Arrival of U.S. Brig Porpoise in Honolulu (October, 1840)

Source: The Polynesian. Honolulu: Saturday, October 10, 1840. Page 71, column 2.

The U.S. Brig Porpoise, Capt. Ringgold, arrived on Wednesday, after a short passage of 27 days from the Samoa Islands. Officers and crew all well. A list of officers will be found in our last number. All the vessels of the Exploring Squadron are now in port, and from what we hear, will make a long stay. 

The Porpoise after parting with her consorts, returned to one of the Fiji Islands to protect or take away as the occasion might require, a family of Wesleyan missionaries settled there, whose lives were supposed to be endangered by the savages. But the preferred remaining, having been promised protection by the old king. 

From thence, the brig went to the Navigator Islands, and there learned the particulars of the death of Capt. Corker, of the Favorite, which were somewhat different from the account given in a previous number. It seems that Capt. Croker, having failed to make peace at the council, returned on board and threatened the heathen party with instant war if they did not sign the treaty he presented, within a specified time.  The natives, refusing to do so, he landed, with one hundred men and two small guns, and marched to assault their fort, which was strongly fortified after the native manner.

After battering down one of the gates, he immediately marched forward to take the place by assault, leading the column himself -but fell, pierced is it said with eighteen balls- three of his men were also killed, seventeen dangerously wounded, and not one of the officers escaped unhurt. The party were obliged to retreat leaving their guns behind them. The first Lieutenant assumed command of the vessel, and at the request of the English missionaries stationed there, took them on board and conveyed them to Vavvau, where they were to remain until affairs become more settled.