Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1878-11-14
A Public Calamity.
GOVERNOR HAMPTON SERIOUSLY INJURED WHILE
HUNTING.

HUNTING.
CoLUMBIA, S. c., November 9.-While
hunting deer with purity Of friends in the
lower portion of this county yesterday, the
mule that Governor Hampton was riding
became frightened and, the bride breaking,
the Governor lonped from the saddle, recciS-
ing severe injuries in his fall His right
leg was broken. in two places below the knoo
with the bones protruding, and tho ankle also
is badly injured
lie was brought to Columbia this morning
and is now lying at home. Tho prospect is
that he will be confined to his bed for a long
period.
COLUMBIA. November s. Tho following
particulars in relation to tho serious accident
which befell Governor Hampton yesterday
were obtained from u member of his fnmily.
and will be read with painful interests
Tho Govcrn0, left Columbia on "Wednesday
afternoon on his wny to meet party of gen.
ticmen who had arranged for II deer hurt in
the Wnterec swamp the next day, and had
invited him to bo present. Spending tho
night at tho residence Of MIR. Spcigner, few
miles distant from tho appointed rendezvous,
Governor Hampton, next morning. (Thurs-
day. exchanged his horso for young half
broken mule, and proceeded along towards
members Of his party. just before reaching
there, however, tho pack of hounds, already
on hot scont, passed within hearing, and the
Governor leaving the road followed them
until he obtained shot at the flying deer.
Soon after this, finding himself involved in
the thick undcrgrowth OF the swamp, he
leaned forward and throw his bride rcins
over small l'mb preliminary to dismountiny
At this critical moment however, the misern
bic boast which he bcstrode suddenly succeeded
in releasing tho reins from the bough and
dashed oft through the woods. Being unable
to recover tho rcns rs quickly ns was neces>
sary to assure himself against certain injury
from violent contact with the trunks or tho
overhanging in,ba Of tho trees. Governor
Hampton Instantly sprang from his saddle to
the ground, alighting upon his feet, but.
unfortunately, with SO much violence his
weight too falling mainly upon tho right foot
that both the bonos Of tho right leg were
fractured just above the ankle, and the Joint
itself dislocated.
Finding himself thus suddenly disabled
and left alone in tho depth of tho swamp, the
mulo too having disappeared on the
instnnt and so deprived him of tho only
means OF seeking assistance, the Governor
had recourse to his hunting horn, and the
gun which lie had retained in his hand, ssa
employed them for nearly two long hours;in
the seemingly hopeless effort to summon tho
hclp which hc SO sorely needed Tho diroc-
ton of the chase had. indeed, led tho other
gentlemen engaged in its persut 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 Thomas Taylor to suspect trouble of
some kind and to send colored man to
inquire into tho mattor. This most providcn.
tin messenger soon discovered the Governor
lying on the ground in the condition described
ana suffering great pain, md quickly led tho
party to his side.
The triling circumstance deserves to bo
noted in this connection that after frat admin.
istering to his immediate wants, his sympa.
thizing, but admiring friends quickly observed
that tho snitorer, with characteristic coolncss
and norvo, Ind utilized tho timo and ammu.
nition employed in his hours Of signalling
and suffering by firing at distant mark
which mark, it was next ascertaned. was
fairly rddled with balls; or as ono of them
afterwards amazedly declared "he had hit
the bullscye every time!"
1t was now nearly 6,o'clock in the after
noon; tho accident had occurred about 4
O'Clock; but before a removal could be
effected it was found necessary to cut q rou eb
road through the swamp in order to allow the
P'''"So VI viz spring wagon, which had beon
meantime procured, furnished with n mat.
tress, and brought to tho ncnrost point of the
road.
This labor accomplished at last, tho party
started to Columbia, sixteen miles distant
and reached tho Governors homo little bo-
fore midnight. Medical assistance had bcon
summoned, and DR.. B. w. Taylor dressed the
injury temporarily. It, was found that the
small bone of the right leg was broken abou
ak inches above tho ankle; that the larger
bone had been completely severed just above
it's terminus at tho ankle joint, and that tht
upper. end of the lower section had sworvo(
from its place, and penetrating the surround
ing flesh protruded into plain WOW. Thi
protrusion of tho bone had caused considera
bio loss of blood. Tho Governor was nov
iettto the care Of his family and friends fol
the night.
,, AZ an early honr this morning Drs. Taylor
/ Frezey yant8 and Talley,. with the neoessar,