On December 30, 1881, 30 convicts, along with their guards, were shackled and deposited on the banks of the Tuckaseegee River near Dillboro, North Carolina, with a job to do: cross the river in a boat and then start digging out the Cowee Tunnel for the Western North Carolina Railroad. 19 of the 30 didn't make it across alive.Today we tell that tragic story.Be sure to subscribe to the Stories podcast at Spreaker, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube Music, or on your favorite podcast app.Thanks for listening and for sharing our stories with your friends.