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 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Joseph | Negroe man | April 29, 1828 | at the old Quaker meeting hous, Union County, SC |
do say upon their oaths . . .that the said negro making an effort to Cross Fairforest at Mrs Rices ford was drown |
|
James Graham | June 8, 1858 | at the place known as the public square in Logtown, Kershaw County, SC |
upon their oaths do say that the said Jame Graham here lying dead came to his death from intemperance and exposure |
||
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 |
||
Isaac McMulkin | at the Old Smith place, Fairfield County, SC |
upon their Oaths do say that the deceased came to his death at his Father's house the 20 June 1895 from accidental burning. |
|||
Infant of Lucy Fowler | Infant of Lucy Fowler | April 23, 1870 | at the Barrieing [sic] ground near the Residence of John Ball, Laurens County, SC |
upon their oaths do Say the said child came to its death by accidental suffication [sic]. |
|
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. |
||
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 |
||
George W. Moose | June 7, 1882 | at Spartanburg, Spartanburg County, SC |
upon their oaths do say that said J. W. Moore ... came to his death from heart disease or from a fall consequent upon disease of the heart |
||
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 |
|
Peter Gadsden | November 28, 1873 | near Doko[?], Fairfield County, SC |
upon their oaths do say: That on the night of the twentieth day of November 1873, before the hour of midnight the said Peter Gadsden being alone in the house, on the Plantation of L.M.[?] Bookhart[?] was burned to death by the accidental catching of fire to the building near the chimney which resulted int he destruction of the building and the death of said Peter Gadsden, and that...Peter Gadsden...came to his death by accidental burning |
||
Walden C. Sullivan | September 12, 1893 | at the house of Mr. John A. Sullivan, Chesterfield County, SC |
upon their oaths do say that the said Walden C. Sullivan came to his death by accidental smothering at the Residence of John A. Sullivan |
||
Peter Knox | July 23, 1878 | near Calrandellers[?] Ferry on Tugalo River, Anderson County, SC |
do say that Peter Knox . . . in Tugaloo River came to his death accidentally by drowning in attempting to cross said river |
||
James Edward Settle | boy | March 9, 1884 | on Henry Hill Plantation, Edgefield County, SC |
do say upon there [?] that said James Edward Settle Came to his death from Epellepcy and Starvation |
|
Rebecca Sherman | child | January 4, 1879 | at Greenville, Greenville County, SC |
upon their oaths do say that . . .the deceased Rebeccas Sherman came to her death . . .from the effects of an accedental burn |
|
Curry | slave | March 17, 1856 | at Mrs Elizabeth Middletons Plantation, Edgefield County, SC |
upon their oaths do say that the said Curry came to his death by accidental drowning |
|
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 |
||
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[?]. |
|||
Lincoln Gregory | March 5, 1938 | at Pageland, Chesterfield County, SC |
upon their oaths do say that Lincoln Gregory received in Chesterfield County a mortal wound by Rifle Shot in the hands of Bryalus McManns |
||
John Henry Goudelock | June 3, 1882 | at Bethlehem Grove Church, Laurens County, SC |
upon their oaths do say that he came to his death by being burned in the dwelling house of Jane Goudelock which is included in Laurens County, State of South Carolina. The cause or origin of the said fire is to this jury unknown. |
||
slave | slave | January 25, 1836 | at the plantation of Daniel L. Desaushore[?], Kershaw County, SC |
do say upon their oaths that he came to his death by being intoxicated, falling in a rut or gully and thereby the storm[?] rain & sleet has drowned or frose [sic] to Death |
|
James Hindman | February 11, 1875 | Spartanburg County, SC |
upon their oaths do say that in their opinion the said James Hindman came to his death by misfortune caused by fits or convulsions producing derangment ina high degree being found drowned in James Creek |
||
Dorcas Page | May 5, 1860 | at Boykin's Mill, Kershaw County, SC | |||
Larrence Valentine | December 28, 1893 | at Mt[?] Willing, Edgefield County, SC |
upon their oaths do say that. . .find that said Larrence Valentine aforesaid came to his death by a gun shot wound in his own hands, from the evidence we believe it was purely accidental |
||
Aaron Hardin | June 24, 1845 | at plantation of Mr. Moses Chambles, Anderson County, SC |
do say that they believe the said Aaron Hardin came to his death by mischance and accident by the hand of God, the body being in such a state of putrifaction and mutilation as to prevent a discovery of any marks of violence or other causes of death. |
||
Jerry | May 16, 1808 | at the Mill House of Henry Brockman, Laurens County, SC |
do say upon their oaths, the said Negrow man Jerry came to his Death by being Intoxicated in Liquor and Indeavoring to cross the Enoree River... between Laurens & Spartanburgh Districts that then & there the sd. Negrow Jerry got strangled sufficated & Drowned & from all appearance contrary to the wife sd. Negrow by mischance or accident. |
