Aspects of Slavery and Freedom Seeking in North Carolina
Water-Dangers of the Water
As coastal North Carolina was a world of waters, it is important to note the dangers of waterways. Several enslaved people drowned in these waters. Newspapers across the state listed drowning and sometimes discussed circumstances leading up to the unfortunate event. One enslaved man drowned by falling from the streamer called Governor Graham and two enslaved women drowned in the Tar river because the river was swollen from rain. Some drowned when fishing, falling overboard. Others drowned from boating incidents, such as when the streamer Jas. P Grist ran over a boat with white men and two black men aboard. The white men were saved, but two black men drowned. Drowning was a common occurrence at the time and region.Dangers of the Water
