On this day Feb 29: Western knowledge terrifies natives.

On this day February 29:
1504-Christopher Columbus used his superior Western knowledge of a lunar eclipse that night to convince hostile natives in Jamaica to provide him with much needed supplies or the moon would disappear from the sky. At first the savages laughed but when the eclipse occurred they were terrified and complied!.
1692-John Byrom, inventor of a revolutionary system of shorthand was born in Manchester.
1704-French and Indians attacked Deerfield Massachusetts, killing 50 men, women and children and abducting over a 100, many of whom were killed.
1864-American Civil War: Kilpatrick-Dahlgren Raid fails – plans to free 15,000 Union soldiers being held near Richmond, Virginia were thwarted.
1908-57 year old Patrick Floyd Garrett, American gunslinger and lawman (best known for killing Billy the Kid) was shot dead by Jesse Wayne Brazel in a dispute over a herd of goats.
1940-Finland initiated Winter War peace negotiations with Bolshevik Russia.
1944- The Germans launched their third major offensive at Anzio.
1952-The island of Heligoland was restored to German authority.

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