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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David Dantzler | June 29, 1829 | at Nazareth Meeting House, Spartanburg County, SC |
do say upon their oaths after examination [that] he came to his death by accidental drowning |
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Larie | February 3, 1829 | at the premises of Capt Nathan Sims, Union County, SC |
do say upon their oaths that the said Mr. Lary came to his death, in our opinion for want of attention in consequence of his own conduct exposing himself in bad weather from intoxication |
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Marim Evans Hudson | July 28, 1942 | at Cheraw, Chesterfield County, SC |
upon their oaths do say that Marim Evans Hudson received in Chesterfield County a mortal wound by a pistol accidently discharged in the hands of Ira W. Boun, Jr. |
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Asa Lipscomb | freedman | December 24, 1866 | at Mrs. Jinetta Shippy's, Spartanburg County, SC |
upon their oaths do say that the said Asa Lipscomb was shot with a paper wad by Sam'l Shippy, Norris Shippy, or Frank Shippy ... by accident |
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John McLeod | August 23, 1822 | at house of Widow McLeod in the fork of Lynches Creek, Kershaw County, SC |
have unanimously agreed that the said John McLeod has received his Death by unavoidable accident as he was pouring liquor into a barrel or cask . . . which liquor caught on fire and busted the said cask and as we suppose one of the staves struck the said deceased by which which we think he rec'd his death together with the volume of flame which issued from s'd spirits as on examination we found his face mortally cut and his body much burnt |
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Alexander Martin | September 8, 1867 | at the residence fo B.W. Knight, Spartanburg County, SC |
upon their oaths do say that the said Alexander L. Martin came to his death by the falloing of a tree some of the limbs striking dec'd on the back of the head neck and shoulders |
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Collen Baskins | August 4, 1885 | at Josh Baskins, Chesterfield County, SC |
upon their oaths, do say: Tat the Said Collen Baskins came to his death by being acly Drowned |
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Rachal McKinstry | December 2, 1873 | at the plantation of Thomas Sloan, Fairfield County, SC |
upon their oaths do say that she came to her death bye accidental burning |
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Arthur Ben | at Jenkinsville, Fairfield County, SC |
upon oaths do say that George Bone the said Artur Ben, by misfortune and contrary to his will, in maner and form aforesaid, did kill and Slay Artur Ben by the accidental discharge of a gun. |
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Margaret Coats | April 6, 1865 | at Williams Coatses, Laurens County, SC |
upon their Oaths do say that the said Margaret Coats came to her Death by the accidental dis charge of gun, in the hands of the deceased and in the hands of Lieutenant Young |
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Joe Malloy | October 25, 1893 | at George Lany's, Chesterfield County, SC |
upon their oaths do say that the said Joe Malloy came to his death by the accidental discharge fo a gun in his own hands |
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Will Smith | December 9, 1882 | at Reidville, Reidville, S.C., Spartanburg County, SC |
upon their oaths do say by pistol shot accidentally & falling from the mantel piece ... that the said Will Smith ... came to his death by accident |
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Richard J. Barton | December 28, 1866 | at Mrs Lucinda Bartons, Edgefield County, SC |
upon there oaths do say that the aforesaid R.J. Barton came to his death by the accidental discharg of a Gun in his own hands |
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William Lundy | August 28, 1846 | at house of John Rainsford, Edgefield County, SC |
upon their oaths do say that decd came to his death by the accidental discharge of a shot gun that was in his hands the load entering his left temple and passing out of the top of his head carrying part of the brain & skull off |
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Sloan | freedman | November 19, 1866 | At Williamston, Anderson County, SC |
do say upon their oaths that [Sloan] came to his death by being burnt to death by the accidental burning of the Gin house of Major A. M. Hamilton. . .as the jury could ascertain in cause of the fire the presumption being that It was through matches, in the possession of the said Sloan |
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Lucius LeGrand | May 5, 1860 | at Boykin's Mill, Kershaw County, SC | |||
Charles | negro male slave, boy | September 20, 1827 | at David Johnsons, Union County, SC |
say upon our oaths that from the testimony before us we do believe that the aforesaid Charles was drowned in Big[? Broad?] River by Misfortune |
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John Dedman | March 15, 1806 | at Mr Jno Kings, Laurens County, SC |
Do say upon their Oaths that the s. Dedman, (arguably to the Testimony of Jas. Parker E.S. Roland and A. Bishop, persons present when he died) was killed by fall from a Horse at Home of Chas. Simmons in the District aforesaid |
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Dolly Young | child | March 12, 1879 | at Greenville, Greenville County, SC |
upont their oaths do say that the said Dolly Young . . . came to her death by accident or smuthering or by misclued[?] |
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Ransom Hinton | March 29, 1872 | at Purvis' Bridge, Chesterfield County, SC |
upon their oaths, do say: That Ransom Hinton caem to his death by being accidently drowned near Purvis' Bridge, across Thompson's Creek on or about 26th day of March AD 1872 |
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Rachel McBurney | October 21, 1833 | in the house of Major James Barkley, Fairfield County, SC |
do say upon their oaths, that according to the evidence adduced, they believe that on the morning of the 20th this instant, or some time in the night of the 19th, a small house adjoining the dwelling of the said Major James Barkley, occupied by said Rachel McBurney as a Bed Room, caught fire, how, not known, was consumed with the contents, and her, the said Rachel. |
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Ora Weaver | February 21, 1891 | at the plantation of D B. H Holfarth[illegible - ink blot], Edgefield County, SC |
upon their oaths do say that the said Ara Weaver came to her death from accidental Burning |
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Crispan Smith | December 5, 1836 | at the house of George Smith, Union County, SC |
do say upon their oaths that he died by the visitation of god in a natural way by accidentaly getting frozen to death |
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Nancy Weaver | December 20, 1893 | at Edgefield Court House, Edgefield County, SC |