||
Henry | negro man Slave | August 21, 1850 | at New Savannah in beach Island, Edgefield County, SC |
upon their oaths Say that the negro man Henry came to his death from being accidentally drowned in the Savannah river |
|
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 |
||
William McAbee | April 8, 1885 | Spartanburg County, SC | |||
Willie Hendrix Stricklin | March 23, 1901 | [no location given], Chesterfield County, SC |
I have this day helt a perliminary examination over the dad body of Willie Hendrix Stricklin and from the evidence of witnesses I do not deam it nesary to hold an inqest but from Such witness find that the sed Willie Hendrix Stricklin came to his dath from none others than natural causes |
||
John Pike | November 15, 1856 | at William Pike's, Greenville County, SC |
upon their oaths do say that he came to his death . . . by some means to the jurors unknown |
||
Selena Allen | child, boy, baby | December 12, 1890 | at Mrs Blacks[?] Plantation, Edgefield County, SC |
upon their oaths do say that the said Selena Allen came to her death from Strangulation |
|
Pauline Abraham | child | November 19, 1882 | at Archey Ramsey's, Greenville County, SC |
upon their oaths do say that Pauline Abrham came to her death by some cause to them unknown |
|
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. |
||
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 |
||
Enoch Adams | November 23, 1916 | at Cheraw, Chesterfield County, SC |
upon their oaths, do say: that he came to his death by caving in of Cotton Seed upon him at the Cheraw oil mill being smothered. |
||
John Garrett | October 22, 1822 | at House of John Garrett, Union County, SC |
do say upon their oaths . . .Came to his death by being accid Draunded |
||
Joe Coleman | near Buck Head, Fairfield County, SC |
upon their oaths do say, That Joe Coleman in manner and form aforsaid, came to his death 'from old age and freezing[.]" |
|||
Daniel | October 8, 1834 | at Maj. John Blacks, Laurens County, SC |
upon their oaths that from evidence that the said Negro came to his Death by Mischance by plunging into the River at or near the head of Maj. John Black's Millhouse in said District through fear dogs which were threatened by calling & encouraging of a Negro man, Doc, the property of Reginald Duncan by order of John Odell, supposing him to be a runaway. |
||
Handy Papley | November 3, 1889 | on the plantation of Thos L Badgett, Laurens County, SC |
upon their oaths do say - that the said Handy Papley came to his death "by the Explosion of an Engine boiler." |
||
Sherman Bowden | May 7, 1878 | at Spartanburg, Spartanburg County, SC |
upon their oaths do say that ... the said Sherman Bowden while bathing in the Lawson's Fork Creek ... accidentally fell into water over his head and was drowned |
||
negro child | negro child | February 17, 1850 | at the plantation of James Ellises, Union County, SC |
upon their oaths do say that the Female child came to its death by mischance being accidentally smothered |
|
David Griffin | July 28, 1873 | at T. H. Clark's plantation, Kershaw County, SC |
upon their oaths do say that the said David Griffin came to his death by accidental drowning |
||
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. |
||
Lizzy Rardon | September 28, 1879 | at Clansey Holloways plantation, Edgefield County, SC |
do say the said Lizzy Rardon came to her death by falling into the creek and strugling and from exaustion and being chilled |
||
Alexander Hough | August 9, 1879 | at Alfred Hough's, Chesterfield County, SC |
upon their oaths do Say that Alxander Hough in manner and form aforesaid, came to his death by accidental drowning |
||
S. F. White | November 22, 1889 | at or on General Bates Plantation, Spartanburg County, SC |
upon there oaths do say that Mr. S. F. White came to his death by falling into the fire while suffering from an epileptic fit |
||
Priner Davis | near Simm Davis' Spring, Fairfield County, SC |
upon their oaths do say that the said Priner Davis came to his death from apoplectic Fit-brought on by drinking bad whiskey and exposure near the Public Road in Fairfield Co SC, leading form Winnsboro to Kincades Bridge on or between the night of the 13th and the morning of the 15th of January 1883[.] |
|||
William Moore | April 15, 1893 | in a lake near little river, Laurens County, SC |
Being a lawful Jury of inquest and being charged and sworn to inquire for the State of S.C. how and by what means the said Wm. Moore came to his death on the 14th of April inst. In Laurens County By Accidental drowning, in a lake near little river. |
||
Minnie Johnson | December 22, 1892 | at John Bettis plantation, Edgefield County, SC |
upon their oaths do say that the said Minnie Johnson came to her death by strangulation caused by an accidental fall into shaws creek |
||
William H Maharey | May 25, 1863 | at Haslin Factory on the Procelian Manufacturing Company, Edgefield County, SC |
upon there oaths do say that the aforesaid Wm H Mahorey did come to his death . . .by Mischance of Misfortune or accident caused by Fixing of the Machinery of the Meed Mill and was chrushed to By the Cog Wheel of said of Mill |