The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1909-03-19
WILLIAM REHFIELD DEAD
AT SEASIDE HOME
HoNoRED VETERAN CITIZEN
EXPIRED AT SIX O'CLOCK
YESTERDAY EVENING.

| Word was received in this city las
evening announcing the death at Sea
side at 8 o'clock Of William RayfielC
an honorcd and veteran citizen oc
the lower Columbia country, and !
man known far and wide and gen.
timely respected wherever known. II
was not possible TO ascertain the
cause Of his death, but 1t Is general.
ly known that he was inyalided to i
certain extent for sometime past, and
III Is presumed that his ailment has
reached a stage against which he
could no longer prevail. Mr.. Ray
field was well over the thcre-scorc-
Iand.ten mark OF life, and was a ma.
tive Of Germany.
He has always lived a rugged and
hearty life, passing his youth as a
whaler in the Arctic and later doing
business as steamer master and
owner, having built and owned here,
in earlier times, the steamers Rough
and Ready" the 20 X" and the
"Dwyer" He acquired fine farm
property over in the Cray's River
coun,ry and cultivated and improved
lit % a high point oi perfection, SELL
II ing il TO Mr. Matison and others
about one and a half years ago, and
then moving to Seaside, where he
built a snug little homo, and with his
wife settled down 10 a peaceful old
age. They had no children and the
devoted wife lives to mourn him; and
| il Is said that Mrs. Rayheld's health
is none the best
For long years he has been
prominent Mason and was member
o. Temple Lodge A. r & A. NJ, No.
II, Of this city, and Of St. Johns
Chapter And it is presumed these
iraters will have conspicuous place
in the final honors that will be paid
him.
Everyone who speaks Of this ven
cradle citizen has but the kindliest
comment to make on his life and
character. He was one OF those men
who do good by stealth never blazon'
ing their deeds Of generosity and
iriendliness and always ready to aid
the man in need no matter whom he
might be- He was a devoted friend,
s,aunch companion, and honorable
10 a fault in all his dealings; rough,
wholesome, manly dignifed and true,
with hear, big enough to overlook
ioibles and forgive weaknesses, and
frank and free in all his estimates,
opinions and relations with men.
A story is told Of him that has to
do with the days of his youth. when
he made his living from the seas. He
was cast away, with companion,
from the wreck OF their ship, on the
Galapagos Islands, and for six long
months the pair subsisted on turtle
eggs as sole diet and drank the
dews of the night as they fell and
gathered in the monkey cups" in the
trees; and in spite OF this meagre
living, worked his passage like a
Trojan, when they were taken from
the desert tropic isles, in passing
vessel. This goes to illustrate the
wonderful strength and courageous
nature OF the man, and the dominant
will that could carry him almost un-
seathed through a trial to which 99
men in a given 100 would have sue
cumbed long before aid arrived
Arrangements for the funeral have
not yet been announced but they will
be made known in these columns to-
morrow morning, il possible,
The Morning Astorian joins with
the host OF friends Of Mr., and Mrs
Reyheld, in this city, in extending to
the stricken widow, the sympathy OF
the hour,