upon their oaths do say that we the jurors aforesaid do say that Nancy aforesaid, came to her death, by a gun shot wound in the hands of Savanah Gray accidently |
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Spartin L. Gaddis | August 30, 1876 | near John O. [?], Spartanburg County, SC |
upon their oaths do say that. . .Gaddis came to his death. . .by misfortunte cutting a [?] tree and the said tree falling on the said Spartin |
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William Applewhite | January 22, 1838 | at Camden, Kershaw County, SC |
upon their oaths do say that the said Wm. Applewhite came to his death by falling in the fire |
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Infant son of Lee & Eliza Moore | at the plantation of Mrs. N. Yongue, Fairfield County, SC |
upon their oaths do say this child came to his death from some natural cause unknown to the Jury |
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Infant of George and Ann Crawford | Infant of George and Ann Crawford | May 8, 1906 | At G A S[??]cers, Chesterfield County, SC |
Upon their oaths, do say: By strangulation the cause of which is unknown to Jury |
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John Marshell Pages | August 9, 1901 | at F. Sherrell's place, Chesterfield County, SC |
upon their oaths do say that John Marshell Pages came to his death by accidental drowning |
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George Dillard | February 2, 1885 | at Taylormill, Laurens County, SC |
upon their Oaths do say that George Dillard in manner and form aforesaid came to his death by accidentally falling into the fire... |
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Edgar Daniel | July 26, 1886 | at Jack Daniel's residence, Spartanburg County, SC |
upon their oaths do say that the deceased Edgar Daniel came to his death by accidental drowning, he, of his own accord, going too far into the deep water Broad River of J. L. Allison's place |
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Kenneth Martor[?] | January 15, 1852 | at Thomas Samar's[?] Mills on horse creek, Edgefield County, SC |
Upon their oaths do say the decd came to his death . . .by becoming accidentaly entangled in, and with the running gear of Mr Thos G. Lamar's circular saw mill |
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Smith | June 9, 1876 | near R. H. Anderson's Tanyard, Anderson County, SC |
do say that . . .the said Smith was accidentally drowned in a race dith; that is to say the said Smith in manner and form aforesaid, came to his death by misfortune or accident. |
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Griffin | Infant Childe | December 26, 1860 | at Andy [?], Union County, SC |
upon their oaths do say the child come it death by accident or mischance by smuthering or some way unknown |
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D. Stepp | June 9, 1883 | at Greenville, Greenville County, SC |
upon their oaths do say that . . .the said D. W. Stepp came to his death by being drowned accidentally in the Mill Pond at Hutchinson's Tan Yard |
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Samuel F. Evans Sr. | January 23, 1878 | at Chesterfield C. H., Chesterfield County, SC |
upon their oaths do say That the Said Samuel F. Evans Sr. came to his death by accidental burning |
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Francis Sanders | April 27, 1848 | at Sakin's[?] Mill, Fairfield County, SC |
we the Jurors do find and [?] that the said Francis Sanders; came to his death by drowning in the Broad River on the 26th[?] April 1848. |
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Mary Robertson | at the Gailiard grave yard, Fairfield County, SC |
upon their oaths do say that deceased came to her death from internal hemorrhage, caused by having a premature birth produced by some cause unknown to the jury |
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Lesthia Ridlehouse[Ridlehover?] | January 5, 1892 | at the Residence of Mrs Edny Mary, Edgefield County, SC |
upon their oaths do say by being accidenttly burned to death |
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John Harry | February 2, 1827 | at the House of John Harry, Laurens County, SC |
Do say upon their oathes that they are of opinion that the deceased came to his death by falling from his hors [sic] when he was driving his waggon in his own plantation |
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infant | November 29, 1860 | Spartanburg County, SC | |||
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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Ludley | February 8, 1860 | at Conwayboro in Horry District (near the River Landing), Horry County, SC |
upon their oaths do say tha the said Slave "Ludley" the property of D. W. Jordan came to his death by accidentally falling from a Flat the property of his master into the Reiver and was drowned |
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Robert E. Tuck | December 14, 1879 | at the residence of L M. Gentry, Spartanburg County, SC |
upon their oaths do say that the said Rob't E. Tuck came to his death at the residence of L M. Gentry ... from exposure tot he rain and cold ... while in a state of intoxication |
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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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Lucilla S. Gresham | Chester Co., at Shelton Depot, Fairfield County, SC |
upon their oaths do say, That L.S. Gresham in manner and form afresaid, came to her death by accident drown in broad river at Fish Dam Ferry on the 4th day of February 1895 |
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Samuel McCulley | December 29, 1839 | in Broadway Creek, Anderson County, SC |
do say that sd, Samuel McCulley on the 28th day of December 1839 was found dead in Broadway Creek . . . and had no marks of violence on him and died of the [?] of God partly by intemperance partly by cold and partly by drowning |
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David Fowler | October 2, 1891 | on the Pyles place, Laurens County, SC |
upon their oaths do say. That the said Daniel Fowler, Came to his death on the 1st day of Oct 1891 - in Laurens County, by being accidentally caught under a falling tree, mashing his head. |
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James Baldwin | infant | June 8, 1825 | at William Dilliard's plantation, Union County, SC |
do say upon their oaths that the said James Baldwin came to his death by an accident, occasioned by his elder brother Henry Baldwin tying a Rope around his the said James Baldwin neck and fastening one end of said rope to a [?] fastened in the joist and the said Henry going off and leaving of it in that situation ... as a reason for tying the said child was that he was subject to eating of dirt and Salt[?] and that his brother done it to prevent him from getting the same whilst he was in the field at work |
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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[.] |