
In 1502, the renowned explorer Christopher Columbus, who is credited with discovering the New World, set out on his fourth and final voyage in the hopes of discovering a western route to Asia. This expedition, however, proved to be his most difficult and ultimately brought about an unexpected turn of events. Columbus and his crew encountered difficult conditions and uncertainty while stranded in Jamaica during their journey. In an amazing turn of events, a lunar eclipse was crucial to their survival. This article explores the fascinating tale of how Christopher Columbus ended up stranded in Jamaica and how he cunningly used the impending lunar eclipse to bargain his way out of this precarious circumstance.
Christopher Columbus’s Stranded Voyage to Jamaica
Ah, the story of Christopher Columbus, the traveler who accidentally discovered America and forever altered the course of human history. What about his less well-known exploits, such as the time he got lost in Jamaica? Yes, it appears that even renowned explorers occasionally find themselves in a sticky situation. Come with me as we examine the events leading up to Columbus’s fateful encounter with a lunar eclipse on his fourth and final voyage.
The Journey: Columbus’s Fourth and Final Voyage
Columbus set out on his fourth and final voyage in 1502, full of hope and a little bit of wanderlust. His goals were to find a western route to the Far East, amass wealth, and perhaps discover a few uncharted territories along the way. Columbus set out in search of glory with three ships: the unassuming-sounding but sturdy Santa Mara de la Victoria, the forgotten-sibling-of-the-Nia, La Capitana, and the tried-and-true Santiago. He had no idea what adventures awaited him.
Stranded in Jamaica: Events leading to the Eclipse
Imagine Columbus’ fleet arriving in Jamaica in 1503; they are exhausted and in need of rest. But alas, luck was not on the side of our brave explorer. The crew needed time to make repairs because the ships were damaged. Days became weeks, and then weeks became months. The crew soon understood they were stranded, and their worry quickly turned to desperation.
Being the resourceful man that he was, Columbus decided to engage in negotiation. By promising that their god would reward their generosity, he persuaded the locals to provide the necessities for his crew. Days again turned into weeks, and food became scarce. As they anxiously awaited word that they would be rescued from this beached purgatory, the crew and the locals’ patience grew thin.
The Superstitious Natives: Response to the Stranded Europeans
Columbus and his crew encountered a mixture of superstition and curiosity as they interacted with Jamaica’s native population. The natives initially viewed them with suspicion because they were unfamiliar with the presence of Europeans. While some perceived them as divine visitors, others thought they were cursed creatures who were to blame for their misfortune.
Ever the diplomat, Columbus used his charm and wit to win over the locals. Through his efforts, he won their confidence and eventually persuaded them to exchange their priceless supplies for insignificant trinkets. The locals were superstitious, but they were also shrewd negotiators, despite their superstition.
Columbus and his crew had no idea that a celestial event would drastically alter their situation. A lunar eclipse illuminated the Jamaican sky on the evening of February 29, 1504, giving the night a sinister glow. The superstitious natives rushed to give Columbus and his crew an abundance of provisions, thinking it was a sign from their gods, in an effort to win their favor.
Columbus and his crew said goodbye to their temporary haven in Jamaica and set sail once more into the unknown, their bellies full and spirits high. The stranded voyage had come to an end, leaving behind a tale of diplomatic skill, resourcefulness, and a dash of lunar good fortune.
But keep in mind that even the most accomplished explorers occasionally become stranded and reliant on the generosity of strangers and the whims of nature. Therefore, the next time you find yourself in a difficult circumstance, just remember Christopher Columbus and his lunar eclipse journey. Who knows, maybe everything will come together for you as well.
Columbus’s Ingenious Plan: Predicting the Lunar Eclipse
When Christopher Columbus and his crew got stuck in Jamaica in 1504, they had a difficult task ahead of them: persuading the locals to keep bringing them food and supplies. Columbus, ever the resourceful traveler, devised a brilliant scheme to astound and impress the locals: he predicted a lunar eclipse.
Columbus had access to almanacs that detailed celestial events and was well-versed in astronomy. He was aware that on February 29, 1504, there would be a lunar eclipse. With this information in hand, he approached the Cacique (chief) in the area and asked to meet with his council.
The Agreement with the Natives: Columbus’s Negotiation Tactics
Columbus took advantage of the upcoming lunar eclipse in his meeting with the tribal council. In retaliation for their lack of cooperation, he informed the council that he had the authority to cause the moon to vanish. He forewarned them that the moon would vanish from the sky on the appointed night if they did not furnish him and his crew with provisions.
Naturally, the locals were dubious at first, but as the predicted date approached, they grew more concerned. Columbus made a show of praying before announcing that he would spare the moon from disappearing as a sign of mercy after sensing their fear and desperation. However, he made it clear that this act of goodwill would only continue if the natives continued to provide the necessary supplies.
The Miracle of the Eclipse: Impact and Resolution
The locals gave the crew an abundance of food and supplies as the night of the lunar eclipse drew near, curious to see if Columbus could truly control the celestial forces. Knowing he had to keep his word, Columbus checked his almanac and correctly predicted when the eclipse would occur.
Columbus acted as though he were in deep prayer that fateful night as the moon started to eclipse, and he dramatically begged the heavens for help. The moon then started to reappear as if by magic. The natives were in awe and fear as they watched this extraordinary event. They instantly knelt at Columbus’ feet, pleading for his pardon and promising to give the crew whatever they required.
The miraculous lunar eclipse not only saved Columbus and his crew from starvation but also secured their safety and well-being during their time in Jamaica.

