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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Abram | negro man Slave | August 21, 1850 | at Henry L Maysons, Edgefield County, SC |
upon their oaths do say that the negro man Abram came to his death from being accidentally drowned in the savanah river |
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John Johnson | March 2, 1814 | at the plantation of John Mitchel, Laurens County, SC |
do say upon their oaths that the sd. John Johnson came to his death on the night of the 26th February last, by Drowning |
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Daisy Polk | May 20, 1889 | at Chesterfield CH, Chesterfield County, SC |
upon thire oaths do Say That the said Daisy Polk came to her death by the accidental burning of the house |
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Herman Peters | November 2, 1836 | on the Camden Road near the house of Hugh Y.[?] Rosborough, Fairfield County, SC |
do say upon their oaths that they believe according to all evidence adduced to them, the said Herman Peters came to his death from intoxication and inclemency of the weather, some time of the morning of the 2nd instant, on the Camden Road four miles from Winnsborough |
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Julia Hightower | child | November 9, 1890 | at Mr Sam Marshes Place, Edgefield County, SC |
upon their oaths do say that She came to her death from being burn by accident |
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Female Infant of Milly Campbell | Female Infant of Milly Campbell | October 17, 1867 | at Laurens C.H., Laurens County, SC |
upon their oaths do say - that it came to its death by accidental Suffocation. |
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Peter | Negro man | December 30, 1859 | at the Plantation of Mr Wm Bunch, Edgefield County, SC |
upon there oaths do say that Peter. . .came to his death by the accidental falling of the top of a tree he appears himself to have cut down |
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Chaney Pilgrim | August 12, 1877 | at the plantation of James Anderson, Spartanburg County, SC |
upon their oaths do say that the aforesaid Chaney Pilgrim came to her death while in the bed with her mother Julia Pilrim. . .from some cause or causes unknown to the jury |
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Willie Williams | Fairfield County, SC |
NO OFFICIAL CAUSE OF DEATH STATEMENT |
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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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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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Martin Wheeler | November 3, 1889 | on the plantation of Thos L Badgett, Laurens County, SC |
upon their oaths do say "that he came to his death from the Explosion of Mr Badgetts Boiler." |
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Noah Wesley Dawkins | June 18, 1888 | at home of John Dawkins, Spartanburg County, SC |
upon their oaths do say that the deceased came to his death by accidental drowning while in swimming |
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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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Sally E. Hanna | October 19, 1875 | at Chesterfield C. H., Chesterfield County, SC |
upon their oaths, do say: That the said Sallie E Hanna came to her death by being smothered, accidently during the night of the 18th Inst |
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Enoch Douglass | August 11, 1879 | near Wesly Barrs on the rail road, Edgefield County, SC |
upon there oaths do say that the said Enoch Douglass came to his death by 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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William LeGrand | May 5, 1860 | at Boykin's Mill, Kershaw County, SC | |||
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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John Hester | May 13, 1846 | at Hamburg in the shop of J.J. Kenedy, Edgefield County, SC |
Upon their Oaths do say, He died in the said shop . . .while working at the bench in a fit . . .came to his death by misfortune or visitation of God |
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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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Hampton Reynolds | July 30, 1892 | at J.W. Reynolds Plantation, Edgefield County, SC |
upon their oaths do say Hampton Reynolds Came to his death from burns received by Explostion from Engine |
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M. N. Chapman | February 20, 1840 | at or near Mt. Zion, Spartanburg County, SC |
do say upon their oaths that he was drowned by accidentally falling into the waters of Wilson's Creek while in the act of fishing |
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Sarah McCulley | wife of Barney McCulley | September 1, 1841 | at the house of Barney McCulley, Anderson County, SC |
do say that she the sd deceased died of violence on the night of 31 Augt 1841 in her own house & by her own husband Barney McCulley |
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Duff Gist | June 20, 1893 | at Beaver Dam Church, Laurens County, SC |
upon their oathes do say that the said Duff Gist came to his death from Congestion of the Bowels. |
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Flemming Taylor | at Jack Taylors house, Fairfield County, SC |
upon their Oaths do say that deceased came to his death near his home on P W Clarks place in Fairfield County SC the 15 day of Nov 1896 from a Pistols Shot Wound at hands of Abram Kennedy |
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Margret Douglass | March 10, 1892 | at Chesterfield Court House, Chesterfield County, SC |
upon their oaths, do say: that Margaret Doublass came to her death by drowning while attempting to cross Thompson Creek near Craigs mill |
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David Garison | February 23, 1823 | [?] the house of David Garison, Greenville County, SC |
