The beginning of the book is a bit hard to get into due to the referencing of multiple sources sited, etc. When phillip duffy died in 1871, his family made the decision to. His voyage home is the latest turn in the tale of duffys cut, a wooded patch. Today, saturday march 2nd marks another major milestone in the journey to bring peace to the 57 brave souls that lost their lives at duffys cut. Burying men under track in the fill became commonplace back in the 19 th century, although duffy s cut is the first documented case. In 2002, two men who grew up knowing the duffys cut story started investigating railroad documents about the deaths. Irelands forgotten sons recovered two centuries later.
Duffys cut archaeologists search for descendants of murdered. Image duffys cut image caption catherines name and that of her fatherinlaw john burns on the john stamp ship register that brought them to america. A 2inch coffin nail tells the story of john ruddy, an 18yearold irish immigrant. To this day, there are mysterious happenings and ghost sightings around the area of their deaths, now known as duffys cut this music tells their story. Ahtes iii, 48, of wallingford, a history and theology professor and archaeological detective, died at home sunday, july 11, of a heart attack. The bones of john ruddy, the youngest of the duffys cut 57, died there at the age of eighteen. Burying men under track in the fill became commonplace back in the 19 th century, although duffys cut is the first documented case. Duffy s cut exclusive s massacre at duffy s cut by william e. His name is believed to have been john ruddy, and he was being returned. In 1832, 57 irish immigrants working for the pennsylvania railroad, died under mysterious circumstances and were buried in a mass grave. Ruddy is the author of manny man does the history of ireland 3. People called this stretch the hardest mile due to its tedious, backbreaking load. The publisher, like all academic presses, makes almost all the money. Duffy s cut is the name given to a stretch of railroad tracks about 30 miles west of philadelphia, united states, originally built for the philadelphia and columbia railroad in the summer and fall of 1832.
For 170 years, the story of duffys cut was simply an urban legend that had been passed down by locals through the centuries, the tale of railroad laborers buried alongside the malvern curve. Mar 02, 20 today, saturday march 2nd marks another major milestone in the journey to bring peace to the 57 brave souls that lost their lives at duffys cut. Working for angus council, he works hard to reduce the councils carbon footprint, and naturally takes a keen interest in. The watsons have tentatively identified him as john ruddyan 18yearold laborer. To this day, there are mysterious happenings and ghost sightings around the area of their deaths, now known as duffy s cut this music tells their story.
I myself was able to pull out of the first grave the skull of a man who we believe was called john ruddy, an 18yearold who came over as a labourer from donegal to work on the railroad. Nearly 60 irish railroad workers died at duffy s cut outside philadelphia in 1832. May 18, 2015 image duffy s cut image caption catherine s name and that of her fatherinlaw john burns on the john stamp ship register that brought them to america. The remains of a fifth irishman, john ruddy, will be shipped to the family. He is the coauthor of the book, the mystery of duffys cut. In the cut was made into a movie just a scant few years ago by artsy feminist director jane campion, with meg ryan the allamerican girl trying to pull the midlife star comeback and the sexy imagechanging turn with oscarbait glum acting chops and the requisite nudity in the role of the language scholar and teacher who succumbs to the pull of the seamy side of nyc. Manchester pastor details duffys cut atrocity in new book. Enter your mobile number or email address below and well send you a link to download the free kindle app. Frank watson gained international notice for codiscovering a mass grave of. Nov 26, 2008 the truth might have forever remained hidden had not bill watson, a pennsylvania historian, and his brother frank, a lutheran minister, discovered an old file titled duffys cut buried among their. Aug 14, 2018 the three, together with john eates, combined to write a book, the ghosts of duffys cut, which was published in 2006.
In his book filled office at immaculata, bill watson showed off a small box that contained a piece of john ruddys jaw which. We earned nothing from tile films, ltd, of dublin, which produced the two. In the cut is a masterpiece of literary suspense and sexual exploration. Frank watson holds a nail, fused to wood, from the coffin of murdered duffy s cut laborer john ruddy. The watsons have tentatively identified him as john ruddyan 18yearold laborer from. Annes cemetery in the port richmond section of philadelphia, and until now, his grave has been unmarked purposefully. Before 2004, hikers passing through the woods in chester county, pennsylvania in the vicinity of malvern would have encountered a granite block enclosure with no identifying marker. The exact whereabouts of the remains of the irish workers within the boundaries of the site, or just beyond its borders, had been a mystery for more than a century and a half. John is a labour activist in angus, in north east scotland. Revisiting the ghosts of duffys cut history ireland. John ruddy killed while building pennsylvania railroad in. Through this anomaly, dna blood samples from residents in ireland, and the john stamps ship manifest, he was able to identify the remains. He also made a casket for john ruddy, a young man whose body was returned to ireland to be buried there. It was a defect in the upper right molar that occurs in 1 in 100,000 people, a feature that he referred to as exceptionally rare.
