The party had been specially invited by Peace, so that he could bid them farewell. They found the convict lying down, but as soon as he saw his brother, and the rest of the party, he struggled to raise himself to a sitting posture.
Finding it difficult to do this, he asked the warders to raise him.
The two warders, each getting on one side of the condemned man, took him by the arms, and lifted him up. So weak was he that even this alteration of position seemed to exhaust him, and, according to his brother Dan, he was “a pale, wretched, haggard man altogether,” almost feeble as a child.
In answer to his brother, who asked, “How are you?” he replied, “I am very, very ill, and very, very weak.” And in the opinion of his relatives he certainly spoke the truth, for they affirm that he was very much weaker than he had ever previously appeared.
His head was still bandaged, and he told them that although the authorities were taking every possible care of him it seemed impossible to stop the discharge from his wound, and that he felt very weak and depressed in consequence.
Suffering much physically, and the subject of much mental depression, he nevertheless made a great effort to welcome his brother and relatives cordially.
“I am very glad to see you,” he said, and then remarked that he had also invited two friends—George Goodlad, and Arthur Cragg—to see him.
Being asked why they were not present, he said he had discovered that none but his own relatives could be admitted to the gaol.
He regretted this very much, and said he had got into some little trouble by persisting in asking to see these two friends.
He admitted now, however, that he had really no right to expect their admission; yet, at the same time he stated that he was very, very sorry he should not be allowed to see them; and, whilst speaking about his acquaintance with them, and the improbability of meeting them again on this side the grave, betrayed great emotion. “Give them my kind love,” he said, “and tell them that I hope God will bless them, and that I shall meet them in heaven.”