Re: Llama Attacks


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Posted by NoKarma4U on November 11, 2002 at 13:25:53:

In Reply to: Llama Attacks posted by Mark Holloway (Tumbleweed) on November 11, 2002 at 07:24:19:

Here is a lesser-known photograph of the second known victim of the Death Valley killer lammas. Bill "Northbuckle" Harrington (pictured on the far right and navigator of the 1908 survey party) was a member of the original party that discovered the first llama victim. Following the taking of the first (and most famous) photograph of the llama victim, project archeaologist Dr. Eudora Fletcher (pictured 5th from left) complained that she had blinked for the duration of the entire 45-second exposure. Though the rest of the team was exasperated, they didn't want to endure the constant whining of Dr. Fletcher (for which she was famously noted) and they begrudgingly agreed to pose for a second photograph which was taken just moments before Northbuckle was pounced from behind by a prowling llama (seen at the extreme right of this second photo moments before the attack).

It has always been a misconception of mine that due to the llama's affectation of a bowler hat that this photograph could be reliably dated to the 1860's or 1870's. This is apparently not the case, however, as recent discussions in this forum have dated this photograph to after the turn of the 20th century, and my complete disregarded for the well-known tendency of llamas to cling to styles of dress that have long passed out of fashion.

As an interesting sidenote, it can be noted that Northbuckle got his nickname from the curious property of his belt buckle to always point to the due magnetic north. While this characteristic was never scientifically explained, it can be surmised from this photo that the survey party pictured above were facing somewhat east of north when this photograph was taken. Though he had no significant experience or skills as a navigator, this was nonetheless Northbuckle's primary role in most of expidetions in which he participated.


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