Accident
Accidents were the leading cause of death in the CSI:D sample, and drowning was the leading cause of death among mortal accidents. There are myriad reasons why. Broad swaths of the American public did not know how to swim. Primary modes of transportation, especially early in the century, involved river routes. Mill ponds were prevalent. Children played outside—generally a good thing but occasionally a sad one. Perhaps the saddest of these incidents involved a mass May Day drowning at Boykin Mill Pond in 1860. Twenty-eight teenagers set off on a raft that hit a snag and more than twenty-five drowned, including all five children from one family. Sadder still may be the case of Noah Wesley Dawkins. In mid-June 1888, Dawkins and his friends, all African Americans, set off for a local watering hole where they ran into three white boys, one of whom offered Dawkins fifty cents if he would walk into a particular area in the creek, assuring him it wasn’t deep. It was deep, and Dawkins drowned. It is tempting to classify this as a homicide, but it is clear from testimony that the white children thought they were playing a cruel trick, not a deadly one.
Alcohol was such a critical indirect cause in so many of the accidental drownings, shootings, fires, and falls in CSI:D that it really ought to be regarded the deadliest force in nineteenth century South Carolina. In addition to these indirect roles, alcohol was the direct cause of accidental death in more than sixty cases. It was probably also a direct cause in many of the ‘exposure’ cases—bodies that were discovered outside and were thought to have died from exposure to the elements.
Nineteenth century law enforcement had no recourse to blood-alcohol tests. Even today, determining precise BACs postmortem, and working back from those to levels of inebriation at time of death, is fraught with difficulty. This meant that nineteenth-century coroners had to rely exclusively on witness testimony and the known habits of the deceased to determine alcohol’s role in producing death. Standing around a dead man, jurors found themselves passing judgment on just how drunk he had been the night before. According to witnesses, John Goodlett “seemed to be drunk.” John Agner was “sorry he was drunk.” Abe Waganan was “very funny & lively”—very drunk as [was] his custom.” Is ‘very drunk’ drop-dead drunk? It is hard to know. On the night of January 15, 1816, Angus McQueen drank more than half a gallon of spirits. “The dec’d was very much intoxicated,” noted one witness, “and fell down four times during which time he vomited upon the carpet.” Because McQueen kept getting up and falling down, the jurors determined that the falls (and the winter cold) contributed to his demise, though it is equally possible that McQueen died of alcohol poisoning. Juries were more likely to fix upon ‘intemperance’ as a clear cause of death if the deceased was a notorious addict. In December 1842, H. P. Church was discovered by his land-lady sprawled half on and half off of his bed. A “habitual drunkard” who had been continuously drinking for two weeks, she did not even bother to try and shake him awake. The inquest did not hesitate in finding that Church had died of intoxication.
The third leading cause of accidental deaths were ‘vehicular’ accidents, a catch-all category that includes drunken falls from a train and sober buckings from a horse. Further complicating this picture is the fact that many of the drownings probably belong in this category. There is little difference between falling unwitnessed off of a train and off of a boat, except that in one case you land on tracks and are quickly found where in the other you wash downstream, far from the site of the accident.
Bartholomew Darby was thrown from the saddle and hit his head on a stump, his wagon then “running over his head ... & breaking his neck & deeply cutting him under the right ear.” Steve Yeldell fell out of his cart and broke his neck.
All such accidents pale in comparison to the staggering mortality brought to South Carolina by train. Richard Springs was “run over by a train.” Fannie Ford was “run over by a train.”A slave named Sam was “Run over by [a] train.” Almost as soon as trains arrived in these counties, there were sots to fall off of them, laborers to be crushed by them, and depressives to jump in front of them. Indeed, it is hard to imagine a technological innovation responsible for a sharper uptick in the per capita death rate. It is also clear that coroners and inquest juries were unprepared for the level of bodily violence meted out by train. The body of a slave named Berry was “very much mashed and limbs and bones severed.” William Abbott’s body was “mangled, bruised, cut and crushed.” Even so coroners and their juries were often at pains to absolve the railroad itself of any wrong-doing. Hosea Jackson “came to his death by his own carelessness and from no carelessness whatever on the part of the engineer.” The crushing of William Roberts was likewise “not caused by any dereliction of duty on the part of the rail-road employees.” With train accidents we see for the first time the question of corporate responsibility, and potential corporate liability, creeping into the inquest process.
