{"product_id":"the-ghosts-of-duffys-cut-william-e-watson-9780275987275","title":"The Ghosts of Duffy's Cut: The Irish Who Died Building America's Most Dangerous Stretch of Railroad","description":"\u003cp\u003eIn 1832, 57 Irish Catholic workers were brought to the United States to lay one of the most difficult miles of American railway, Duffy's Cut of the Pennsylvania Railroad. These men were chosen because, in the eyes of the railroad company that hired them, they were expendable. Deaths were common during the building of the railway but this stretch was worse than most. When cholera swept the camp basic medical attention and community support was denied to them. In the end all 57 men--the entire work crew--died and were buried in a mass unmarked grave. Their families in Ireland were never notified about what happened to them. The company did its best to cover up the incident, which was certainly one of the worst labor tragedies in U.S. history. Set against the backdrop of a rapidly industrializing America, this book tells the story of these men, the sacrifices they made, and the mistreatment that claimed their lives. \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003eThe saga of Duffy's Cut focuses particularly on the Irish laborers who built the railroads. Who were these men? Who hired them? Why did they come? Perhaps most important, why did they die? Based on archaeological digs at the site and meticulous historical research, the authors argue that the annihilation of the work crew came about because of the extreme conditions of their employment, the prejudice of the surrounding community, and the vigilante violence that kept them isolated. In shedding light on this tragic chapter in American labor history, \u003ci\u003eThe Ghosts of Duffy's Cut\u003c\/i\u003e also illuminates a dark side of America's rise to greatness.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eAuthor:\u003c\/b\u003e William E. Watson, J. Francis Watson, John H. Ahtes\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eISBN-10:\u003c\/b\u003e 0275987272\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eISBN-13:\u003c\/b\u003e 9780275987275\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePublisher:\u003c\/b\u003e Praeger\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eLanguage:\u003c\/b\u003e English\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePublished:\u003c\/b\u003e 07\/01\/2006\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePages:\u003c\/b\u003e 240\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eFormat:\u003c\/b\u003e Hardcover\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eWeight:\u003c\/b\u003e 1.17lbs\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eSize:\u003c\/b\u003e 9.75h x 6.50w x 0.99d\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eReview Citation(s): \u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003ci\u003eReference and Research Bk News\u003c\/i\u003e 11\/01\/2006 pg. 76","brand":"William E. Watson","offers":[{"title":"Hardcover","offer_id":43913549512959,"sku":"9780275987275","price":65.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0662\/2982\/9887\/products\/img_4ac2e425-e350-4b3e-b38d-c7eaff5ec0da.jpg?v=1680620993","url":"https:\/\/www.whiterainbookhouse.com\/products\/the-ghosts-of-duffys-cut-william-e-watson-9780275987275","provider":"WR Book House","version":"1.0","type":"link"}