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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W. H. Searsey | October 21, 1890 | at Laurens CH, Laurens County, SC | train |
by their oaths do say that We the undersigned Jurors find that the deceased WH Searsey came to his death Oct 20th 1890 at Laurenns SC by accident - caused from Jumping from the Engine on account of a collision, caused by service Train, and from the Evidence, it was carelessness upon the Part of the Engineer and conductor of Service Train, and RR authorities of PR and WC RR. |
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W. H. Parker | at Blythewood, Fairfield County, SC | train |
upon their Oaths do say We the undersigned Jurors in the within stated case find that the deceased person supposed to be one W.H. Parker from papers found on his person, come to his death Accidentally by a moving train |
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W. H. Gordon | March 5, 1855 | at the house of Alex.r Hampton, Horry County, SC | buggy |
upon their Oaths do say. That by an unjury caused by a fall from his Buggy on the side of the road |
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W. H. Davis | November 1, 1940 | at Chesterfield, Chesterfield County, SC |
upon their oaths do say that W. H. Davis received in Chesterfield County a mortal wound by gun shot in the hands of self-inflicted accidentally |
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W. Bone[?] Durham | at Winnsboro, Fairfield County, SC | train |
upon their oaths do say W. Bone[?] Durham came to his death by accidental killing of the Southern Railway Train No 33 controlled by J.A. Allison conductor and Enginer Price and that no blame attaches to any one[.] |
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W. B. Bladen | December 4, 1929 | at Middendorf, Chesterfield County, SC | automobile |
upon their oaths, do say: He came to his death by being struck by a car being driven by Toby P Brown - accidentally |
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Virginia Fletcher | September 15, 1934 | at Jefferson, Chesterfield County, SC | truck |
upon their oaths, do say: by being hit by truck driver by Q Faulkner same being unavoidable |
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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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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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Uriah Koon | October 16, 1847 | at the house of Col John Hunt, Edgefield County, SC | wagon |
upon their oaths do say that the deceased came to his death by a wagon wheel runing over the breast of decd breaking the 6th-7th & 8th ribs of the left side and the probible rupture of some important blood vessels-on the Columbia Road |
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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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Unknown Unknown | March 29, 1922 | at McBee, Chesterfield County, SC |
(We find that the deceased come to his death by being burned in the guard house at McBee, S.C. supposed to have been trying to burn his way to free on the morning March 29th 1922) |
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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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unknown negro | unknown negro | May 15, 1837 | at the plantation of A. Murphy or Joseph Prins[?], Union County, SC |
Doo say upon their oaths that the sade unknown . . .dide by the visitation of God by getting Drowned in Tigor River |
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Unknown Infant | Unknown Infant | March 10, 1883 | at the house of Peter Blakeney, Chesterfield County, SC |
upon their Oaths do say That said child in manner and form aforesaid came to its death by misfortune or accident |
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Unknown infant | December 28, 1880 | at Chesterfield, Chesterfield County, SC |
upon their oaths do say that the Said Infant child came to his death by being accidently smothered |
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Unknown Colored Man about 60 years old | Unknown Colored Man about 60 years old | May 15, 1893 | on the plantation of D.D. Simpson, Laurens County, SC |
upon their oathes do say that the said colored man came to his death from inflamation of the left hand and arm of phlegmonous character and for want of proper attention, that he died some time about the 13th inst. |
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Unknown | December 10, 1877 | at Alexander Harris', Fairfield County, SC |
do say that the deceased came to its death by being Smothered in bed. & that infant in manner and form afore-Said, came to its death by misfortune or accident |
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Unknown | July 13, 1830 | at Rocky Mount Ferry, Fairfield County, SC |
do say upon their oaths that upon the evidence adduced that the said child was found on the evening of the 18th Inst. found in a fish Trap near the above named ferry prior to that time they are not able to asertain and from not being able to asertain any marks of violence do believe to[?] come to its death by being drowned |
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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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Unknown | June 6, 1829 | at the plantation of John Holinshead on Broad River, Fairfield County, SC |
upon their oaths do say (viz) from the evidence of Mrs. Hugheys and John beal, with other circumstances that the negro boy belonged to a speculator who had brobibly traded for him in the district of Newberry and carried him into this district some distance when the boy took his master's horse and returned to Hugheys ferry...she [Mrs. Hughey] heard a considerable splash in the watter...John beal made oath that he was walking on the bank of the river near a mile below the said, ferry on the fifth..he states that he seen a negro [?] on a rock he procured a canoe the same evening and had him brought to the bank the negro was dead and from every cricumstances he believed the negro had been drowned and appeared he had been in the river one or two days |
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Unknown | April 15, 1861 | At Pendleton, Anderson County, SC | laudanum |
do say that the deceaced came to his death, they believe by taking Laudanum |
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Unknown | March 26, 1877 | at James McGill's, Fairfield County, SC |
upon their oaths do say that the said child came to its death by being accidently overlain by its Mother, and was smothered to death. |
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Unknown | June 26, 1856 | at a spot near the Wateree River and on or near the Road leading to Chesnut's Ferry, Kershaw County, SC |
