The No. 1 surfman is Ephraim S. Dyer. He was born in Truro in 1845,
and has the distinction of being the oldest surfman in point of years
of service, among the life savers of Cape Cod, if not in the United
States. He joined the service when it was established on Cape Cod, and
has been attached to the Pamet River Station ever since that time.
Before entering the service Surfman Dyer went to sea for a number of
years, following the coastwise trade. He also spent a number of years
as a fisherman and boatman along the shores of Cape Cod, and was in
every way qualified for the position he has held for so long a time.
During his long term of service Surfman Dyer has had many narrow
escapes from death in the performance of his duty. Upon one occasion
when three wrecks, the _Powwow_, _Miles Standish_, and _Pavey_,
occurred at one time, he became entangled in the wreckage of one of
the vessels, and a big rope, becoming twisted around his legs, dragged
him to the bottom, nearly drowning him. During the thirty years that he
has been connected with this station, Surfman Dyer has assisted at all
the wrecks that have occurred near there, and beyond a sprained ankle
he has never received any other injury in the work of saving life and
property. The hardships which he has suffered in thirty years do not
appear to have affected him in the least. He is hale and hearty and
ever ready to respond to the call “vessel ashore.”
Surfman Dyer was twice married; his present wife was formerly Lydia
Moore. He has one child, a daughter.
[Illustration:
Left to right: E. S. DYER. J. H. ATWOOD. R. F. HONEY.
CAPTAIN BOWLEY (seated). G. W. PAINE. I. T. HATCH. A. NICKERSON.