The Tragic Death of Alfred Rantanen near Ethelton Station.

 

Headstone of Alfred and Laura Rantanen, Cheltenham Cemetery.

On Saturday 14 August 1926, a body was found lying near the train tracks between the Ethelton Train station and the Port River. It was estimated that at about 6:24 pm, Mr Alfred Waldamer Rantanen had been walking home to Fairfield Terrace at Glanville Blocks. Rantanen used the railway bridge as a short cut, he was struck by a train that was heading to Ethelton that had come from Adelaide heading towards Largs Bay.[1]

The engine driver, Thomas Trueman, had pulled into Ethelton Station and noticed that the engines ‘grip tap’ had been turned on. He switched off the tap, and proceeded to the Mile End train yards, as required. Trueman inspected his engine at the end of his shift. It was at this time he found evidence that the grip tap had struck something. There was blood and other body matter on the tap and spread over the rear of the engine.
 Trueman telephoned the Commercial Road station at Port Adelaide and told them he thought he had hit someone coming over the bridge. Porter Burden went and inspected the area and discovered at about 9pm, the body of Rantanen. Burden, with a lamp, inspected a large area around the bridge and discovered a man's coat. He then found parts of Rantanen's body, spread out over a large area. The body was removed to Semaphore where Sergeant Wilkin and Constable Atkinson were awaiting its arrival for inspection.[2]

The Rantanen Fund was established to help support the family. T.E. Stephens (secretary of the Port Adelaide Branch of the Driver Union) convened the committee meeting. The Mayor of Port Adelaide, A.O.R. Tap was appointed to control the fund, while A.E. Wagner (President of the Port Drivers Union) was appointed Chairperson. S.J. Verran a local M.P. was appointed Vice-Chairman, and J.P. Tapping, treasurer. Trustee duties fell to Alderman J Anderson, J.H. Clouston, F.J. Brown and W.E.C. Baudinet. The auditors were D.B. Mason and E.W. Russell, with Mr Stephens, appointed honorary secretary.[3]

 Mrs Laura Rantanen appealed for assistance via a letter in The News. This letter sparked the community into action to form the fund. The Semaphore and Exeter Labor Party, with permission from the fund board, held a dance at the Port Adelaide Town Hall to assist in raising money. The Port Adelaide Council also agreed that a ‘tarpaulin collection’ could be held during the halftime break of a game between Port Adelaide Football Club and North Adelaide Football Club at Alberton Oval.[4]

Mr Rantanen had been a member of the Port Adelaide branch of the Ancient Order of Foresters. Mr Rantanen was also a member of the Port Adelaide branch of the Waterside Workers' Federation, was employed as a wharf labourer.[5]

  Rantanen left behind his wife and children: Emil, 17, Hilda, 14; Helma, 12 years; and Olga, 8; Walter, 4 years; and Alfred, 17 months.[6]
  Mrs Ada Dickason, of Military Road, Semaphore, and Mr. August Raeinberg, who lives with his mother, are children of Mrs Rantanen's first marriage.[7]

Mr Ranatan was buried at Cheltenham Cemetery.[8]

 

Researched and written by Allen Tiller © 2020.

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Photograph: Find a Grave, Alfred Rantanen, https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/154087178/alfred-waldemar-rantanen

[1] 'SHOCKING RAILWAY ACCIDENT AT ETHELTON.', Port Adelaide News, (20 August 1926), p. 5., http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article212964328.

[2] Ibid.

[3] 'RANTANEN FUND', News, (2 September 1926), p. 13., http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article129700599.

[4] Ibid.

[5] 'BREADWINNER KILLED', News, (16 August 1926), p. 1., http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article129743998.

[6] Ibid.

[7] Ibid.

[8] Ibid.