upon their oaths do say that after such examination as was in their power to make they are clearly of opinion that the decased came to his death by falling into the ditch leading from Bolton's[?] Branch while in a state of intoxication and being unable to help himself was drowned |
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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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Unknown | October 10, 1869 | at Graniteville, Edgefield County, SC | train |
upon their oaths do say That the deceased came to his death by dispensation of providence, [?] lying on the Rail Road track ... by being run over by a train & [?] & cut to pieces by said train |
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Tully Black | child | August 2, 1879 | at Greenville, Greenville County, SC | pistol |
upon their oaths do say that . . .said Tully Black lost his life by a pistol shot accidentally discharged by one King David Hill |
Truman Miles | October 22, 1839 | at Anderson Courthouse, Anderson County, SC |
do say that said Truman Miles. . . .at Anderson Court House was found dead that he had no marks of violence afore him and died by the [?] of God from the many severe falls he received when in a state of intoxication and not otherwise |
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Toney Moore | November 29, 1865 | at Conwayboro, Horry County, SC |
upon their oaths do say That the said Toney Moore came to his death by Mischance from the accidental explosion of a Steam Boiler |
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Toney Clawson | February 16, 1873 | at Spartanburg, Spartanburg County, SC |
upon their oaths do say that the said Toney Clawson came to his death by accidental drowning while attempting to cross a small streamunusually swollen from heavy rains |
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Tom Waldrum | colored man (Free) | January 20, 1857 | in the woods near Mr Avory Franklins, Edgefield County, SC |
upon their oaths aforesaid do say that the aforesaid Tom Waldrum in manner and form aforesaid he was frozen to death in the woods. . .some time during the snow storm |
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Tom W. Walters | January 21, 1917 | at Pageland, Chesterfield County, SC |
upon their oaths, do say: That the said Tom W. Walters came to his death by an accidental fall from theloft of Mungo Bros. Feed stables |
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Tom Purvis | February 5, 1912 | at T. A. Hendricks Res, Chesterfield County, SC |
upon their oaths, do say: Tom Purvis came to his death By Accidental Gun Shot wound in the Hands of Ray Hendrick |
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Tom Oliver | January 23, 1940 | at Chesterfield, Chesterfield County, SC | automobile |
upon their oaths do say that Heck Curry, Tom Oliver, Lennie Pope received in Chesterfield County a mortal wound by automobile collision in the hands of Heck Curry |
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Tom Melton | July 26, 1943 | at Chesterfield, Chesterfield County, SC | automobile |
upon their oaths do say that Tom Melton received in Chesterfield County a mortal wound by Truck in the hands of Joe Maree |
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Tom Griffin | at the freight depot in Winnsboro, Fairfield County, SC | train |
it appears that the deceased Tom Griffen was killed by being run over by a railroad train on the tracks by the side of the freight depot at Winnsboro, S.C. on the twenty ninth day of November A.D. 1897. |
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Tom | slave | May 5, 1805 | at plantation of John Chesnut, Esquire, Kershaw County, SC |
do say upon their oaths. . . that the said negro in escaping from him [the overseer] attempted to swim the river, and was drowned |
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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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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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Tom | slave, boy | February 5, 1861 | brawd River Makes[?] Mill, Union County, SC | boat |
have come to the decision that the boy with others was washed from a small boat in the early part of the night of the fouth in attempting to cross the river . . .got gast[?] in a [?] trap and perished from cold |
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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Toby | negro man | July 10, 1844 | near Bauskett Bridge on Stevens Creek, Edgefield County, SC |
upon there oaths do say the said negro man Toby came to his death by accidental drowning |
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Titus | July 19, 1857 | at the Thoroughfair landing, Horry County, SC |
upon their Oaths do say, that the said negro slave Titus came to his death by accidental drowning |
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Tip Jackson | November 29, 1885 | near New Prospect, Spartanburg County, SC |
upon their oaths do say that Tip Jackson came to his death by accidentally falling down a steep bank about fourteen feet, his neck falling across a log causing suffocation new New Prospect on the Mills Gap Road about midnight |
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Tilman Attaway | April 14, 1849 | at the corner of the Oharer[?] old field, Edgefield County, SC |
Upon their oaths do say, that the said Tillman Attaway. . .was shot with a load of buck shot discharged from a gun, or pistol, and ... that he the said Samuel Webb Shot the said Tilman Attaway, with a doble barrel Shot gun accidently through a mistake for a Turkey |
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Thomas Yongue | near Strother, Fairfield County, SC |
upon their oaths do say: That the said Tomas Yongue came to his death from accidental burning |
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Thomas Welheu[?] | June 19, 1868 | at Benjamin Better[?] wheat field on the Columbia & Augusta Rail Road, Edgefield County, SC |
upon their oaths do say that he came to his death by a pistol shot accidentally discharged by his own hands |
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Thomas Thompson | at Capt. Manus' place, Fairfield County, SC |
upon their oaths do say that the said Thomas Thompson came to his death from the affect of a burn caused by falling in the fire[.] |
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Thomas Rosseter[?] | August 30, 1852 | at Hamburg SC, Edgefield County, SC |
Upon their Oaths do say, that he, said Thos Rosseter came to his death by drowning . . .in the street in the town of Hamburg, during the high water Backed[?] out from the Savannah River |
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Thomas Robinson | December 23, 1847 | at the house of William Clyburn, Kershaw County, SC | horse |
upon their oaths do say that the deceased Thos. Robinson came to his death by a fall from his horse |