The Meeker herald., 1898-04-09

Niagara energies from the gorge be-
low the falls, is SO profound is why
the Rayment family came hither from
England eight years ago. Colonel Ray
ment, an old British army officer.
wanted retreat for his family. and he
found his hearts desire in Lewiston.
He brought with him his wife. two
sons and daughter, another daughter
remaining in convent in the old
country. They bought comfortable
homestead, had plenty of money and
rarely intruded their presence on the
village folk. In three years the colonel
died. There were hints that drink had
killed him. Three years more and the
peace OF Lewiston began to pail upon
the remainder OF the family. They re-
solved to go to the Bermudas to live.
They got as far as Buffalo, where
grayhaired mother ,aristocratic daugh-
ter and reserved sons entered upon a
debauch which for weeks was the talk
even OF Buffalo, One son died at once
the other one sosn after, and the
mother last fall Now the news comes
that the uncle of the children has just
died In England, leaving fortune Of
million to the daughters, the one who
recovered from the spree having Joined
her sister in the English convent. Had
Lewiston been lively the family might
have remained there, and as they we're
good spenders some at least Of the mil
lion dollars might have enriched the
village storekeepers. That is why Lew
iston mourns.
The degradation of the mother and
children presents story rarely eQualed
in America. 1t was in the last days
of August. 1896, that Mrs. r. Rayment,
Miss Emily Rayment and Edward
Drury and William Fl. Rayment arriv-
ed in Buffalo and registered. In shak-
ing hand, at the Stafford house, in
side street. Two rooms were assigned
them, and they no sooner reached
them than they began to call for
drinks. For hour after hour, and day
after day. an endless procession Of
bell boys went up there with bottles,
and at last the barkeepsr, aghast at
the size Of the bill which was piiins
up, notified the proprietor. He sent
word to Mrs. Rayment that no more
liquor would be served them until they
had paid for what already had been
consumed. Mrs. Rayment immediate
II sent down $500 bill In payment.
and gave the boy SO tip. The bill
paid the drinks began to ascend asaiA.
The family made SO much noise that,
after they had been in the hotel sew
eral days, the proprietor refused to
sell them liquor at any price. Then tho
mother went outside and returned with
armfuls OF bottles. Frequently she or
one Of the sons left the hotel in the
next few days, always returning laden.
Finally the proprietor decided that in
spite of their having plenty of money
he would not have them in the house.
He went up the next morning. and
easily got into the room.
He saw lying on the floor and nearly
naked two women and two men. All
were unconscious. Empty bottles were
scattered around. For the irst time
In ten days the room was still. A doc
tor was summoned. William, the young
er son, about twenty-five years old,
was sent to the hospital, where he
died in delrium tremens the next day.
Edward with his thirty-five years Of
strength, was not 30 far gone, and he,
with his mother and sister, were taken
to a sanitarium. When the women
came TO they escaped and went back to