Rapid (brig)
The Rapid was a brig of 161 tons, remembered as the ship which brought William Light's surveying party to the new colony of South Australia.
History
The Rapid was built in 1826 at Yarmouth, and featured a carved figurehead in the shape of a greyhound.
South Australia
She was purchased by the board of commissioners of the South Australian Company to send out on their first fleet to establish the Colony of South Australia and the city of Adelaide. The company added a deck for passenger exercise, but as the height between decks was 4'1" (1.25 m), it was hardly luxurious. On 1 May 1836, the Rapid left Blackwall, and sailed down the English Channel under the command of Col. William Light, and reached Kangaroo Island on 17 August 1836.[1]
Light's crew included Lieut. G. M. Field, R.N. (first officer), Lieut. (later Admiral) William S. Pullen (second officer), Lieut. R. Hill (third officer) and Thomas Woodforde (surgeon). Other members of the party were William Bell, W. Bradley, Robert Bush, William Chatfield, George Childs, William Clampton, John Duncan, William Freemantle, Edward Gandy, Marion Gandy, William Gandy, Thomas Gepp, Robert Goddard, William Hodges, William Jacob, William Lawes, James Lewis, George Mildred, Hiram Mildred, George Penton, and Robert G. Thomas, John Thorn, John Thorpe, William Tuckey.[1]
The Rapid was used for survey work at Port Adelaide, and in 1837 was sent to England under Capt. William George Field with G. S. Kingston on board to report to the Colonisation Commissioners on the needs of the Survey Department. She returned to Adelaide in June 1838. She subsequently made several trips to Launceston, Van Diemen's Land.
Finale
In 1840 the Rapid was sold to Capt. Arthur Devlin, but was wrecked on a coral island near Rotuma early in the morning of 14 January 1841 while on a voyage from Sydney to China.[2]
Recognition
- An anchor was found at Rapid Bay by Mr. Roper, harbormaster at Second Valley, which was believed to be the one lost by the Rapid.
- An oil painting of the Rapid by Doreen Bice (niece of J. G. Bice) after a watercolor sketch by Colonel Light is held by the South Australian Maritime Museum.
- A number of Adelaide citizens claim descent from passengers on the Rapid. Those listed in 1936 were: Mr. Alfred Barker, Mrs. Dean Berry, Mrs. Mary L. Brown, Mr. Malcolm Collins. Misses M. K. and R. Cussen, Mrs. F. Martin. Miss Florence Mildred, Mrs. L. Wray, Mrs. Percival Stow, Mrs. Annie Ross, Mrs. Willis, Dr. Helen Mayo, Miss Mayo, Mr. Hubert Mayo. K.C., Dr. John Mayo. Miss O'Halloran, Miss E. K. Barker. Miss Emily Penton, Mrs. F. M. Pratt, Mrs. M. Stenhouse, Mrs. F. J. Sweetapple and Mrs. H. W. Wunderley.[1]
References
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