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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Fleetwood Moody | May 20, 1936 | at Patrick, Chesterfield County, SC |
Upon their oaths do say that Fleetwood Moody received in Chesterfield County a mortal wound by Burned in the hands of origin unknown . . . came to his death from burns and suffocation origin unknown |
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John Benjamin | October 16, 1893 | at a mill in Cross Hill, Laurens County, SC |
upon their oaths do say that John Benjamin did come to his death by misfortune or accident. |
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Sally Shedd | February 19, 1867 | at the plantation of James Coleman, Fairfield County, SC |
the Jury after hearing the evidence in the cause of the death of Sally Shed and examined the dead Body. Come to the conclusion that the Said Sally came to her death by the discharge of a gun in the hands of the Girl Rachel, by accident. |
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Minnie Cason | June 9, 1883 | at Williamston, Anderson County, SC |
do say that the death of said Minnie was caused by falling into a well from 25 to 30 feet deep? |
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Cap Bryan | February 25, 1893 | at the plantation of Mrs Doziers, Edgefield County, SC |
upon their oaths aforesaid do say That the aforesaid Cap Bryan came to his death from a lick with a rock thrown by a blast from the Quary which we consider purely accidental |
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Abner Evans | June 14, 1867 | at P.A. Parker's place, Chesterfield County, SC |
upon their oaths Do say that the Deceased came to his Death By mischance that Abner Evin came to his deat By Falling in the Well and was Drowned |
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William Bently | March 21, 1851 | at Wm Bently's, Union County, SC |
upon their oaths doo say that the said Wm Bently came to his death . . . by a wall plate that fell from the top of the house which he was Building which was by misfortune or accident |
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Henry Jones | September 21, 1855 | Edgefield County, SC |
the said Henry Jones came to his death by an Apoplectick fit |
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Charley Campbell | March 14, 1892 | at Rhett Copelands, Laurens County, SC |
upon their oaths do say "that Charley Campbell came to his death. By Accident or Misfortune, By the burning of the house he was in |
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Kate | slave | December 5, 1847 | at the house of Mrs. Jane Love, Kershaw County, SC |
upon their oaths do say that they believe from the testimony of Jas. Love son that she came to her death by the falling of a tree accidentally upon her body |
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Elizabeth Knight | June 27, 1885 | at Joseph Knight's residence, Chesterfield County, SC |
upon their oaths do say: That Elizabeth Knight in Manner and form aforesaid Came to her death by misfortune or accident By a gunshot wound on the right side of the Forehead which was caused by the careless handling of a gun in the hands of her little Brother |
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Daniel Fountain | Unknown, Fairfield County, SC |
upon their oaths [do] say that he was shot accidentally by [a] pistol in the hands of his brother [?] Fountain about seven years old, about three Oclock yesterday evening and died [?] morning near Wallaceville[?]. |
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Justin Turner | April 9, 1868 | Spartanburg County, SC |
upon their oaths do say that the said Jusin Turner. . .came to his death by mischance being exposed during a cold night without doors and from evidence quite intoxicated |
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Henry Davis | October 30, 1857 | at Anderson Courthouse, Anderson County, SC |
are of the opinion that Henry Davis came to his death by excessive drink, cold and a fall which rendered him unable to take care of himself. |
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John Rufus Russell | October 10, 1884 | at John L Russell House, Edgefield County, SC |
upon there oaths do say that the said John Rufus Russell come to his death by suffocation Caused by accidentally falling with head downward into a hole in a pile of seed Cotton |
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Ben F. Williams | March 13, 1895 | at M. C. Williams, Chesterfield County, SC |
upon their oaths do say Ben F. Williams came to his death by accident or misfortune |
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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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Willie Chappell | June 18, 1882 | at Badgetts quarter, Laurens County, SC |
upon their oaths do say that the said Willie Chappell came to his death at Badgetts quarter place in Laurens County on Sunday the 20th day of June AD 1882 That Lucinda Bradford the said Willie Chappell by misfortune and contrary to her will in manner and form aforesaid did kill... |
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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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Alfred Sowell | December 1, 1816 | Kershaw County, SC |
do say upon their oaths that the said Alfred Sowell came to his death by misfortune, that is to say, but accidental firing of a smooth bored gun, being at the same time charged, which drove her charge of shot into the breast of the said Alfred Sowell |
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infant | March 20, 1883 | at Jerry Frey's House, Spartanburg County, SC |
upon their oaths do say that at Jerry Frey's House ... said infant child came to its death by being miscarried at a stage too early for it to possibly survive |
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Macomb Campbell | March 10, 1873 | at R. E. Evans', Chesterfield County, SC |
upon their oaths, do say: That the Said Macomb Capbell came to his death by being accidently Burned |
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Fany | female slave | June 11, 1855 | at Mrs Jane Clowneys, Union County, SC |
upon there Oaths do say that they Believe she Dsed Came to her death . . .by some cause to the Jury unknown think she might have died sadingly from some Lingering diseasas she was very often Complaing . . .or might have Falen in the Beauch & was unable to get out & Drowned as she was found in the Beach |
