Secrets of the Dead: Death on the Railroad

Gr 9 Up—Leaving behind a homeland that offered only a bleak future, a group of young Irishmen came to America in 1832 in the hope of improved opportunities. But hard labor in the emerging railroad industry in the Pennsylvania backcountry proved unforgiving and eventually fatal. Eight weeks after they began working, 57 men were dead. In this engaging film, diverse researchers and scientists seek to uncover what actually happened at mile 59 of the Philadelphia to Pittsburg mainline known as "Duffy's Cut." In the process, the team uncovers a dark chapter in American history, one in which cholera and xenophobia combine in a deadly mixture. Overlapping dramatic re-creations with academic interviews, the film covers the journey of discovery as the group digs deeper into the mystery and forms an emotional connection with the victims. This production serves as a great example of how historical investigation can draw us into the past, bridging the gap between us and our forebearers. Recommended for media centers supporting American history curriculums.—Brian Odom, Pelham Public Library, AL