The larger point, however, is a physical one. Moving the body at a faster speed than the body was designed to go is an enormous convenience that has to be paid for. Today vehicular accidents (car, motorcycle, and all-terrain-vehicle) are the fourth-leading cause of death among Americans after heart disease, cancer, and stroke. The nineteenth century was not particularly different, except that families moved by horse, wagon, and train—and died less often of cancer.
The fourth leading cause of accidental death in the CSI:D sample involved the discharge of firearms. Some were simple cases of men who were cleaning or handling weapons that suddenly went off. The vast majority of cases, however, involve an unfortunate bystander. In 1849, Tilman Attaway was mistaken for a turkey by his hunting buddy. In 1808, James Spradley was leaning in to watch two dogs fight over a dead deer. Fourteen-year old George Nettles sought to break up the dogs by bashing one of them with the butt of his gun. Instead the gun discharged into Spradley’s face. As this case attests, guns and children made as disastrous a pairing then as they do now. In 1820 ten-year old Mancel King accidentally shot and killed his brother. In 1899 ten-year old John McManus shot and killed his friend. “I was fooling with the pistol and it went off,” he told the inquest.
Undoubtedly some of these gun-related ‘accidents’ were not accidents at all. A dead man alone in a room might have been cleaning his gun, or he might have harbored hidden miseries. Similarly some of the accidental misfires on bystanders were probably intentional homicides. Unless new evidence emerges at this late date, however, such cases will have to remain categorized as accidents.
The fifth leading cause of death by accident in the CSI:D sample was death by suffocation—another category that speaks more to what a coroner was called to investigate than to what people actually died from. A majority of the ‘smothering’ deaths were probably SIDS victims. In white households such cases would not have been investigated—infant mortality was relatively high in the period and a white family’s ‘dear pledges’ were often ‘recalled to God.’ But in a society where every enslaved child was as potentially valuable as a Lexus, infant death in the quarter was more rigorously investigated. Coupled with deep prejudices against enslaved mothers, inquests typically found that an unnamed “negro Child” was “negligently Smothered” by its mother, or that the enslaved child Lora was “accidentally smothered” in the family bed, or that the enslaved children Henry and Alcy were crushed in the night, having being “overlaid” by their parents. It is possible that such ‘negligence’ did occur among overworked and overtired slaves, and such findings were far preferable to those cases where enslaved parents were charged with infanticide.
The sixth leading cause of death by accident in the CSI:D sample was death by fire. Most homes in the period were made of wood. Most had fireplaces. None had a fire extinguisher. Fire was light and life, but it was also occasionally death. In 1866 a freedman named Sloan was burnt to death in a gin house. In 1890 a child named Julia Hightower wandered too close to the family fireplace. Her younger sister tried to dowse her with water to no avail.
These six types of accidental death—drowning, alcohol abuse, transportation mishaps, gun miscues, suffocations, and fires—account for 75% of the accidental deaths in the CSI:D sample. Other relatively common accidents involved falling trees and limbs, industrial accidents, and poisonings and overdoses. Rounding out the sample were accidents that were more unique. Home alone, Medora Williams had an epileptic seizure and fell into her own fireplace. Traveling with the Bailey & Company circus, George West was gored by his own elephant. (Some might not consider this an ‘accident’ since the elephant had ‘cause’; and acted with ‘intent.’)
