Forgotten Tragedies of

the Pacific

By F. T. Goedicke

HERE is the true story of how Captain Crocker, of H.M.S. “Favourite,” was killed at the battle at Bea, Tonga, in 1840.

While H.M.S. "Tauranga” was visiting Tonga in 1900, Lieutenant Freeman had a conversation with me and, turning over photographs of Tongan scenery and notabilities, his attention was attracted to the portrait of an aged Tongan chief.

He was much interested when informed that the chief had a record; for it was he who killed Captain Crocker, of H.M.S.

“Favourite,” at Bea, about three miles from Nukualofa, in the year 1840.

The lieutenant was surprised when he heard that the chief was still well, and was living at Maofaga, within half a mile of where we were sitting. The chief’s name was “Tui Haafakafanua,” and, in a conversation with me, he had related how Captain Crocker came by his death, and the part he—the chief—acted in the affair.

Captain Crocker had been requested by the King of Tonga, Taaufashau, to assist him against some of his heathen sub jects, who had rebelled, and who had taken refuge in a very large and strong fortress at Bea.

The captain, with some of his officers and a company of his men, proceeded to the fortress, and, after endeavouring in vain to persuade the rebels to submit, gave orders to scale the fortress. It was built very strongly, with coconut trunks placed vertically in the ground, and with gateways at intervals.

The captain himself led his men. He was met by a volley of musketry, and many of his men were wounded. The captain did his utmost to enter the stockade, but received a spear wound from a native, Mafi Tuli, who was in the chamber over the gateway.

The captain, weak from loss of blood, was leaning against the side of the stockade when Tui Haafakafanua put his musket through between the logs, pressed the muzzle against Crocker’s heart, and — to use his own words —“blew his heart out!”

This sad affair cost also the lives of two other officers, and 19 of the men were dangerously wounded. The first lieutenant drew off his men, and had great difficulty in taking his dead and wounded with him; and he had to leave his cannon behind.

Lieutenant Freeman remarked that the fight seemed to have been a fair one, and that Captain Crocker’s death was but the fortune of war.

How little did Freeman anticipate that, within a few short weeks, he would meet a similar death! He was decapitated by a Samoan in the battle at Vailima, near Apia, in 1900.

Captain Brian Molloy, of ANGAU — formerly Port Moresby’s popular and prosperous solicitor, has been a patient in Yaralla Hospital, Sydney. With him in the same ward is another well-known Papuan resident, Warrant-Officer Jack Brown.