The Irish at Duffy's Cut: New York Times -- Massacre or Epidemic ... or Both

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/03/25/us/secrets-of-duffys-cut-yield-to...

"MALVERN, Pa. — They laid his bones in a bed of Bubble Wrap, with a care beyond what is normally given to fragile things. They double-boxed those bones and carried them last month to the United Parcel Service office on Spruce Street in Philadelphia. Then they printed out the address and paid the fee. ...

Dr. Monge found signs of blunt head trauma in three more sets of remains, as well as a bullet hole in another. For the researchers, these forensic clues, coupled with contemporaneous news accounts, conjure a possible sequence of events in which a few workers escaped from an enforced quarantine, were subdued and killed, then returned in coffins to Duffy’s Cut, where the rest soon died of disease. Then all were buried in an anonymous grave.

“I actually think it was a massacre,” Dr. Monge said. ... "

Interesting evidence clues cited in this story, but of what? What's your view? 

Tags: Ardara, Dan Barry, Donegal, Duffy's Cut, John Stamp, Philadelphia, Ruddy

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A very moving article, Gerry, thank you very much !

"Duffy's Cut" led us to research Immaculata University and Ardara, County Donegal... 

Séamus

I have always followed this story with great interest...due in part to this fact:

" On board were dozens of young Irishmen eager to begin their American climb, bearing the names of Devine, and McIlheaney, and Skelton — and Ruddy, at 18 the youngest."

My Grandfather always spoke of his Uncle's mysterious disappearance.... "He went up to Derry and boarded a ship...promised he would send money home...it never came"

Whether mine by blood or by name only...it is troublesome that these souls have yet to have their rest

 Séamus, Bit, Glad you both found it engaging. Feel free to share it with others outside the community via the social-share buttons below the post. This helps WG in a number of ways, as you can imagine.

I recall the actor Andy Devine, Bit, a popular, jocular, well-met fellow in Westerns during the '50s (when I recall him). Any relation?

Not so far as I can find yet, Gerry...Living in Arizona...He was from up Kingman way...I am always asked that question... My devines are out of Tyrone and Leitrim

I just saw this story on PBS here in North Carolina for the first time.  Seeing the last name "Devine" and "Deveney" at the end gave me chills.  Now that I have finished my Masters degree, perhaps I can do that genealogy that I've always wanted to do.  Great story!

David, if you get stuck on your "paper trail" research, I can highly recommend DNA analysis via FamilyTreeDNA.com.  And there's another step after that which has the potential to REALLY open up your world of ancestry.

Just caught the last few minutes of that show on Philly public television last night.  very touching  final scene at a cemetery in Donegal overlooking the sea.



David DeViney said:

I just saw this story on PBS here in North Carolina for the first time.  Seeing the last name "Devine" and "Deveney" at the end gave me chills.  Now that I have finished my Masters degree, perhaps I can do that genealogy that I've always wanted to do.  Great story!

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