from Havannah, under the orders of Lieutenant Croker, captured, in a creek within Cayo Blanco, a large piratical schooner, called the Diableto, mounting six guns, and manned with about fifty men, who, after firing a few shot without effect, abandoned the vessel on the near approach of the British. Some of them made their escape to the shore in four large boats, which were afterwards taken by Lieutenant Croker; others having jumped overboard, and got amongst some mangrove bushes, five of them were killed by musketry and several appeared wounded, but from the nature of the marsh they could not be secured. On boarding the schooner, Lieutenant Croker had the satisfaction to release the master and crew (nine persons) of an American brig, the Henry, of Hartford, which bad been taken seven days before by the pirate. They had been treated in the most inhuman manner, and were to have been put to death on the following morning, their lives having been spared so long only for the purpose of their assisting in removing the brig’s cargo. The Henry was found in the creek, a mile above the schooner, but in a state which rendered it impracticable to remove her to Havannah, and she was therefore burnt, with what remained in her. A deserted sloop, having on board part of the Henry’s cargo, was also discovered and brought away. Sir Lawrence W. Halsted, commander-in-chief on the Jamaica station, in reporting the performance of this service to the Admiralty, highly praised “the judicious and spirited manner in which it was conducted, as well as the zeal and gallantry shown by Lieutenant Croker and the Officers and men under his orders.”
Commander Croker obtained his present rank on the 4th Oct. 1825. Three of his brothers are in holy orders, and possess valuable livings, viz:– Edward, rector of Croom; Robert, rector of Athlacca; and Thomas, vicar of Adare; all in county Limerick, and in the gift of the Croker family. His brother Albert died first lieutenant of the Cambrian frigate, in Jan. 1826; his other brothers, Richard and William, are majors in the army: one of his sisters, Margaret, is married to the Dean of Clogher; and another, Sally, to Major George Gough, formerly in the 28th foot.