The Arabia Steamboat: Unearthing a 19th Century Time Capsule from the Missouri River
The Arabia was a steamboat that sank in the Missouri River in 1856. Over time, the river shifted 800 meters to the east, eventually turning the site of the sinking into a field. The steamboat remained under 45 feet of slit and topsoil until 1988, when it was excavated. The mud, as it turned out, was such a great preserver that most of the artifacts on board were found to be intact. They even found jars of preserved apples that were still edible!

History of Treadmill, punishment for prisoners
Treadmills were originally a punishment used to harness human power on a giant wheel used to grind grains, hence the name "treadmill." The History of Treadmill

George Dantzig solved two famous “unsolved” problems in statistics mistakenly as assignment
In 1939, George Dantzig arrived late to his statistics class. On the board were two famous “unsolved” problems in statistics written as an example by his professor. Dantzig mistook the examples for homework assignments. He solved the “unsolved” problems and submitted the homework to his professor a few days later. His solutions earned him a doctorate.

Mother who spent entire life savings for daughter’s cancer treatment won the lottery
A mother won $2 million from a $10 scratch-off lottery ticket after she spent all of her entire life savings to pay her daughter’s cancer treatment. She bought the winning ticket after her daughter’s last cancer treatment.

The Bizarre (And Magical) Duel Between Chung Ling Soo And Ching Ling Foo
Ching Ling Foo and Chung Ling Soo were two magicians from the early 20th century who were bitter rivals. While Ching Ling Foo was genuinely Chinese, Chung Ling Soo was actually a New Yorker named William Robinson.

Iranian inmate dies from happiness after finding out he will not be executed
An Iranian man who was convicted of murder reportedly died from happiness after learning that his death sentence was being commuted.

Juliane Koepcke: The Teenager Who Fell 10,000 Feet And Trekked The Jungle to survive
In 1971, a high school student was sucked out of an airplane after it was struck by lightning. She fell 10,000 feet to the ground while still strapped to her chair and survived. Only to endure a 9-day trek to the nearest civilization.

Will & William Wests: The puzzling situation of two inmates who are identical but not related
These are the mugshots of Will West and William West, and they are not related. They were both sent to Leavenworth Prison at the same time, in 1903, and after some confusion, the staff understood they had two different prisoners with the nearly same name, who looked exactly alike. They are part of the reason fingerprints are now used as identification.

Inside China’s Footbinding Tradition: The Painful Ritual of Lotus Shoes and Bound Feet
In China, Lotus shoes were used to bind women's feet to keep their feet small

The history of Flour sack clothing fashion
After Kansas mill owners found women reused flour sack materials into apparel in the 1920s and 1930s, they started applying patterned designs to give families with more fashionable patterns and material.

The Baltic Way: the longest unbroken human chain in history
On August 23, 1989, about 2 million people from Latvia, Estonia, and Lithuania formed a human chain that united all 3 countries to show the world their desire to escape the Soviet Union and the communism that brought only suffering and poverty. This power stretched 600 km.

