The San Francisco call., 1896-03-17
[ Dra,cn from a photograph.

story of the disaster reads like romance.
The night was clear and bright although
there was no moon. The vessel was un-
der full sail and an observation having
been taken the day before the captain and
crew thought everything was plain sail
ing. Captain Mockler had sailed the same
course for years when on his way to the
japanese coast in search of seals.
The watch was about to go below and
the master was on deck to see how things
were going. Seven bells had just been
sounded and the reverberation had hardly
died away when the Dyer struck. The
sails were thrown aba ok and for few
minutes all was confusion. The schooner
lifted with the next swell and then settled
on blind rock. Order was soon restored
and the men began launching the boats.
The first one put over the side was all
provisioned but unfortunately was dashed
TO pieces on the schooner's quarter. Two
other boats met the same fate, and then
all attem pt to save anything was given up
and the crew embarked in the four re-
manning boats. A few minutes later the
Matte I. Dyer turned over and went
down bodily.
One of the boats was short of sail, and
AlonZo Perkins, the carpenter, went back
to secure jibsheet. While he was aboard
the schooner heeled over, and he had to
Jump overheard i'll order TO save his life
When daylight broke Captain Mockler
made an inspection of the boats, and
found that all hands had been saved.
Two compasses had been secured. the sec
ond one having been torn from the bin
nacle and thrown into the boat few min
utes before the schooner went down. There
was no water and only case of canned
fruit which one of the sailors had rescued
of ho laa of mo- nart fret 10
tain Mockler did was to distribute the men
evenly in the boats. He took command of
one and had with him Second Mate w.
Spear, P. Peterson, hunter, and Chris
Olson, I. Peterson and V. Madison, sailors.
The second boat was commanded by
First Mate Hugh Walker, and he had with
him n. S. Waldell, the steward, and Nor
ris Madelin, G. Sinclair, ]. Jensen and
John Nelson.
The third boat was placed in command
of j. F. Jackson, one of the hunters, and
he had with him Alonzo Perkins and w.
Lindquist, hunters, and G. ]. Berry, B..
Donnelly and James Mitchell, sailors
The fourth boat had only five in it, and
Ed Larsen, hunter, was placed in COM
mand He had with him Frank Moore, J.
Watson and J. Huyden, sailors, and NJ. A.
Lundgren, cabin boy.
When the distribution had been COM
pleted Captain Mockler opened the case of
canned fruit and gave each boat six cans
Two of the boats were out four days and
four hours before reaching land the third
was out seven days and six nights, and the
fourth was out eight days and seven nights
before land was reached or help came.
One can-and a two-pound can at that
was the daily allowance for all six men.
If it were peaches, each sailor was given
half OF one in the morning and small
quantity of the liquid. Midday and even
ing his allowance was the same. so it can
be imagined how the men who were out
eight days suffered. 1t was the same
when it came to apricots, but when the
gooseberries and grapes were opened only
three of each were served out with the
small modicum of liquid allowed.
This was the law laid down by Captain
Mockler, and it was rigidly followed, ex-
cept in one instance. This was on the first
evening, when the skipper opened can of
apricots and explained to the men that
land was 500 miles away, and that starva-
ton diet must rule. Each man was given
his allowance and then the can was slowed
away. Next morning it was gone. and no
one knew anything about its disappear
ance.
After leaving the schooner all the boats