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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nego child | nego child | July 11, 1835 | at the house of Jaby[?] Polk, Union County, SC |
do say upon their Oaths that the Said child . . .died by accidentally getting Smothered |
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Unknown | July 2, 1880 | at Samson Campbell, Chesterfield County, SC |
upon their oaths do Say That the deceased came to his death by being accidently smothered by his mrother on the first day of July A D 1880 |
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John Weston | December 31, 1890 | on the plantaion of Robt Bailey, Laurens County, SC |
upon their oaths do say that the said John Weston came to his death "From the Effects of a gun shot wound accidentally discharged in his own hands, on the 29th day of Decr inst." |
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Unknown Unknown | February 16, 1923 | at Cheraw, Chesterfield County, SC |
upon their oaths do say, that he came to his death from cold & exposure |
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Sarah Arledge | April 22, 1812 | at Meeting House Branch, Kershaw County, SC |
do say upon their oath that the said infant child as aforesaid came to its death by being lost in the woods & perished to death by hunger and cold on the night of the twelfth of this Instant on Meeting House Branch |
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Samuel Williams | at Major Wilkes' plantation, Fairfield County, SC |
upon their oaths do say, that the said Samuel Williams came to his death by the falling timbers from the house, caused by a severe storm on the night of the 19th of February 1884. |
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Jackson Byars | December 13, 1877 | at Boiling Springs, Spartanburg County, SC |
upon their oaths do say that the said Jackson Byars came to his death beside the Mills Gap Road nine miles from Spartanburg C.H. in the County and State aforesaid ... from appoplexy or effusion of blood upon the brain |
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James McCravy | January 4, 1851 | at the house of Amos Holmes, Spartanburg County, SC |
upon their oaths do say that the said James McCravy being intoxicated and out in the snow frozed [sic] to death |
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Unknown | at the House of Frank Stephanie, Fairfield County, SC |
upon their Oaths do say that the deceasd came to his death from Accidental Smothering in bed at its Fathers house[.] |
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Oliver Lee | February 17, 1892 | at Cokers Mill, Chesterfield County, SC |
upon their oathes do say that the said Oliver Lee came to his death by accidently falling upon a circular saw while in motion cutting of both legs near the body causing instantly death on the 17th day of February 1892 about 10 Oclock am at Cokers Saw Mill |
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colored | colored | April 24, 1874 | at Dr. J. A. Todd's, Anderson County, SC |
do say that infant child came to its death by pressure on preroted[?] artery by stran of beads. . . by misfortune or accident |
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Lindy Jones | March 15, 1882 | at George Holingsworth House, Edgefield County, SC |
upon there oath do say that Lindy Jones Came to her death from accidental Burning |
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Miles Robuck | December 16, 1856 | at the house of S.S. Roebuck, Laurens County, SC |
upon their oaths do say that the deceased came to his death by having his head crushed between the head block and one of the arms of the Cog wheel of a Cotton Gin, that the said Miles Roebuck came to his death in manner and form aforesaid, by misfortune or accident. |
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Pauline Paulding[?] | at Captain John Thomas' Place, Fairfield County, SC |
upon their oaths do say, that Pauline Pauling died of suffocation[?] |
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Lora | slave | January 6, 1852 | at Gerrymiah Gregory's, Union County, SC |
upon their oaths do say that . . .the child Lora she was accidently smothered by its mother |
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William Harlin | February 19, 1856 | at a new place sitting by Mr James Swearingem(Jr) on the Akien Road, Edgefield County, SC |
upon their oaths do say the deceased William Harlin, came to his death by the cavin in and filling up with dirt the well in which he was engaged digging on the Siken Road |
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Silas Cockrum | April 28, 1858 | at Jacks Bridge, Laurens County, SC |
upon their oaths do Say, that he was drowned near Jacks Bridge in Reedy river in said District, by accident or mischance |
