oecrayne.html

The Goldendale Sentinel, Goldendale, WA., January 6, 1955, page 1

MAN FOUND DEAD IN ORANGE REEFER

A man identified as Elmer Charles Rayner, 53, St. Louis, Mo., was found dead in a refrigerator rail car at the Wishram yard Saturday. Sheriff E.C. Kaiser said the discovery was made by car inspector Calvin Hunt when the car, loaded with oranges, arrived here from East Highlands, Calif., where it was loaded Dec. 29.
Rayner was identified by a letter he carried, and by a baptismal record. According to the baptismal record copy, dated October 8, 1953, Rayner was born July 5, 1901 and was baptized in the Roman Catholic Church November 22, 1903. He was the son of Charles and Louise Rayner. An attempt will be made to trace his relatives through the record. The baptismal document was from the Holy Trinity Church at St. Louis.
Kaiser said there were no signs of foul play and it is presumed Rayner died from natural cause. Coroner Thurman Ward ordered the body taken to Phillips Funeral Home here.
Railway men told the sheriff there was sufficient ventilation in the car compartment to sustain life. In the summer time the section of the car compartment is used to store ice for refrigeration, but there was none there in this case. Rayner was stretched out on a long tray used to hold ice. He was clothed in a heavy overcoat. Only belongings he carried were some canned goods.
The rail car was dispatched to Regina, Saskatchewan after the discovery. The oranges were from the Sunkist Co. at East Highlands.
Sheriff Kaiser said he received a telegram from St. Louis Monday afternoon from Rev. T. Schoen of the Holy Trinity Catholic Church. No known relatives of Rayner live in that area at present, the message stated.
Sheriff Kaiser reported Wednesday morning that he had contacted Mrs. Clara Hardin at Stockton, California through a note found on Rayner's person. Mrs. Hardin informed him Rayner had brothers living in St. Louis, but she did not know their exact addresses.