Less than two months after their arrival , all 57 are believed to have died during the second cholera pandemic , although it 's also thought they were murdered to stop the spread of the disease which was a worldwide contagion spanning several continents and many years .
Less than two months after their arrival , all 57 are believed to have died during the second cholera pandemic . 
 While most died of the disease , forensic evidence suggests that some were murdered , perhaps to stop the spread of the disease which was a worldwide contagion spanning several continents and many years .