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TOLKEN UNDAMAGED
Leaves For Thevenard
PORT LINCOLN, August 7.
The steamer Tolken, which went
aground here on Friday evening, and
was refloated during the night, was
the centre of attraction for residents
of the town today, when Mr. W. Ack
land-Horman (Lloyd's surveyor), and
Diver S. Dunbar. who arrived this
morning by the motor ship Moonta,
made an examination of the vessel.
After the inspection, which failed to
reveal the slightest trace of damage,
Mr. Ackland-Horman issued a certifi
cate of seaworthiness, and the ship
left at 5 pjn. for Thevenard, where 6he
will load wheat.
The Tolken lay at the railway jetty,
to which she was taken yesterday after
noon.
That the Tolken wholly escaped
damage is due to the presence of mind
exhibited by Captain Rignell. When
he saw that nothing he could do would
prevent his ship being blown ashore in
the gale on Friday evening, he allowed
her bow to swing ehorewards until she
rested on the sand. By this means he
prevented her from settling on her !
stern, with the probability of incurring
serious damage.
Captain T. F. Gibson, wharf super
intendent at Port Lincoln for the Ade
laide Steamship Company, who watched
the manoeuvres from the jetty, paid a
warm tribute to the manner in which
Captain Rignell got his ship afloat and
out of danger in the early hours of
yesterday morning.
"It was one of the cleverest feats of
seamanship I have seen for many a
day." he said. "The wind was blowing
6trongly from the nor*-nor'-west, and
a heavy sea was running. The master
ran out two stern lines to the jetty,
took the weight of them, and let his
ship settle aft. At I o'clock, with a
rising tide, he heaved on the stern
lines. Fifty minutes later the wind
shifted to the southward and swung
the ship's head out to sea. the strain
still being taken by the stem lines.
When the ship's bow was facir.g sea
ward, the master ordered full speed
ahead, and slipped the lines. He then
moved out into the bay. where he
dropped both anchors."
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