The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1878-11-13
A Public Calamity.
GOVERNOR HAMPTON SERIOUS
LY INJURED WHILE HUNT
ING.

II HUI ~ thC NNCtt ="
Swamp =. The Accident - Two
Hours Alone - Help ut Last.-The
Righ, Leg Broken III Two Places
and the Ankle Observation-Disclosures
,ion of the Patient.
Nevs and Courier.
COLUMBIA, 8. c., November 8 - while
hunting deer with a party Of fricnIls Ill the
lower portion Of tits comfy yesterday, inc
mule that Governor Hampton was riIins
the Governor lctpcd from the saddle. re-
cclvlny severe injuries in his fall. Ills right
leg was brok en- in two places below the knee
with tnc bones protruding, and the ankle also
lie was brought to Columbia this morning
and is now lying ut home. The prospect Is
that he will be confined 10 his bed Tor a lohs
period.
COLUMBIA, November $. The following
particulars in relation to the serious acciucht
which bcfcIl Governor Hampton yes:erd,ty
were obtained from q member or his tttnily,
and will be read with painful interest:
The Governor left Columbia OH Wednesday
afternoon on his way To meet q party OF gen
tlcincn who had arranged for n deer hult IN
the Watcrec swamp next day, and had IN,
at the residence of Mr.. Spcigner, n few miles
distant from the appointed rendezvous, Gov.
ernor Hampton, mex morning, (ThursdayD
exchanged his horse for u young half
broken mule, and proceeded alone towards
the place where he expected TO JON me
other members of his party. Just before
reaching there. however, the pack OF hounds,
already on hot scent, passing within bearing;
them until he obtained n shot at the Tying
deer. soon after this, finding himself In
volved in the thick underground OF INC
swamp, he leaned forward n lnrew ms
dismounting. At this critical moment, how
ever, the miserable beast which he hcstrGuc
suddenly succeeded in releasing the relns
from the bough and dashed OIL through the
woods. Being unable to recover the reins rs
Quickly rs WAS necessary to assure himself
against certain injury from violent contact
with the trunks or theoverhanginE limbs OF
the trees, Governor Hampton instantly
spranc from his saddle to the ground, alight-
Ing upon his feet, but. unfortunately, with so
much vioicncc-his weight too falling mainly
uron tho right foot-that both the bones OF
ankle. and the joint itself dis!ocated.. :,
Filming himself thus suddenly disabled and
left alone In the depth Of the swamp. the
nnd so deprived him Of the only means of
seeIiITg assistance. the Governor had recourse
10 his hunting horn, and the, gun which ne
| had retained I'm his hand, and employed them
for nenrly two long hours In the seemingly
hopeless effort to summon the help which he
20 sorely needed. The direction OF the
chase had, indeed, led he 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 an unusual quarter led Col. Vhonlas
Taylor to suspect trouble of some Kind ana to
This most providentinl messenger soon dis
covered the Governor lying on the ground IN
the condition described and suffering great
pain, and quickly led the party to his side.
noted in this connection thai after first i'd
minlstcring to his immediate wants. his sym.
pathizipx, but admiring friends quickly, or.
served THAT tho sufferer, with CHARACTERISED
coDlncss and nerve, had utilized the tim
und ammunition employed In his hours q!
signalling and suffering by firing at q distant
mark, which MARI, II WAS next aSceTtalncd.
was fairly riddled with balls: or as one OF
hill the bullSeye every time?"
1t was now nearly q O'Clock In the after
noon; the accident had occurred about +
o'clock but before a removal could be Of
fecied 1t was found necessary TO cut q rou2h
road through the swamp In order to allow the
passage Of the spring wagon, when hnd Ocei
meantime procured. furnished with u mat.
tress, and brought to the nearest point OF the
road.
Tnis labor accomplished at last the party
started TO Columbia, sixteen miles distant
and reached the Governors home u httlc he
fore midnight. Medical assistance hhd been
summoned, and Or. b. w. Taylor dressed the
Injury temporarily. It was ound that tho
small bone of the rlp hi leg was o ;hou
six inches above the ankle; that the larger
bone had been completely severed Just anoF(
its terminus at the ankle joint, and that thf
upper end Of tie lower section had SweTVc;c
from itsp!acc, and penetrating the surround
Ing flesh protru,Ied into plain view. This pro
truSlOn Of the bonc had caused colsidcrlDic
loss of blood. The Governor was now ieit &c
the care or his family and friends Tor the
night. ua r,,,o.
Irrelevant and Tallcy, with tho neccssir!
apparatus, reduced Tie disiocation OF Tie
ankle. A. great deal or force was requisite
the operation being complicated ny lht
attendant f~rhcture. The Governor was KEEP
for some time under the influence or ci.lofo
form, aud slept almost al the remainder 81
the day. The latest report Just received y
! better than was expected. If the WOUNDS
heal kindly 1t is expected he may be about or
crutcbeS at the end of three or four Weeks; i
uota longer confinement Is imperative.
Tie fact Of tie accident having occurred
was not known In Columbia until q late houf
last night, and even then TO only one or
persons. 1t was quickly rumoreu ana con
iirmed this morning, However, ana the pam,
ful news, as need scarcely he sad, accustomed
general and profound concern in all quartc''
and throughout all classes.
It was stated ut one time TINT the surgeon
in attendance had decided upon nmputnt!hG
the leg. In view Of the serious nature Oh tHt
injuries 1t had sustained. hut Glrcct iaInir!
upon this point elected the gratifying reply
from an authoritative source, tnht S"ci M
operation is not necessary nor coNteh'pla5eo