NEXT: Natural Causes
Accident Inquests
Name | Deceased Description | Date | Inquest Location | Death Method | Inquest Finding |
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John T. Parker | November 23, 1945 | at Chesterfield, S.C., Chesterfield County, SC |
upon their oaths do say that John T. Parker received in Chesterfield County a mortal wound by Burns suffered in House fire, Origins Unknown |
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Medora Williams | April 4, 1878 | at Spartanburg C.H., Spartanburg, S.C., Spartanburg County, SC |
upon their oaths do say that the said Medora Williams while alone in her house ... fell into the fire and was burned to death while suffering from a fit or fainting |
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Jonathan Newman | October 9, 1869 | at the late residence of Jonathan C. Newman, Kershaw County, SC |
upon their oaths do say said deceased came to his death by the accidental or providential caving of a well at his own residence |
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Luis Ratcliff | May 1, 1874 | at C. A. Mores, Chesterfield County, SC |
upon their oaths, do say: That the Said George Ratcliff Maggie Ratcliff & Luis Ratcliff came to there deaths by being accidently Burnt |
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Alick Croker | boy | September 29, 1878 | at Mrs. Marshes premises, Edgefield County, SC |
Upon there oaths do say that the said Alick Croker came to his death by drownding |
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Tom | slave | May 5, 1805 | at plantation of John Chesnut, Esquire, Kershaw County, SC |
do say upon their oaths. . . that the said negro in escaping from him [the overseer] attempted to swim the river, and was drowned |
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Isaac Davis | February 27, 1880 | at Jas. R. McGills, Fairfield County, SC |
upon their oaths do say, the deceased came to his death by a well caving in, covering and smothering him to death at Jas. R. McGills, near Monticello. And so the jurors aforesaid, upon their oaths, do say that Isaac Davis in manner and form aforesaid came to his death by misfortune or accident. |
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Lewis Jackson | July 23, 1889 | at Squire Jackson's, Spartanburg County, SC |
upon there oaths do say that Lewis Jackson came ot his death by being crushed in the machinery of the Brick mill of the Spartanburg Factory by carelessness of the Deceased and disobeying the orders of the foreman |
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Thomas | child of Thomas M Chandler | September 11, 1850 | at Thos M. Chandler's house, and at the old Pottery, Edgefield County, SC |
upon their oaths do say, that the deceased came to his death on the 8th ist by accidental drowning |
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Bluford Papley | November 3, 1889 | on the plantation of Thos L Badgett, Laurens County, SC |
upon their oaths do say that Bluford Paply came to his death ("by the Explosion of Thos L Badgetts Boiler") |
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George | February 6, 1815 | at the plantation of Daniel Brag, Laurens County, SC |
doth say upon their oaths saith that on the 5th of this instant in crossing Enoree River got wash. Off his horse and got drowned. |
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Caroline Rhodes | April 17, 1865 | at Burnt Factory, Spartanburg County, SC |
upon their oaths do say that she came to her death by accidental drowning in Tyger River just below A. Floyd's mill dam |
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Tom Purvis | February 5, 1912 | at T. A. Hendricks Res, Chesterfield County, SC |
upon their oaths, do say: Tom Purvis came to his death By Accidental Gun Shot wound in the Hands of Ray Hendrick |
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infant child | infant child | January 18, 1892 | at the Plantation of L. G. Swearinger, Edgefield County, SC |
upon their oaths do say from suffocation |
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Joe Church | March 12, 1941 | at Pageland, Chesterfield County, SC |
upon their oaths do say that Joe Church received in Chesterfield County a mortal wound by Suffocation and burn from fire in jail cell occupied by himself |
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Younger son of Joe Cunningham | Younger son of Joe Cunningham | March 26, 1908 | [no location given], Chesterfield County, SC |
[No official declaration] |
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West Myers | boy | August 8, 1866 | on Washington [?], Greenville County, SC |
upon their aoths do say that sd West Myers was accidentally drowned by Cicero Caveton[?] |
