Dr. William Watson, a professor of history at Immaculata University, has co-authored a new book with his brother J. Francis Watson on Duffy’s Cut.
The book, Massacre at Duffy’s Cut: Tragedy and Conspiracy on the Pennsylvania Railroad, is their second on the topic. Their first, The Ghosts of Duffy’s Cut: The Irish Who Died Building America’s Most Dangerous Stretch of Railroad, was published in 2006.
“As the Duffy’s Cut narrative is increasingly being told by other writers, as well as in art and music, we felt we needed to write a new account of Duffy’s Cut based on the archaeological and archival work that came after our earlier book,” said William Watson.
Duffy’s Cut chronicles the journey of 57 Irish immigrant laborers who arrived in Philadelphia in June 1832 to work on the Philadelphia and Columbia Railroad. Contractor Philip Duffy hired them to work a stretch of track in rural Chester County known as Duffy’s Cut, but they all perished within six weeks.
For more than 180 years, the railroad maintained that cholera was to blame and kept the historical records under lock and key. In a recent excavation of their mass grave, a group of academics and volunteers, known as the Duffy’s Cut dig crew, found evidence some of the laborers were murdered.
The new book includes details about the workers and where they came from, in addition to historical personalities involved, such as Duffy, for whom the site is named. The Watsons explain how the human remains were located at the site by means of geological imaging and what the anthropological and forensic evidence shows from the research of Janet Monge, Samantha Cox, and Matt Patterson.
The book, published by The History Press, is Amazon’s No. 1 new release in the history of railroads category. The artwork on the book’s cover was created by local artist/painter Fred Danziger, whose art is also showcased in the Duffy’s Cut Museum.
Click here for more information on Massacre at Duffy’s Cut: Tragedy and Conspiracy on the Pennsylvania Railroad.
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