upon their oaths do say that they suppose the said David Garison get chilled to death from the inclemency of the weather and exposure. |
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John | November 24, 1829 | at the house of Robert G Bagley, Fairfield County, SC |
do say upon their oaths that according to such and all evidence it is their belief that on the night of the 23rd instant the before mentioned Alexander Caldwell and his little son (the deceased) was in a Small House and A Sleep an they believe that a pallet whereon the deceased lay or the house caught fire, by accident, and consumed the house and the child... |
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Infant Boy Child | Infant Boy Child | June 18, 1883 | at Marsh Grobe Yard, Edgefield County, SC |
upon there oaths do say . . .the Child come to its death accidentally or by being smutherd |
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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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Hetty McRa | December 26, 1869 | at L.B. Stephen's plantation, Kershaw County, SC |
upon their oaths do say that the said Hetty McRa came to her death ... from a wound in the left side inflicted by a [?] fired from a gun in the hands of Moses Stephens |
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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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Edmund Cleveland | December 4, 1871 | at Spartanburg Court House, Spartanburg County, SC |
upon their oaths do say that sd. deceased came to his death by the falling of the wall of Duncan's new building in the town of Spartanburg |
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Willie Featherston | December 29, 1875 | at Ridgeway, Fairfield County, SC |
upon their oaths do say that the said Willie Featherston came to his death, on Wednesday after noon, from a Knife wound, inflicted by himself, in the lower part of the Sternum, as we believe by accident |
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Oscar Latter | at the Nancy Rabb place, Fairfield County, SC |
upon their Oaths do say that the deceased came to his death sometime between mid night and day the 27th of Feb 1889 on the Plantation of W.C. Rabbs from accidental Suffocation |
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infant | January 28, 1863 | at Cannon's Old Grave yard, Spartanburg County, SC |
upon their oaths do say that said deceased child came to its or her death by carelessness or mismanagement or misfortune at the house of Jefferson Saterfield |
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Leander Pack | August 14, 1883 | at the residence of Elias Atkins, Spartanburg County, SC |
upon their oaths do say that the said Leander Pack came to his death ... by a blow of a fallen tree of which the decased were cutting |
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Wilson M. Gilligan | July 25, 1855 | at the Jail of the Districtaforesaid in Conwayboro, Horry County, SC |
upon their oaths do say that the deceased came to his death by Dorwning, cause unknown |
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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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Beatrice McGuine | March 23, 1896 | at W. A. Buchannon's Place, Chesterfield County, SC |
upon their oaths, do say: That the said Beatrice McGuine came to her death from strangulation while sucking its mother |
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Angus McQueen | January 17, 1816 | at home of Kelly McDermit, Kershaw County, SC |
do say upon their oaths that the deceased came to his Death by the combined effects of Cold, Intoxication, and the falls he had therefrom. |
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Tom | negro man Slave | August 21, 1850 | at H. L. Maysons in Beach island, Edgefield County, SC |
upon their oaths do say that the negro man Tom came to his death from being accidentally drowned in savanah river |
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Henry Castleberry | January 7, 1815 | at the house of James Hannah, Laurens County, SC |
Do say upon their Oaths, that the Deceased came to his Death by misfortune upon the fall of a horse on the Public road near the house of James Hannah. |
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Josephine A. Brookes Thrift | infant child | March 28, 1860 | at Delila Jenkinses, Union County, SC |
upon their oaths do say . . .that the child came to its death by being smothered by its mother by accident |
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James McCants | December 8, 1836 | at the residence of the deceased, Fairfield County, SC |
do say upon their oaths, that he came to his death by the fall of a dead tree on fire, in his New Ground, about 12 oclock Meridian. |
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Sallie Young | December 8, 1890 | at Mr A. F Broadwaters Plantation, Edgefield County, SC |
upon their oaths do say that the said Sallie Young came to her death by being burned to death by fire from accident |
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Simon | slave | December 24, 1830 | at the house of Mrs. Mary Moore, Spartanburg County, SC |
do say upon their oaths that. . .he was burnt to death by accident in one of the the Negro houses of Mrs. Mary Moore |
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Infant Child of Caroline Hunter | Infant Child of Caroline Hunter | January 13, 1872 | at Samuel J. Bryson plantion, Laurens County, SC |
upon their oaths d say We Jurors afforesaid did examine the dead body of the said infant do say that the dead infant came to its death by accidental Smothering. . . |
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A. G. Howard | February 28, 1860 | at Grannet Ville Depot, Edgefield County, SC |
upon their oaths do say that. . .he came to his death by accident that is by being struck a falling pine tree which stood by the side of the road where he was passing which tree was burned down having caught fire from the burning of the woods around it |