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.
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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
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Deceased Description | Date | Inquest Location | Death Method | Inquest Finding |
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Milledge Fuller | freedman | February 18, 1867 | at John Ransford plantation, Edgefield County, SC |
upon their oaths do say that. . .came to his death by a gun shot wound accidently done in the hands of Ellie a freedwoman |
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Miles Robuck | December 16, 1856 | at the house of S.S. Roebuck, Laurens County, SC |
upon their oaths do say that the deceased came to his death by having his head crushed between the head block and one of the arms of the Cog wheel of a Cotton Gin, that the said Miles Roebuck came to his death in manner and form aforesaid, by misfortune or accident. |
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Miles Pryor | July 6, 1878 | at Hobby's Mill, Spartanburg County, SC |
upon their oaths do say he caused his death by accident, the accidental discharging of a gun, emptying its contents in the head |
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Mike | negro man | September 13, 1844 | at Dr John D. Nicholsons Mill, Edgefield County, SC |
upon there oaths do say that the said deceased came to his death at the said Mill the tenth instant when the said Mill broke and washed away, and at the falling in of the mill the deceased received a wound over his right eye which stuned him and caused him to drown |
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Medora Williams | April 4, 1878 | at Spartanburg C.H., Spartanburg, S.C., Spartanburg County, SC |
upon their oaths do say that the said Medora Williams while alone in her house ... fell into the fire and was burned to death while suffering from a fit or fainting |
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Maty | slave | December 10, 1833 | at the dwelling house of Jesse Hammet, Spartanburg County, SC |
do say upon their oaths that they are of the opinion that the said slave came to her death by the visitation of God in afflicting her with fits or spasms and being neglected by those who had her in their care |
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Mattie Woods | at Jim[?] Sawyer's, Fairfield County, SC |
upon their oath do say That from the evidence of Dr J E Douglass we conclude the deceased came to its death by a blow on full[?] on its head, caused by the carelessness of children left to attend to it who are not legally reponsible. |
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Mattie Malloy | September 7, 1943 | at Cheraw, Chesterfield County, SC | automobile |
upon their oaths do say that Mattie Malloy received in Chesterfield County a mortal wound by car wreck in the hands of Tanny Mathews |
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Mattie Brown | March 30, 1880 | on plantation of Mrs. Frances Yongue, Fairfield County, SC |
upon their oaths do say that the same Hattie & Mattie Brown in manner and form aforesaid came to their deaths by misfortune, the assistance of fire on March 29th, 1880. |
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Matt | July 14, 1838 | at the plantation of Samuel Mobley, Fairfield County, SC | lightning |
do say upon their oaths that they believe from the evidence given that the two aforesaid Negro Men came to their death by Lightning and by no other way |
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Matilda Tippins | March 28, 1879 | at Greenville, Greenville County, SC |
upon their aoths do say that the said Matilda Tippins came to her death by accidental burnings |
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Maston Quick | January 17, 1883 | at Cheraw, Chesterfield County, SC | buggy |
upon there oaths do Say That the Said Maston Quick came to his death came to his death by being thrown from his Buggy while his Horse was Running away from Market street in the Town of Chereaw S. C. |
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Maston Fuller | September 21, 1916 | [no location given], Chesterfield County, SC |
upon their oaths, do say: By a pistol wound accidentially discharge by his own hands |
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Mary Tottey | January 3, 1814 | Union County, SC |
do upon their oaths say that the said Mary Came to her Death By the act of God By Droning |
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Mary Thompson | June 12, 1878 | Anderson County, SC |
find that the child has been burnt on the spinal [?] a place as large as a [?] also burnt on the [?] and near mostly all over its body as pieces between [?] as to the cause of her death is from constriction of the brain. |
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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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Mary McDaniel | January 13, 1891 | at Burnside, Laurens County, SC |
upon their oaths do say that the aforesaid Mary McDaniel came to her death by accidental drowning |
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Mary Love | January 17, 1876 | at Mrs. Clovers Spencers, Chesterfield County, SC |
upon their oaths, do say: That the said Mary Love came to here Death by being accidently burned |
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Mary Jenkins | May 5, 1860 | at Boykin's Mill, Kershaw County, SC | |||
Mary Hinson | May 5, 1860 | at Boykin's Mill, Kershaw County, SC | |||
Mary Harrison | September 10, 1894 | at Dornville, Edgefield County, SC |
upon their oaths do say, that the said Mary Harris, aforesaid, came to her death. . .by accidental scalding with hot Water |
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Mary Brown's infant | at William Brice's place, Fairfield County, SC |
upon their oaths do say, that said infant came to its death by Accidental Suffocation. |
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Mary Blocker | December 6, 1894 | at R H Parks, Edgefield County, SC | strychnine |
upon their oaths do say, that Mary Blocker came to her death by taking a dose of Strychnine |