In march 2012, five bodies were given a mass of christian burial and reinterred in laurel hill cemetary. Duffys cut secrets unearthed archaeological dig to start again at us railway site where 57 irish labourers died, some violently. Jun 29, 2012 one worker, tentatively identified as john ruddy by a unique genetic variation, has been linked with a possible family back in donegal who still carry this mutationn, pending dna test results. Duffys cut archaeologists search for descendants of. Frank watson gained international notice for codiscovering a mass grave of irish railroad workers in 2009. Oct 08, 2015 the duffys cut project was originated by dr. Being into railroad history and being 12 irish was a big reason for my interest in reading about duffys cut. Nov 19, 2008 also, there is a book about this sad story. The three, together with john eates, combined to write a book, the ghosts of duffy s cut, which was published in 2006. Nearly 60 irish railroad workers died at duffys cut outside philadelphia in 1832.
Duffys cut secrets unearthed ireland the sunday times. Duffys cut archaeologists search for descendants of murdered john ruddy. After a long journey, the john stamp arrived in philadelphia safely on june 23, 1832, during. He was laid to rest in ardara co donegal today in a simple and. Secrets of duffys cut yield to shovel and science the new york. The men were put up in a shantytown and given strict orders not to leave the camp. The first body identified was that of 18yearold john ruddy from donegal, who was reinterred at holy family cemetery in. The truth might have forever remained hidden had not bill watson, a pennsylvania historian, and his brother frank, a lutheran minister, discovered an old file titled duffys. His latest book, massacre at duffys cut, is available through. The watsons have tentatively identified him as john ruddy an 18yearold laborer from.
Celeste ng, ann patchett, min jin lee and others on the books that. Duffys jacket by bruce coville nook book ebook barnes. In his book filled office at immaculata, bill watson showed off a small box that contained a piece of john ruddys jaw which would go with the brothers on their flight over. Jul 18, 2010 professor told the story of deaths at duffy s cut by sally a. Duffy s cut is the name given to mile 59 of the columbia and philadelphia railroad later pennsylvania railroad mainline. It turns out that john ruddy had a distinctive dental trait. Irish pipes and other artifacts were found as well.
Duffys cut exclusive s massacre at duffys cut by william e. Susanna moore is the author of the novels the big girls, one last look, in the cut, sleeping beauties, the whiteness of bones, my old sweetheart, and a book of nonfiction, i myself have seen it. This weekend, a man named phillip duffy will receive a grave marker which is being donated by laurel hill cemetery. Originally from devon, he moved up to scotland with his arbroathborn wife in 2007. Funeral of murdered 1832 duffys cut female victim in co. The watsons have been working on doing justice to the dead of duffys cut for years, long before anyone in the press paid them any attention, nor did the the john ruddy connection result in some great avalanche of attention. John ruddy, 18, was on the john stamps manifest as one. Duffy was in need of men who would work tirelessly for little pay. The truth is noone alive really knows what happened during the searing august of 1832 at duffys cut in malvern, southeastern pennsylvania. The bookshop is a local, family owned shop in westport, co.
Watson, francis frank watson, earl schandelmeier and john athes, the ghosts of duffys cut. Francis watson available october 22, 2018 and our beautiful cd entitled songs of duffys cut featuring several artists and their tributes to duffys cut. Then you can start reading kindle books on your smartphone, tablet, or. Secrets of duffys cut yield to shovel and science the. The line later became part of the pennsylvania railroads main line. Ruddy share book recommendations with your friends. A docudrama of the same name was produced by tiles films of dublin. Led by frank watson, william watson, earl schandelmeier, the duffys cut. Ahtes and watson began excavating the site in 2004 and in 2006 published the book the ghosts of duffys cut. The history blog blog archive duffys cut victim returns to. She is the second of the duffys cut victims to be identified and buried at home in ireland. It appears to have been a massacre, for whatever reason. Phillip duffy ventured down to the philadelphia docks on june 23, 1832, and met the immigrants who had just come ashore from the john stamp. A sixth body was recovered and identified as john ruddy from inishowen, county.
