Read more: Duffy’s Cut victim to be given a face
Read more: Mass murder now suspected of Irishmen at Duffy’s Cut - SEE VIDEO
The body of an Irish woman murdered at Duffy’s Cut, the Pennsylvania site where 57 Irish immigrant laborers from the 1830s were buried in a mass grave, has been discovered. Many were believed to have been murdered because they contracted cholera.
The woman is believed to be Catherine Burns, a 29-year-old native of Co. Tyrone who traveled with the oldest laborer, John Burns, who was 70, according to Dr. Frank Watson, who is heading up the investigating team.
The discovery of the female remains adds yet another twist to the Duffy’s Cut saga which has brought huge interest from the media in the U.S. and Ireland.
Archaeological researchers are still excavating Duffy’s Cut, the infamous dig-site where Irish railroad workers were found buried en-masse.
The project is headed by Watson and is aimed at excavating the railroad site 30 miles west of Philadelphia.
Fifty-seven Irish emigrants were hired to construct the railway line for the Philadelphia and Columbia Railroad in 1832. The workers originated mostly from Donegal, Tyrone and Derry. They came to work on the state’s new railroad industry.
Within six weeks, all were dead of cholera and violence, and were buried anonymously in a ditch outside of Malvern.
Several reasons as to why the workers died have been put forward. The strongest reason appears to be a cruel mass murder of the workers in an intentional bid to contain the spread of a contagious disease such as cholera.
The bodies have given historical scholars and archaeologists interesting clues as to the diets, ways of life, and other information about Irish emigrant workers in America at that period.
Although it’s not known how many sites like Duffy’s Cut exist around the country, it is thought that there are many more all dating from around the same historical period, that of the start of America’s industrialization.
The laborers at Duffy's Cut sailed to America from Derry in June 1832. They were hired by contractor Philip Duffy right off the ship in Philadelphia to work on the Philadelphia and Columbia Railroad.
Read more: Duffy’s Cut victim to be given a face
Read more: Mass murder now suspected of Irishmen at Duffy’s Cut - SEE VIDEO
7 Comments
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
Switch to the desktop site to post a comment.LoveDoolin | Mar 04, 2011, 05:41 PM EST
bootsjoyce4 is a bit incorrect on the place of the Molly McGuire's hanging; they took place in Maunk Chunck (now Jim Thorpe)Pennsylvania in the Carbon County Prison. The image of Jack Kehoe's handprint, as he pronouceded his innocence, can still be seen on the wall of his cell. I've seen; scientists can't explain it.
RunningWolf | Mar 03, 2011, 02:37 PM EST
Sad that the discrimination, murders, and racism against the Irish (Italians, Slovs, and other non-WASPS) were written out of the history books. Things like this go to show that what happened cannot be forgotten.
Pittsburghkid | Mar 02, 2011, 10:56 PM EST
This is a non story in America. White Americans were not subject to inhumane conditions. Blacks and Hispanics were subjected to inhumane conditions. If unhumane conditions exsisted for White Irish then, current discrimination against Whites would be questioned. This is why America is turning Tea Party.
bootsjoyce4 | Mar 02, 2011, 06:46 PM EST
Very interesting. Iwas born and raised in Girardville, Pa.TThe home of Jack Kehoe. His bar is still there and we have our AOH meetings there. People come from all over the world to this place to Learn about the beginnings of the Labor Movement. The industrial revolution was run by anthracite coal mined by Irish catholics under brutal persecution from the Welsh and English coal barons
Irishlassred | Mar 02, 2011, 05:59 PM EST
I'm related to Jack Kehoe, of the Mollies, and I couldn't be prouder. I know that some people say what happened was justice but I say justice denied. Those men were railroaded, by the railroad.
bootsjoyce4 | Mar 02, 2011, 04:10 PM EST
Fifty some yrs. later, not too far from this place the "Molly Maguires" were hung by the neck in Pottsville,Pa The prosecutor was the Reading Railroad. They worked in inhumane conditions in the anthracite coal region of Pa.. Is there a railroad connection to violence in both cases. The rich coal and railroad barons destroyed any hope for better working conditions.. A mule was worth more to them than an Irish miner.
Searlit | Mar 02, 2011, 10:28 AM EST
Heartbreaking.