The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1889-08-24
THEIR LAST HOURS.
Sad Leave Taking with RIisndS How
They Spent the Night

Sad Leave Taking with FHenda -HoW
They Spent the Might,
NEw YoRK, August 2S.-Yesterday
was a mixture OF gloom and iestiyity for
the four men who were waiting till the
days dawn should bring halter to their
necks,
A number OF visitors called TO pay
their farewell visit, The two faithful
Sisters OF Mercy, who have been un-
wayering in their mlnistratlons to the
murderers, came In the forenoon at y
o'clock and remained with them until Z
In the evening. :.
Father Prendergast and Father Cell
mas arrived at that hour to assume the
charge OF the men until death should
relieve them,
Nolan's sister and tho two women
cousins who have called on him several
times since he was sentenced were with
him yesterday. The women broke down
and sobbed hysterically, while Nolan
looked at them curiously and putfed a
little faster on his cigar, which he
ehewed nervously. "You don't do any
good by cryin'," he said at last, "for
that wont help things any"
Later q message was brought to the
gray haired PaCkenham, telling him that
his children were coming to see him,
and as he stepped briskly up to the wire
netting OF the cage, bis son and daughter
entered the corridor. He cut their visit
short himself, telling them not TO grieye
for him, and TO take warning by his
gloomy fate. Their sobs re.echoed along
the walls Of the corridor as they with
drew.
In the evening at q little before 10
o'clock young Robert Packenham, who
had come from his farm work to see his
father on the vigil OF his death, returned
to the prison, aud q still more affecting
interview than tllat Of the morning took
place between them.
HARDENED MIN.
After the supper Of the condemned
men they were taken to the yard for a
last taste OF the air aud recreation. They
ranged themselves along the wall Of the
prison and smoked, laughed and talked
as II thoy had no connection with The
dreadful ordeal Of the coming day. Caro-.
lin, who was Inc most festive Of tho
crowd, declared that he wanted to see the
gallows. Deputy Sheriff Sexton, Sheriff
Burke aud Father Pendergrast, accom-.
panied him on his tour Of inspection,
He examined the simple structure curl.
ously and without trelnor, shook the
uprights with his hand and seemed salts.
He'd with their stability.
"That's all right" he said, "but 'taint
an artistic job. They ought to have
painted 1t black"
The other three took turn around
the prison and enjoyed a cnrSory look
at the gallows. Then they all went into
the prison and Father Gelinas reclted
night prayers for them before they were
shut up In the cage, BY midnight the
men were all asleep breathing heavily.
Shortly after 1 o'clock Warden Osborne
made his appearance. and a few minutes
later haugmRn "Joe" Atkinson, dressed
in sober black, but collatless, wandered
in from the jail yard where he had been
making tinal preparations for the work
before him. Father Gelinas slept in the
cage with the doomed men.
Packenham was the Grst OF the mur.
derers to waken. When told it was Of.
ter 4 o'clock lie got un, and began to
dress very carefully. He washed him.
self thoroughly at the basin, aud had
Just finished when three deputies began
IN aIvnkpn thu resk