Mariners and ships in Australian Waters

AURORA

of Sydney, JOHN CHARLES BENNETT, MASTER, Burthen 227 Tons
from the S. S. ISLANDS to SYDNEY, New South Wales, 12th October 1871

Thomas Ingram, 2nd mate, Henry Collins, AB, George Washouse, OS, were left on stations to carry on trading for the benefit of all concerned, and Arga, Balli, Punch & Denis belonging to Tonga, left the ship at St. Christoval, one of the Solomon groups ... see scan

On the island of St. Christoval, in August of the present year, Cornelius J. Punch, cook & steward, while on shore on ship's duty, accidemtally shot himself, by taking hold of a loaded rifle, which was lying on the ground, by the muzzle and drawing it towards him the hammer caught something on the ground and fell on the cap which exploded the contents of the rifle, to wit, powder and bullet the charge entering under left heart going through the body coming out close to the spine, though left living he lived to be taken on board and lingered for 30 minutes after saying he had no one to blame but himself and to be remembered to his mother in Ireland, he is in debt to the ship being on the day 12 Oct 1871. ... notes on scan.

Source: State Records Authority of New South Wales: Shipping Master's Office; CGS 13278, Passengers Arriving 1855 - 1922; X123-124, SR Reel 424, 1871.   Transcribed by Tamea Willcocks, 2001.

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Modifications made to scans: In some instances, text was enhanced - there was still an occasional name or list which defied this effort to read it; the Master's signature is usually found at the bottom right corner of the page; some pages have been shortened; excessive black markings have been removed. The last two mods. were to enable the fastest possible display in your browser.

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Mary-Anne Warner
2004