Walking through the streets of Erie, Pennsylvania, Shane noticed a poster. The poster glistened with painted golden nuggets and bison steaks. Shane was interested in this scene of prosperity and adventure. 

He read the details and learned that he could earn money by working to build a railroad across the country. Ever since he moved from Ireland, Shane had worked constructing similar things, so he felt comfortable with the dangers. Plus, he needed the money and he longed for the adventure the West could bring.

Build the Transcontinental Railroad!

Shane made his way to Nebraska with his pickaxe and his best boots. In Nebraska, he was given a job on the railroad! 

Since he already had a pickaxe, he was quickly brought out to the railroad, where he had the job of flattening the ground for the railroad. He was to be paid 80$ a month! He spent his first day mining out the side of a river, so that a crew could build a bridge for the rail.

Shane worked hard every day with his crew and soon they were flying through the plains. They were laying 2 miles of track a day!

His crew was made of all different people, with people who had lived in China, been enslaved, and even fought in the Civil War.

Life was hard, but they kept making progress. Soon, Shane saw mountains in the distance. He started hearing whispers throughout the camp, and the next morning, many of the Chinese people in his crew were gone. 

BANG!

BANG!

BANG!

Shane kept working, but he started hearing explosions and screams. Soon, he saw his Chinese friends carrying large baskets of rock off into the distance and another group carrying injured people away. They were carving into the mountain!

AAAAAAH!

Soon, the rest of Shane’s crew was called to work on the tunnel. Shane was placing black powder to be exploded when he heard a bang and a scream behind him. He rushed back but by the time he got there it was all cleaned up.

The next day, Shane noticed someone was missing.