Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1878-11-14
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ACCIDENT To GOV. HAMPTON.

nest anu Iastlng tnan mas neretoIore neen
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10, ACCIDENT TO GOV. HAMPTON u.
While deer hunting below Columbus with
party Of gentlemen, last Friday, Governor
Hampton met with the misfortune TO break
his leg in two places below the knee, sustain
ing painful injury, that will doubtless confine
him to his room for several weeks. The full
particulars Of the unfortunate accident are
given as follows, under date Of last Friday
night, by the Columbia correspondent Of the
Neys and Courier: -. =. 7.,s
The Governor left Columbia on Wednes.
day afternoon on his way to meet party. Of
gentlemen who had arranged for deer hunt
in the Wataree swamp next day, and invited
him to be present. Spending the night at
the residence Of Mr.. Speigner, a few miles dis.
tant from the appointed rendezvous, Cover
nor Hampton. next morning. CThursday,)
exchanged his horse for young halfbroken
mule, and proceeded alone towards the place
where he expected to join the other members
of his party. Just before reaching there,
however, the pack Of hounds. already on hot
scent, passed within hearing, and the Cover
nor, leaving the road, followed them until be
obtained shot at the flying deer. Soon af-;;
ter this, finding himself involved in the thick
undergrowth Of the swamp, he leaned forward
and threw his bride rens over small limb
f,.slins;n~-y -disao eaa.ie
moment, however, the miserable beast which
be bestrode suddenly succeeded 10 releasing
the reins from the bough aud dashed off
through the woods. Being unable to recover,
the reins as quickly as was necessary to assure
himself against, certsin injury from vio-
lent contact with the trunks or the oysrhang-
ing limbs of the trees. Governor Hampton in.
stantly sprapg from bis saddle to the ground,
alighting upon bis feet, but unfortunately,
with so much violence-bis weight too falling
mainly upon the. right foot-that both, the
bones Of the right leg were fractured Just
above the ankle, and the joint itself dislecated.
Finding himself thus suddenly disabled
and left alone in the, depth of the swamp, the
mule, too, having disappeared on the instant,
and so deprived him Of the only means Of
seeking assistance, the Governor had recourse
to his hunting horn and the gun which he had
retained in bis hand, and employed them for
nearly two long hours in the seemingly hope
less effort to summon the help which he SO
sorely needed. The direction of the chase
had, indeed, led the other gentlemen engaged
in its pursuit to within hearing of his signals,
but these very common sounds naturally
enough failed to attract attention, until the
frequency Of the reports Of the gun in such
al, unusual quarter led Col. Thomas Taylor to
suspect trouble of some kind and to send Q
colored man TO inquire into the matter. This
most providential messenger soon discovered
the Governor, lying on the ground in the con,
dition described and suffering great pain, and
quickly led the party to his side. ana, g,.II Z
The trihipg circumstance deserves to be
noted in this connection that after first admin
isteripg to his immediate wants, his sympa-
thizing, but admiring friends quickly observed
that the sufferer, with characteristic coolness
and nerve, had utilized the time and amuni-
ton employed in his hours of signalling and
suffering, by firing at a distant mark, which
mark, it was next ascertained, was fairly rid
died with balls ; or as one of them afterwards
amazedly declared, !"hehad hit the bulls eye.
every timep ....a.h ,dj as. a,a
It was now about six o'clock in the after.
noon. The accident had occurred about o.
clock hut before removal could be effected.
it Was found necessary to cut rough road
through lLe swamp 10 order to allow the pas
sage of the spring wagon. which had been in
the meantime procured, furnished with q
and brought to the; nearest point in
the road. H.. ...a .,,,,i ~. b,.y III ..
This labor accomplished at last, the party
started to Columbia, sixteen miles distant,
and reached the Governors home little be-,
fore midnight. Medical assistance had been.
summoned, and DR.. B. W. Taylor dressed the
injury temporarily. 1t was found that the
small bone of the right leg was broken about
six inches above the ankle and the larger
bone had been completely severed just above
its terminus at the ankle joint, and that the
upper end of the lower section had swerved
from its place. and penetrating the surround
ing flesh, protruded into plain view. This
protrusion ofthe hone had caused considerable
loss of blood. The Governor was now left to
the care of his family and friends for the
night. "a. ..... a.s .a.-l..:,.r
At an early hour this morning, Drs. Taylor,
Trezevant and Talley, with the necessary ap-
paratus, reduced the dislocation of the ankle.
A great deal of force was requisite, the ope-
ration being complicated by the attendant
fracture. The Governor was kept for some
time under the influence of chloroform, and
slept almost all the remainder of the day.
The latest report just received is better than
was expected. If the wounds heal kindly, it
is expected he may be about on crutcbes at
the end of three or four weeks; if not, longer
confinement is imperative.
The fact of the accident having occurred,
was not known in Columbia until late hour
last night, and even then to only one or two
persons. It was quickly rumored and con-,
6rmed this morning, however, and the painful
news, as need scarcely be said, occasioned
general and profound concern in all quarters
and throughout all classes.
1t was stated at one time that the surgeons
in attendance had decided upon amputatlng