Irena Sendler: woman who rescued Jews during holocaust
Irene Sendler was the Zegota resistance group's head of the children's department. She risked her life to smuggle children out of the Warsaw ghetto, place them with Polish families or orphanages, give each child a new identity, and keep records so that they could be returned to their families. In 1943, the Gestapo arrested and sentenced her to death, but she was rescued by Zegota.

The incredible story of Julia "Butterfly" Hill and her legacy
American environmental activist Julia “Butterfly” Hill lived in a 1500-year-old California Redwood tree for 738 days to prevent it from being cut down by the Pacific Lumber Company. The Simpson’s episode “Lisa the Tree Hugger” was inspired by Hill’s story.

Titanoboa cerrejonensis, fossils of the world’s largest species of snake
In 2009 in a coal mine of Columbia, scientists discovered fossils of the world’s largest species of snake. The species is called “Titanoboa cerrejonensis,“and it is from around 60 million years ago. It would have had measured about 48 feet long and weighed about 2,500 pounds

Mario Segale, Developer Who Inspired Nintendo to Name Super Mario
Super Mario is named after real-life businessman Mario Segale, who was renting out a warehouse to Nintendo. After Nintendo fell far behind on rent, Segale did not evict them but gave them a second chance to come up with the money. Nintendo succeeded and named their main character after him.

Marion Stokes recorded 30 years of television
Marion Stokes, a Philadelphia woman began taping whatever was on television in 1979 and didn’t stop until her death in 2012. The 71,000 VHS and Betamax tapes she made are the most complete collection preserving this era of TV. They are being digitized by the Internet Archive.

Ancient Egyptians Had Pregnancy Tests Over 3500 Years Ago
The ancient Egyptians used a pregnancy test that involved potentially pregnant women peeing on barley and wheat seeds. Plant growth indicated pregnancy: barley for a boy and wheat for a girl. Later tests revealed that pregnant women's urine causes plant growth 70% of the time, whereas non-pregnant women's urine does not.

Quaker Oats Fed Children with Radioactive Oatmeal
In the 1940s and 1950s, Quaker Oats and MIT conducted experiments on radioactive iron and calcium-containing cereal. The diet was part of a study to see if the nutrients in Quaker oatmeal traveled throughout the body. In January 1998, a $1.85 million settlement was reached for 30 victims who came forward.

Ancient Jericho: The First Walled City In History
The ancient city of Jericho is the world's oldest walled city, with evidence of stone fortifications dating back nearly 9000 years.

Graves holding hands over wall, A Catholic woman and her Protestant husband grave
A protestant man and a Catholic woman who weren't allowed from being buried together in a graveyard in 19th-century Holland turned their graves into a monument showing them holding hands across the wall separating them.

Philippines, the largest supplier of Nurses in the World
Philippines is the world’s largest supplier of nurses, supplying roughly 25% of all overseas nurses worldwide.

Did Gil Pérez Really Teleport from Manila to Mexico Overnight? The 1593 Mystery
On October 24, 1593, while performing his guard duties at Manila's Governor's Palace in the Philippines, Gil Perez stopped to lean against a wall and sleep for a while. He opened his eyes to find himself in an unusual environment. Gil was in the Plaza Mayor in Mexico City. They imprisoned Perez, but the authorities in Mexico City decided to release him and return him home.

The mysterious secret of Dr James Barry
Before women were allowed to enroll in medical school, Margaret Ann Bulkley studied medicine and assumed the identity of Dr. James Barry for 56 years while dressing as a man. After 46 years of service as an army doctor officer, her secret was not made public until after her death in 1865.

Franz Ferdinand’s Assassination that sparked World War I
Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria and his wife Sophie are shot to death by a Bosnian Serb nationalist during an official visit to the Bosnian capital of Sarajevo on June 28, 1914. The killings sparked a chain of events that led to the eruption of World War I by early August.

Knockers-up: waking up the Industrial Britain's Workers in 1900-1941
Before alarm clocks were invented, there was a profession called a knocker-up, which involved going from client to client and tapping on their windows (or banging on their doors) with long sticks until they were awake. It lasted into the 1920s.