Adolf Fredrik Dyker
Adolf Fredrik Dyker was a passenger on Titanic.
Early life[]
Adolf's parents were Swedish-Americans and they lived in Sweden. He was born between 1888 and 1890 at sea during his parents' boat trip from New York to Gothenburg. They were Gustaf Fredrik Dyker and Anna Lovisa Andersson. Father Gustaf had his own cafe at Upplandsgatan 11 in Gnesta for 23 years. Thye often referred to their son as ‘Fred’.
On March 6, 1905, Adolf Dyker arrived in America on the ship Caronia from the Cunard Line. At that point he was a 16 year old lad who lived in Stockholm. Possibly he was on his way to Boston. He paid for his own trip, which cost $150 and he had a ticket all the way to the final destination.
He had been educated at Norra Latin in Stockholm, but later settled in the United States. For a certain while he worked for a bank in New York, yet later he ended up in New Haven and became a tram conductor instead.
Adolf met a girl named Anna Elisabeth Judith Andersson when his family moved to 187 Center Street in New Haven. She was a music teacher and singer. They married in 1911 and were in the process of building a house there, which was almost finished when Adolf's father died at home in Sweden on December 1 that year. They traveled to Gnesta, where Adolf’s mother now lived as a widow, so the new pair wanted to take care of the estate.
Titanic[]
The Dykers were on their way back to their home when they traveled on the Titanic. In Southampton, on April 10 the ship would set off on her Maiden Voyage. Adolf and his wife came aboard here and had tickets for Third Class.
After the collision on the night on April 14, the ship was inspected by the captain and shipbuilder. They concluded that she would not last more than 2 hours. Just after midnight on April 15, the order was given for evacuation.
Adolf made sure his wife got in a lifeboat which was number 16. He tried to keep her calm and with a cheerful voice he said: "See you later!" He stepped aside to make room for other women to find a place in the lifeboat.
Adolf perished in the disaster when Titanic sank at 2:20 A.M. His body was not found.
After his death[]
On 23 January 1913, the charity fund paid out SEK 874.08 (£48) to Adolf's mother. Elisabeth would later remarry and continued to teach music.