Soon after midnight on the 28th February, during a fresh gale from the S.E.

and a rough sea, the Coastguard watchman reported that a vessel was burning signals of distress in the roadstead. The coxswain of the Life-boat immediately assembled his crew, who launched the No. 1 Life-boat Sir Edward Perrott, and found that the signals were shown by the smack Rapid, of and for Cardigan, from Milford, with a cargo of culm. She had entered the roadstead under close reef canvas, and anchored about half a mile to windward of the smack Topaz. Both her anchors were let go, and all possible chain was given, but she drove right across the bows of the Topaz, and coming in contact with that vessel's chain, the Sapid started her rudder case, and began to leak badly.

After getting clear, it was found impossible to keep her afloat. Her crew of 3 men were therefore taken into the Lifeboat and safely landed, the vessel soon after going down..