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Margaret McKeown | May 5, 1860 | at Boykin's Mill, Kershaw County, SC | |||
Eldrige Padgett | February 9, 1859 | at Eidson Padgetts, Edgefield County, SC |
upon there oaths do say that the decased came to his death by being intoxicated and caught on fire and burnt to death in his own house |
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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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Daniel Bragg | February 6, 1815 | at the plantation of Daniel Brag, Laurens County, SC |
do say upon their oaths saith that on the 5th of this instant in striving to save a negroe man he got drowned. |
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unknown negro | unknown negro | April 24, 1855 | at Savannah Bluff, Horry County, SC |
upon their oaths do say tha the Said engro (to them unknown) came to his Death by Drowning |
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Jesse Limbecker | June 18, 1869 | at Hamburg, Edgefield County, SC |
upon their oaths do say That the said Jesse Limbecker here lying dead came to his death by accidental drowning in the Savannah River |
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Lee Campbell | December 24, 1932 | [no location given], Chesterfield County, SC |
upon their oaths, do say: Lee Cambell came to his death from a gun shot woud who was shot by Tracy Blackwell. The shooting was acdently done. |
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Cornelius Johnson | at Samuel Johnson's Residence, Fairfield County, SC |
upon their Oaths do say that the deceased came to his death [at] his Fathers house, on the 15 [Dec] 1892 from burns frm Accidentaly catching on f[ire][.] |
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Franklin Turner | son | December 26, 1850 | at John Turners, Union County, SC |
upon their oaths do say . . .that the aforesaid Franklin Turner . . .came to his death by misfortune or accident |
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Isabella McClain | September 15, 1873 | at Conwayboro, Horry County, SC |
upon their Oaths do Say that She Came to her death by a Gun Shot Inflicted by one Cesar Beaty, though we Consider the whole transaction accidental |
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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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Frank Young | infant | January 11, 1877 | at Greenville, Greenville County, SC |
upon their oaths do say that the child came to its by accidentaly being overlaid by its mother. |
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Violet Gray | February 25, 1877 | at the house of Violet Gray, Spartanburg County, SC |
upon their oaths do say that the said Violet Gray came to her death by accidentally falling into the fire and burning to death at her own home |
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infant child | infant child | November 23, 1891 | at the plantation of Willis Owdom[?], Edgefield County, SC |
upon their oaths do say that it died from strangulation |
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John Dawkins | July 14, 1904 | [in] Chesterfield County, South Carolina, Chesterfield County, SC |
before their oaths do say that the said John Dawkins caused to his death by his own negligence |
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Tom | Slave, old negro man | January 12, 1853 | near the residence of Harry Scott, Edgefield County, SC |
Upon their Oaths do say, that the dead body of Tom lying in the branch near the residence of Henry Scott . . .came to his death, by accident or misfortune |
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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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Alfred Gage | May 21, 1890 | at Milton, Laurens County, SC |
by their oaths do say that the said Alfred Gage came to his death "By Accidental Drowning in little river at the Mills at Milton. |
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Georgia Brower | December 27, 1879 | at A. E. Evans, Chesterfield County, SC |
upon their oaths do Say that the said Georgia Brown came to her death by being accidentally burned by fire on this October 27th 1879 |
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W. T. Reid | at Ridgeway, Fairfield County, SC |
thinks that he came to his dath from extreme alcholism and exposure. |
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Harris Hotchkiss | March 12, 1821 | at Thomas Hugh's, Union County, SC | |||
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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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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African Negroe Man | African Negroe Man | January 20, 1807 | at the Common Gaol, Laurens County, SC |
do say upon their oaths that the aforesaid African negroe man slave, on the night between the nineteenth and twentieh day of this instant being confined in the common gaol of Laurens district aforesaid, then and there died of the visitation of God, he having forzen to death, not having since sufficient to keep on his clothing, which was furnished by the gaoler of the said District, he having in the room in which he was confined by himself, four blankets, and when found being entirely naked, and then and there in manner & form aforesaid came to his death and not otherwise. |
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George Mitchel | June 21, 1881 | at J. R Corleys, Edgefield County, SC |
upon their Oaths do say George Mitchel and his Daughter Rachiel Mitchel Came to their Deaths. . .by a Burn Caused from the Explosion of Kerosene oil |
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Lizzie Clyburn | October 10, 1924 | at Pageland, Chesterfield County, SC |
Upon taking the testimony of the three witnesses herein enclosed I concluded that the empaneling of a jury was unnecessary, as it was clearly shown by the witnesses that deceased dies of natural causes. |
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Thomas Moore | August 8, 1837 | at Tumbling Shoals, Laurens County, SC |
upon their Oaths do say, that he came to his death by accidental drowning in Reedy River, being in a State of Intoxication. |