http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/northern_ireland/6958216.stm

"Scientists in Pennsylvania believe they have found a mass grave containing the bodies of 57 Irish immigrants who died 175 years ago.

The men from Donegal, Tyrone and Londonderry had made the journey across the Atlantic in the summer of 1832 to work on the railroads, but their time in the US was tragically short.

Mystery still surrounds the question of how they met their deaths just six weeks after getting off the boat - a cholera epidemic was blamed, but foul play has never been ruled out.

At the time, a cholera epidemic was spreading towards the area known as Duffy's Cut, and one theory is that some of the men - none older than 25 - were murdered by local vigilantes afraid of them spreading the disease.

One factor suggesting that some of the men were murdered is that death from cholera was not inevitable, as the disease's mortality rate was not more than 65%.

With much prejudice in Pennsylvania against the Irish and Catholics at the time, the men may have been seen as an expendable underclass.

The apparent cover up by the railroad company which followed their deaths means the location of their graves has been a mystery until now...

...Immaculata University history professor Dr William Watson said advances in thermal imaging had helped them find where the men were buried.

Bullet holes in the men's skulls would confirm they were murdered.

However, the archaeologists will also turn detective, looking for clues such as if they were in a coma and presumed dead but actually buried alive."

Yeah, I would think bullet holes in the skull might give a clue....

The title was misleading. Ok, they found the graves, which is a start, but I found it annoying that they didn't confirm whether or not there were bullet holes in the skulls. I mean, can't they just look before they write the article?

It left the reader still hanging with questions. bah.

One of many incidents of violence against immigrants in the US.

In Herron Illinois minors went on strike. This was back in the 1880s. The mining company brought in foreign scabs and they were massacred by the strikers. This ugly incident is little mentioned. For years the local people in this town refused to talk about it. But I did read an article in the Chicago Tribune about it.

Mass suicide?

I dont think it can be ruled out.

:shakefist

The title was misleading. Ok, they found the graves, which is a start, but I found it annoying that they didn't confirm whether or not there were bullet holes in the skulls. I mean, can't they just look before they write the article?

It left the reader still hanging with questions. bah.

Patience... Such things take time. Clubs (or bats) are used even today by psychopaths around the world. Such weapons can be verified in forensic science, but tests take longer than the easy bullet hole or even knife wound on bone. Making the job more complicated is the age of the grave; that was a long time ago.

The closet is going to open, folks: ignorant, ethnocentric violent hillbillies, murdering outsiders.
-Reality check: is anyone claiming they don't have ancestors who fit into this category? Add on the centuries, it becomes a certainty we all have a few.

Discovery, NatGeo or one of the other "edutainment" channels would get great ratings taking on this issue. Start with the forensics in this particular case. Then (assuming at least a little bit of murder mixed in with the cholera) dealing with the issue of xenophobia and mass psychosis. A few towns on the "closet" list: Chinatown in El Paso or OK City, to start. Stay tuned...

actually forensic pathology is another one of my past interests and it's fascinating in general. in some other life I might have pursued a career in it.

in this case in particular though, I just think it's appalling what people do to each other and especially to my beloved Irish. don't know if you read the ages, but the article said none of them were over 25 years old. a bunch of children. and moreso, people trying to better their lives fleeing from the starvation inflicted on them by the British. and even moreso, my sometimes guy is from tyrone.

If it makes you feel any better some of my Irish relatives who were iron workers constructing the Pulaski Skyway "softened up" some scabs and tossed them off the bridge. Unions are a savage cult.

actually yes. that does make me feel better. :o

The title was misleading. Ok, they found the graves, which is a start, but I found it annoying that they didn't confirm whether or not there were bullet holes in the skulls. I mean, can't they just look before they write the article?

It left the reader still hanging with questions. bah.

Perhaps the Zombies attacked the Irish and sucked out their brains. :(

they might have tried, but surely the Great Pufferfish in the Sky would have sent a Blowfish Zepplin to save them. clearly this murder was solely the work of nasty american capitalists. :|

clearly this murder was solely the work of nasty american capitalists. :|

as are all murders :tinfoil:

yes :|

*buries killer-tomato land mines*

At the end of the day they were just irish, i mean just a few less drunks hanging around, it's not as if they were going to invent anything or prevent cholera or owt.:rolleyes:

Nothing to see here, move along please.

At the end of the day they were just irish, i mean just a few less drunks hanging around, it's not as if they were going to invent anything or prevent cholera or owt.:rolleyes:

Nothing to see here, move along please.

and now we discover dogberry's secret identity. he's margaret thatcher :eek:

:slap: love them, friend. love them like they were your own hot celibate long distance relationship partnerz. :)

and now we discover dogberry's secret identity. he's margaret thatcher :eek:

:slap: love them, friend. love them like they were your own hot celibate long distance relationship partnerz. :)

Love Mrs T with me:nice:

:)

not even with your equipment :eek:

Shame I pictured you in the whole right wing lesbian love thing:drool:

not even with your equipment :eek:

Oh baby, you have horns, spikes, and tubey thingz! :drool:

you too :heart: you, my wonderful friendo, are spiky and irresistable. :)

Spikes are much like velcro. :)

one could say that :p

They stick right to your heart.

or into it... but what's the difference in the long run. :)

Small blowfish are good for cleaning plaque from arteries, and like drano, can keep the sink drains clean. :)

They have a million uses!!