, Columbus told them his god was angry because the local people were no longer giving food. So his god would take away the moon to punish them. The moment Columbus finished talking, just as he had planned, the moon began disappearing.  The local leaders grew frightened and quickly agreed to provide Columbus with food and anything else he wanted. But first, Columbus's god had to return the moon. Columbus told them he would have to discuss the idea with his god on his ship. Knowing the moon would stay completely hidden for about 48 minutes, Columbus returned just before the moon began to reappear. From that day on, until they finally left, Columbus and his men no longer had any trouble getting the food they needed.