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Frank Young | June 28, 1874 | at Broom's Mill, Fairfield County, SC |
upon their oaths do say: That Frank Young (colored) while bathing in Broom's Mill Pond in said County before noon on the 27th day of Juned 1874, did then and there come to his death by accidental drowning; |
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Peggy McLeod | December 25, 1870 | at George Rorie's dwelling house, Chesterfield County, SC |
upon their oaths do say, That the said Peggy McLeod, in manner and form aforesaid came to her death by being accidently burnt |
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Lewis Bradley | Laurens County, SC |
we the jury find in our opinion that Lewis Bradlet Died in Laurens County on the 29th day of Decr. 1894 from great Exposure in the [extreme?] cold, and that no one is to blame as far as we know, for his death. |
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William Hampton | July 3, 1877 | at T. J. [?], Greenville County, SC |
upon their oaths do say that the said Wm A Hampton came to his death by the accidental discharge of his gun in his own hands |
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Emanuel Griffin | July 28, 1873 | at T. H. Clark's plantation, Kershaw County, SC |
upon their oaths do say that the said Emanuel Griffin came to his death by accidental drowning |
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Infant of Adeline Teague | Infant of Adeline Teague | August 18, 1894 | at Laurens County Court House, Laurens County, SC |
upon their oaths do say that it Died in Laurens Co. on the 17th day of Aug. AD. 1894 from accidental suffocation. |
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Elleck | free boy | December 13, 1866 | at Johnathan Gregorys, Edgefield County, SC |
upon there Oaths do say that he came to his death by the accidental discharge of a Gun. . .that Elleck free boy in manner and form aforesaid came to his death by accident |
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Elizabeth Belk | April 20, 1828 | near the Door house, Kershaw County, SC |
do say upon their oaths that in traveling to a neighboring house she fell down and being old & infirm was unable to rise & so perished |
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Willie Dawkins | at the old Ashford place, Fairfield County, SC |
upon their Oaths do say that Willie, Dawkins came to his death at the house of Edward Rodgers the 12 of Feb 1891 from Accidental Burning |
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Eddie Summer | August 6, 1881 | Spartanburg County, SC |
upon their oaths ... do say that the said Eddie Summer came to his death ... from gun shot wounds received in the right side discharged accidentally |
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Edward Young | December 26, 1833 | at the house of Mrs. Mathews on the waters of Wateree Creek, Fairfield County, SC |
do say upon their oaths that accord=ing to the evidence adduced to them, they believe, that the evening of the 25th December instant Riding at a smart rate, in company with Robert Harper. The said Edward Young by his horse suddently taking a contrary side of a tree from what he expected, or intended. thereby was thrown or dashed against the same which we believe caused the death of the said Edward. |
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John Harrington | February 25, 1896 | at Dr. J. W. McKay's Plantation on the Pee Dee River, Chesterfield County, SC |
upon their oaths do say. That John Harrington came to his death by accidental drowning |
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Thomas Dalton | February 8, 1882 | at Williamston, Anderson County, SC |
do say that in their opinion the said Thos Dalton by abcess on the[?] part of the head which was accidentally[?] effected and caused his death. |
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Aaron Rogers | May 14, 1872 | at Isham Johnson's Plantation, Chesterfield County, SC |
upon their oaths, do say: That Aaron Rogers (the deceased) came to his death by accidental drowning in Thompson's Creek, below Purvis' Bridge, on Sunday the 12th May AD 1872 |
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Tom | slave | October 25, 1859 | at the residence of Joseph Murphy, Kershaw County, SC |
upon their oaths do say that the said Tom [a] slave of Joseph Murphy came to his death by a fall from a log and broke his neck |
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Clem | slave, boy | October 3, 1858 | at Tabitha Abney's, Edgefield County, SC |
upon their oaths do say that the aforesaid Lem[?] came to his death by the accident firing of a gun in his own hands |
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Milly Thomas | October 8, 1878 | at Winnsboro, Fairfield County, SC |