Track mile 59, later known as duffy s cut, was a setback. Direct descendents of john ruddys father and uncle from the donegal town of inishowen will attend. Duffys cut clonmany genealogy family history and heritage. On friday the town of clonoe will come together to lay burns to rest. Irelands forgotten sons recovered two centuries later history. Secrets of mass grave revealed by freya mcclements. In their new book, massacre at duffys cut, william and frank watson detail their. Ruddy was given a ceremonial burial at the church of the holy family in ardara, co. Duffys cut victims will be remembered, but not recovered. Duffys cut beer to fund excavation of irish workers. The evidence is thin, its true, but its not nonexistent.
The first body identified was that of 18yearold john ruddy from donegal, who was reinterred at holy family cemetery in ardara, county donegal on march 2, 20. Track mile 59, later known as duffys cut, was a setback. Manchester pastor details duffy s cut atrocity in new book. His name was john ruddy of inishowen, and he traveled from.
It is open to the public and available for viewing anytime the library is open ask for the key duffyscut. Just beyond the railroad station is duffys cut, the focal point of the tale of 57 irish. In the following years, the research and onsite excavations have been led by the watsons and earl schadnelmeier. Watson, francis frank watson, earl schandelmeier and john athes, the ghosts of duffy s cut. This much though is indisputable fifty seven irish labourers who had been constructing mile 59 of the philadelphia and columbia railroad died suddenly that summer in the wooded valley. Some researchers believe cholera was to blame, but historians frank and bill.
Duffys cut is the name given to a stretch of railroad tracks about 30 miles west of philadelphia. We get 25 cents per man for each of the four authors of the book, the ghosts of duffys cut. Irishmen killed building america finally get proper burial. John ruddy, from donegal, is buried in ardara in a grave donated by vince. Duffys cut victims will be remembered, but not recovered duffys cut memorial cross designed by johnnie rowe from the beginning of the duffys cut project, back in 2002, bill and frank watson knew there was a possibility that they would not be able to recover the bodies of the 57 irish workers who died in 1832 under mysterious. Laurel hill and duffys cut a history of our connections. In the cut, slang for vagina, the street usage meaning a safe place to hide begins with a halfwitnessed blowjob in the basement of a seedy bar, which sets the tone for this intellectual and precisely written thriller by susanna moore thirty five year old frannie is an english. January 2004 gena anderson fiction in the cut by susanna moore. Francis watson available october 22, 2018 and our beautiful cd entitled songs of duffy s cut featuring several artists and their tributes to duffy s cut. Pennsylvania historical and museum commission marker sorta nearby. Aug 16, 2018 the three, together with john eates, combined to write a book, the ghosts of duffys cut, which was published in 2006. In the summer of 1832 the sailing ship john stamp tied up into the port of pennsylvania up the ladder from the cargo deck poor m. Duffys cut is the name given to mile 59 of the columbia and philadelphia railroad later pennsylvania railroad mainline. The line later became part of the pennsylvania railroad s main line.
Those involved in uncovering the story published a book of the same name. Followed this for a long time remains just sent back to ireland for burial. The truth is noone alive really knows what happened during the searing august of 1832 at duffy s cut in malvern, southeastern pennsylvania. These men were william watson, a professor of history at immaculata university in malvern near duffys cut, and his twin brother, dr.
Blunt trauma was noted on two of the skulls and there is evidence that some of the bones were struck by projectiles such as bullets. It was hard labor, leveling a hill for the philadelphia and columbia railroad. John ruddy, an 18 year old boy, who left ireland in april of 1832 has finally come home. The hopeful jig the irish crossing the sea is soon followed by, the railroad begins, which musically. Jun 25, 2015 in 2002, two men who grew up knowing the duffys cut story started investigating railroad documents about the deaths. The three, together with john eates, combined to write a book, the ghosts of duffys cut, which was published in 2006. John ruddy 18is the first of the duffys cut victims to be returned to ireland. When the epidemic subsided, the official account of the sad but unremarkable toll at track mile 59, also known as duffy s cut, was eight dead, with the shanty burned down and buried by a humane. Mar 16, 2014 irish pipes and other artifacts were found as well. The story of the seven irish lads whose remains have been recovered from duffys cut is told at immaculatas library where a museum is dedicated to the project. Researchers are going ahead with ruddys burial this weekend because of a looming deadline for a documentary film crew that has been following the. He greeted the immigrants and persuaded 57 of them to work for him on track mile 59 duffys cut. Duffys cut is the name given to a stretch of railroad tracks some 30 miles west of philadelphia, usa, and originally built for the philadelphia and columbia railroad in the summer and fall of 1832.
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