QSA847330 1889 Letter from John Affleck to John Stuart 6 April, Colonial Secretarys Office In Letters, In letter 89/10527, DR69736

[in upper left an embossed stamp] INSPECTOR OF POLICE PORT DOUGLAS / D 119 : 89 / 6/4/89

[in centre top an embossed stamp] COMMISSIONER OF POLICE QUEENSLAND / 05,087 / 22 . APR . 89

Inspectors Office

Port Douglas

April 6th 1889

Sir,

I have the honor to inform you that whilst on patrol (on Jany: 24th. last) at about twenty five miles from Keanina Stn: I accidently shot myself in the right arm, I was going down the [crk] (Murray) - in company with the troopers and Mr. Kerr - Manager - and whilst transferring a cartridge from the magazine into the the barrel of my rifle a Winchester repeater; which is performed by pressing the magazine guard down, placing at the same time the hammer of the rifle to full cock: I slipped backwards on the rocks I was standing on, and when falling put my right hand out to stop the rifle from falling into the crk (which was running). It went off; the bullet entering about three inches above the wrist. I was on foot (like the rest) at the time as the Crk: was too rough for horses to travel over. I consider I was quite justified in loading the rifle as the blacks were within one hundred yards or so of us at the time.

I have the honor to be

Sir

Your most obedient Servt

[signed] John de L. Affleck

Cadet.

Inspr Stuart

Port Douglas