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Fannie Patton | November 18, 1898 | at Francis Williams house, Edgefield County, SC |
upon their oaths do say that upon examination find that Fannie Patton Came to her death by accidental Drowning |
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George Fisher | March 14, 1826 | on the bank of the Broad River, Fairfield County, SC |
[upon their oaths] do say that the said George Fisher going into a certain River] called Broad River to fish traps for fish of his own will at a late hour of the night it happened that accidentally, casually, and misfortunate [he] was in the water of the said river then suffocated and drowned...and there instantly died |
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George W. Moose | June 7, 1882 | at Spartanburg, Spartanburg County, SC |
upon their oaths do say that said J. W. Moore ... came to his death from heart disease or from a fall consequent upon disease of the heart |
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Willis Watson | June 14, 1876 | at the river bank on Saulda one mile above Gambell old Bridge, Anderson County, SC |
do say that said decd came to his death by accidental drowning in the River of Saluda. |
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Mike | negro man | September 13, 1844 | at Dr John D. Nicholsons Mill, Edgefield County, SC |
upon there oaths do say that the said deceased came to his death at the said Mill the tenth instant when the said Mill broke and washed away, and at the falling in of the mill the deceased received a wound over his right eye which stuned him and caused him to drown |
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Euphemia Jones | child | February 6, 1894 | on the plantation of Mr. Stroud, Laurens County, SC |
upon their oaths do say the said Euphemia Jones here deceased came to her death from being burned, by accident, whereunto we the jurors and coroner here set our names and seals. |
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Fletcher McFarland | January 17, 1881 | at Davis McFarlands, Chesterfield County, SC |
upon their oaths do say That the Said Fletcher McFarland came to his death by being burned and that it was accidently |
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negro man | negro man | August 7, 1853 | at or near Wm [?] old Mill, Union County, SC |
Can Clude that the Said negro man Came to his Death by drowing |
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Jesse Moragna[?] | March 3, 1882 | at Luke Moragines[?] House, Edgefield County, SC |
upon there oaths do say that the diceased Came to his death by the falling of a tree top which struck him on the Head frackturing the sckull . . .by Misfortune and Contrary to his will |
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Archie Oliver | May 9, 1909 | at the home of J. P. Thurman, Chesterfield County, SC |
upon their oaths, so say: That the said Archie Oliver came to his death by a gun shot wound in the head= said gun being at the time in the hands of Willis Thurman said sun being discharged accidentally = without any effort of the said Willis Thurman = he at the time not knowing that the gun was loaded |
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Adaline Cason | at Kase Williamson's, Fairfield County, SC |
upon their [oaths] do say that Adaline Cason came to her death by Accidental Burning on the 11th of March 1885 |
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Green Kerley | December 31, 1869 | at Winnsboro, Fairfield County, SC |
We find that the said Green Kerley came to his death by a fall from a third story window in the Hotel to the pavemen, while laboring under a fit of delerum [?]. |
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Harry | negro boy | September 9, 1858 | at the residence of the Rev. J. L. Brooks, Edgefield County, SC |
say upon their oaths, that. . .the said boy name Harry. . .while in the business of driving the mules to work the machinery of the Cotton gin by some careless action of his own he was caught by wheel or wheels of the machinery and crushed to death |
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Mary Ann | July 2, 1855 | at the plantation of Henry Pitts on Walnut Creek, Laurens County, SC |
upon their Oaths do say that the said nego Girl, Mary Ann, her lying dead came to her death by drowning in Walnut Creeke on the night of the first of July |
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James Hindman | February 11, 1875 | Spartanburg County, SC |
upon their oaths do say that in their opinion the said James Hindman came to his death by misfortune caused by fits or convulsions producing derangment ina high degree being found drowned in James Creek |
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Proph[?] Fryday | at Willson Fryday's, Fairfield County, SC |