upon their oaths, do say: that the aforesaid Milly Thomas came to her death from being crushed under the shafting in W.B. Creights gin room on the afternoon of the 7th October 1878 at Winnsboro. |
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Angus Jefferson Smith | June 4, 1874 | at Spartanburg, Spartanburg County, SC |
upon their oaths do say that the said Angus Jefferson Smith came to his death by accidental drowning in a water course known as Lawson's Fork 1 /12 miles distant from Spartangburg C.H. |
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James Perry | December 27, 1894 | at Mt Enon Church, Edgefield County, SC |
upon oaths do say that the said Jim Perry aforesaid came to his death from the firing of his own Gun. . .by first fireing of his gun at a Rabbit Broke his gun stock threw up the Barrel and discharged the other load which caused his death |
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Bonaparte Bates | March 26, 1856 | at the Fuller old field, Anderson County, SC |
do say that Bonaparte Bates in manner and form aforesaid came to his death by misfortune or accident |
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John Shumport[?] | November 7, 1851 | at John Shumports[?], Edgefield County, SC |
Upon their oaths do say, that John Shumport . . .did come to his death by misfortune or accident |
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Charles Hobbs | October 1, 1817 | on the highway near John Blacks, Laurens County, SC |
Do say uppon there oaths after hearing all the Evidence that cold [sic] be obtained that it is there oppinion that through Intoxication he fell from his hors [sic] and Sufficated [sic] in the mud and watter as it was a Night of Very hard Rain and he was found in a hollow and partly covered with mud and the same. |
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Viola Goings | at S.R. Rutland's, Fairfield County, SC |
upon their Oaths do say that aforsaid children came to their deaths by accidental burning of the house in which they were fastined up on the morning of the 16th of March 1893. We also add our condemnation to the general practice of Colored Parents locking up helpless children in houses where there is fire. |
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Hanah | infant Child | November 2, 1861 | at Cooperville, Union County, SC |
upon their oaths do say . . .the child was found dead . . .from bieng overlaid by its parents or some other unknown means to them in bed |
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Loney | November 20, 1848 | at Harrisons Ferry, Fairfield County, SC |
do find the following- verdict that Loney the Slave of John Harrison came to his death by accidental drowning in Wattoree River, and further we find no marks of violence oon his Body or person |
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Hollan | April 29, 1856 | at Conwayboro, Horry County, SC |
Upon their Oaths do say, tha the said Girl Hollan came to her Death by accidental Drowning |
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Sarah Farmer | July 14, 1878 | at Williams Goodwin Place, Chesterfield County, SC |
upon their oaths do say That the Said Sarah Farmer came to her death from a pistol shot taken affect just above the right Eye and that the pistol was supposed to be in the hands of the deceased and that it was accidental |
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Charly Washington | boy | November 22, 1891 | at the house of George Washington near Bauknights ferry, Edgefield County, SC |
upon their oaths do Say that the Said Charley Washington Came to his death by the accidental discharge of a pistol ball from the hands of James Bobo[?] |
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Smith T. T. Richboury | May 5, 1860 | at Boykin's Mill, Kershaw County, SC | |||
Lousay | November 25, 1860 | at Doct John E. Padgett, Edgefield County, SC |
upon there oaths do say that the said Loosey came to here death by accidnetal Burning |
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slave child | slave child | December 31, 1846 | at the plantation of Nathan Hawkins, Union County, SC |
upon their oaths do say . . .that it was either Smothered accidentaly or otherwise dyed natrualy |
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Infant of Sarah McQueen | Infant of Sarah McQueen | November 16, 1887 | at Chesterfield C. H., Chesterfield County, SC |
upon their oaths, do say: that the said infants came to their deaths by being accidentally burned on the 15th day of November A.D. 1887 |
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Mary McDaniel | January 13, 1891 | at Burnside, Laurens County, SC |
upon their oaths do say that the aforesaid Mary McDaniel came to her death by accidental drowning |