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Mary Ann | July 2, 1855 | at the plantation of Henry Pitts on Walnut Creek, Laurens County, SC |
upon their Oaths do say that the said nego Girl, Mary Ann, her lying dead came to her death by drowning in Walnut Creeke on the night of the first of July |
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Mary | female Slave | January 13, 1853 | at Isaac Bowles[?], Edgefield County, SC |
The jury find that the decased Mary came to her death by falling into the Said Mountain Creek and drowned |
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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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Martin Gary Kennington | December 23, 1934 | at Pageland, Chesterfield County, SC | automobile |
upon their oaths do say that Martin Gary Kennington received in Chesterfield County a mortal wound by Automobile collision in the hands of Walker Edgworth same being unavoidable accident |
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Martha Hubbard | January 1, 1912 | at McBee, Chesterfield County, SC |
[No official declaration] |
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Martha Boone | January 16, 1896 | at A. B. Merrimans place, Chesterfield County, SC |
upon their oaths, do say: that the said Martha Boone came to her death by accidental burning |
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Marion Tolson | July 28, 1941 | at Chesterfield, Chesterfield County, SC | truck |
upon their oaths do say that Marion Tolson received in Chesterfield County a mortal wound by truck in the hands of Will Crawford - accidently |
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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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Mariah Teel | December 30, 1870 | at the Poor House, Chesterfield County, SC |
upon their oaths do say, That the deceased, Maria Teel came to her death, by being accidently burnt |
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Margret Faye Davis | September 22, 1941 | at Chesterfield, Chesterfield County, SC | automobile |
upon their oaths do say that Margret Faye Davis received in Chesterfield County a mortal wound by being hit accidently by an automobile in the hands of Robert Lee Smith |
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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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Margret Ann Kinncade | at W.B. Murry's Place, Fairfield County, SC |
upon their oaths do say that the deceased came to her death from a burn by accidently catching on fire, Sept the 3d, 1886[.] |
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Margaret McKeown | May 5, 1860 | at Boykin's Mill, Kershaw County, SC | |||
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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Marcus Pickens | December 5, 1860 | near the residence of William Widener's, Fairfield County, SC |
upon their oaths do say, that the said Marcus Pickens, on the 5th instant, to wit on or near a blind path leading from Solomon Colemans, to Stephen Crosleys was found dead, that he had not marks of appearin on his body, and died by misfortune, or exposure. |
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Manerva Sanders | March 22, 1890 | at Webb S.C, Edgefield County, SC | tornado |
do say that Manerva Sanders came to her death. . .by a Storm or Cyclone. . . blowing down a house in which she Was in and the falling timbers Kill her |
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Male Infant | Male Infant | March 20, 1884 | at the Jeff Sumerel place, Laurens County, SC |
upon their Oaths do say; that the deceased male infant came to his death by suffocation or mischance. . . |
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Male Child of M.C. & Bella Moody | Male Child of M.C. & Bella Moody | May 13, 1889 | on the plantation of M.B. Pool, Laurens County, SC |
upon their oaths do say that the child died by strangulation accidental. |
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Major Crawford | July 21, 1880 | at Anderson Court House, Anderson County, SC |
do say that Major Crawford came to his death by accidentally falling from the trestle at Rocky River while in a state of intoxication |
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Maggie Ratcliff | May 1, 1874 | at C. A. Mores, Chesterfield County, SC |
upon their oaths, do say: That the Said George Ratcliff Maggie Ratcliff & Luis Ratcliff came to there deaths by being accidently Burnt |
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Maggie Henderson | at the Dr. Sam Mobley place, Fairfield County, SC |
upon their oaths do say that the aforesaid Maggie Henderson came to her death from pistol shot wound, discharged by her sister, Millie Henderson accidentily between midnight and day on the 13th of Feb 1886 at the residence of Hall Henderson on the place of Caleb Craig[.] |
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Maggie Brown | September 8, 1885 | at Mr. Louis Johnson's, Spartanburg County, SC |
upon their oaths do say that Miss Jaggie Brown came to her death by accidentally drowning herself in a spring |
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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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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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M. J. Wilson | June 17, 1876 | at Broadway trestle on the line of the Greenville and Columbia Railroad, Anderson County, SC | train |
do say that their deaths were caused by accident by an engine and car falling through a defective trestle over Broadway Creek |
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M. Harrison | son | December 16, 1876 | at John Harrison's residence, Greenville County, SC |
upon their oaths do say that he came to his death . . .by accident gun shot wound at his own hands |
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M. G. Knight | May 15, 1933 | at Cheraw, Chesterfield County, SC | truck |
upon their oaths, do say: An automobile accident at the hands of James Tillie |