1850.
A merchant ship having been captured by black pirates, who murdered
some of the crew and carried the vessel up the river Seba, the French
governor of Senegal sent a small man-of-war steamer and some marines
to accompany the 'Centaur,' Captain Buckle, and 'Teazer,' Lieut.
Selwyn, with a number of marines and 60 soldiers to chastise the
marauders. The two British men-of-war, and the French steamer
'Ruby,' having gone up the creek where the island is situated,
anchored off the place where they were to land. The 'Centaur,' being
too large to come up so far, sent up her boats, 12 in number, while
she remained about three miles down. Captain Buckle and Mr. Selwyn
then went in advance of the other boats near the shore, intending to
demand the restitution of the vessel, together with the men who
murdered the crew, when they were fired at, and Mr. Young, midshipman
of the 'Centaur,' was dangerously wounded in the breast. The
'Teazer' and 'Ruby' then opened a furious cannonade, which lasted
nearly half an hour. The natives stood it without answering a shot,
but as the first boat attempting to land came near the bush through
which it was necessary to pass, a volley was fired which took fatal
effect, killing Lieut. Crockets commanding the marines, and
dangerously wounding eight others, sailors and marines. They then
withdrew, and the men in the boats landed without further opposition;
and after beating about for some time returned to their vessels. The
single shot which wounded Mr. Young, and the volley, was the only
firing from the enemy. The next day the party went 10 miles up the
creek and recovered the merchant vessel without opposition or seeing
a man.