I am satisfied that the deceased came to his death from a gunshot wound on the evening of the 29 of March at or near his fathers house and that the gun was fired accidentally. |
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Truman Miles | October 22, 1839 | at Anderson Courthouse, Anderson County, SC |
do say that said Truman Miles. . . .at Anderson Court House was found dead that he had no marks of violence afore him and died by the [?] of God from the many severe falls he received when in a state of intoxication and not otherwise |
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Margaret McKeown | May 5, 1860 | at Boykin's Mill, Kershaw County, SC | |||
Joseph | Negroe man | April 29, 1828 | at the old Quaker meeting hous, Union County, SC |
do say upon their oaths . . .that the said negro making an effort to Cross Fairforest at Mrs Rices ford was drown |
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Jim Coleman | freidman | November 15, 1866 | at the Mackey Place on horse Creek, Edgefield County, SC |
upon there Oaths do say that the said Jim Coleman came to his death by accidently falling in to horse Creek and drowning |
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female child | female child | May 19, 1879 | at Greenville, Greenville County, SC |
upon their oaths do say that the unknown female child . . . came to her death. . . by mischance or accident or from causes to this jury unknown |
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Austin Dunlap | April 10, 1894 | at Waterman Robinson's, Chesterfield County, SC |
upon their oaths, do say: Austin Dunlap came to his death from the effects of burns received on the 9th of April 1894 |
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William McAbee | April 8, 1885 | Spartanburg County, SC | |||
Thomas Rosseter[?] | August 30, 1852 | at Hamburg SC, Edgefield County, SC |
Upon their Oaths do say, that he, said Thos Rosseter came to his death by drowning . . .in the street in the town of Hamburg, during the high water Backed[?] out from the Savannah River |
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John Henry Goudelock | June 3, 1882 | at Bethlehem Grove Church, Laurens County, SC |
upon their oaths do say that he came to his death by being burned in the dwelling house of Jane Goudelock which is included in Laurens County, State of South Carolina. The cause or origin of the said fire is to this jury unknown. |
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William Davis | January 16, 1841 | at or near the residence of Alex. McMakin, Spartanburg County, SC |
[do say that] not having God before his eyes but being moved and seduced by the instigation of the Devil came to his untimely end. . .by drinking intoxicating spirits to an excess and attemting [sic] to vomet [sic] and strangled so that he finally lost his Breath and departed this life |
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Benjamin Grady | August 28, 1886 | at Brocks Mill, Chesterfield County, SC |
upon their oaths, do say: That the Said Benjamin Grady came to his death by being accidently Drowned in Brocks Mill Pond on 27th day of August 1886 |
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Robert Johnston | May 23, 1891 | at Clarks Ferry below bridge on C. & G.[?] R R, Edgefield County, SC |
upon their oaths do say by Mischance and accidentally falling into Saluda river |
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slave | slave | October 30, 1840 | at Wiley Kelly's, Kershaw County, SC |
do say on their oaths that the slave infant came to her death by Accident |
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Loucille Pate Cassidy | June 19, 1939 | at Chesterfield, Chesterfield County, SC |
upon their oaths do say that Loucille Pate Cassidy received in Chesterfield County a mortal wound by a pistol |
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Emma Beser | November 24, 1877 | at Broom's Mill, Fairfield County, SC |
upon their oaths do say that the said Emma Beser[?] came to her death by accidental drowning |
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Joe | infant negro | August 26, 1860 | at John Huiets, Edgefield County, SC |
upon there oaths do say that the child was over laid by his Farther dick |
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Jerry | May 16, 1808 | at the Mill House of Henry Brockman, Laurens County, SC |
do say upon their oaths, the said Negrow man Jerry came to his Death by being Intoxicated in Liquor and Indeavoring to cross the Enoree River... between Laurens & Spartanburgh Districts that then & there the sd. Negrow Jerry got strangled sufficated & Drowned & from all appearance contrary to the wife sd. Negrow by mischance or accident. |