The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1879-08-28
BUNKE AXE BOUNCES BRAVE
LY INTO ETERNITY.
a Tame and Tedlou. Hanging.

a Tame aud Tedious Hanging.
After the STATESMAN reporter Wis
tied Blnke AXE in the jail on Thurs
day afternoon, he continued in his
usual joyous mood until about IL A N.
Friday. lie understood that he was
to die abou, 2 p. N. Ga Thursday
night he ate hearty supper and en-
joyed il very much. He partoOk of
some fruit and then kept up a lively
time in the all Until about , A. VI.
Friday. lie had exI r.sssd e determine
ton to keep everybody awake all night,
but at = o'clock he went 10 sl.ep and
slept soundly unit! four. He was still
in his usual mood in the morning and
when breakfast was passed around
Bunke ate with an excellent appetite,
and then smoked cigar and erj yed
glass OF lager beer. lie continued in
the best OF humCr during the morning
and dressed himself in suit of blsck
with well isundrled white shirt, and
passed the time in walking around the
Jail and talking to the PRISONERS
TWO CoLoRED PREACHERS
called to sec him and attempted TO in
ducc AXE 10 listen to spiritual advice,
but he declined to devote himself 10
such purposes then, and asked them
to meet HIM at tie SC, fold, where be
would be pleased TO listen to them. He
asked Mr. George II.'ris, a prisoner,
TO write letter for him, u copy G!
which is as folloYs:
AUSTIN, TENAs. August -, 1879.
Mr.. Joe AXE:
Dear Frie"d-As to-day is my last
day on this Garth, | thought | would
write you sh0r: letter. l have been
in prison for over . scar and | have
been kindly treated by the j4ilor and
the sheriff L. is now about 10 o'clock
and at . is my time TO die. lwaI you
when you See my br, theirs to advise
them AMI t-y to make them do right
and not come to the Ssllows ss have.
You tried to bring me up right and you
tried to make good man out of me.
but would not tlke your advice and
to-day l am to pay the penalty. Tel
Nun Axe good-by for me and tell him
to try and be q good man and live
right ana do right. have been bad and
wicked and would not take your advice.
My first otfense was committed in
Georgetown and after thst my crimes
were many, robbing, killing and steal
ing. You know, | suppose, what am
to hang for. You must tell all of my
friends good bye for me, and tell them
hope to meet them IN a better land.
Good bye.
Your obedient servant
TAYLOR AXE.
The letter VAS a3dIC ssed to Mr. .Ioe
AXE, Georgetown, Williamson county,
Texas.
About | A NJ. AXE gave evi1ence
that he began to realize his situt ton,
and he beg Al 10 wear q serious unto
nance. Abou, l2 NJ his uncle Ike AXE,
the preacher, came to see him. He
abused him, aud told him that if he
cou just kill him, he won d die with
satisfaction. He told the two preac.
ers who called on HIM that he did NJ t
wish t talk any more with anybody.
LEAVING THE JAIL +, THE GALLONS
At 80 Sheriff Corwin and Jlilor
Nichols left the iiil accompanied ty
the doomed man. Passing down the
back steps to the prison they were soon
upon dOnble-seated earryall, and sur
rounded by about twenty armed
deputies the cortege passed rapidly out
amid vast concourse Of people and
moved in trot down Congress Avenue
and beyond to the sand beach above
the mouth of Shoal creek. Near Prest-
leI's brewery, on the sand beach. the
gallows had been erected, and here, in
advance of the sheriff with his charge,
we're cOngregated fully 1000 people,
while thousand more follow ed. Axe
assembled the scalfold at II. NJ aud
was met by the two negro preachers
whom he had asked to be there. The
scaifold was occupied by Sheriff Cor
win, Deputy Sheriff Kirk. Tailor
Nichols, the two preachers and AXE.
AS he came cut of the all he was
smoking a cigar and wearing his hat
on the side of his head after the FASH
ion of those people who wear snake
he t. and then put snakes in their boots
/ aud bullet hoes through unoffending
people. Any day one may meet just
such characters on our streets. and it
was among such people that AXE re-
celved his training.
SINGING AND PRAYING
and reading the Holy Scriptures were
carried on by the two preachers, while
AXE continued to smoke cigar aud
look csrelessly but nervodsly around
upon the crowd. Axe kneeled with
them while they prayed but rose with
the cigar and continued tDsmoke away
vigorou ,ly, almost to the very end.
The death warrant had been left be-
hind, and while deputy was dispatch
ed for it the preachers continued their
efforts to bring AXE to sense of his
condlt on, but from all outward sp-
pesrances this failed. at last it was
announced that any person present
might PROFOUND questions to AXE. The
following questions with answers were
put:
Q How do you feel in regard to
your soul, AXE; do you feel as though
you are prepared to diel
AXE nodded his head in the affirma-
tive.
O. DO you feel as though you are
prepared TO meet your Savior
A-Yes.
Q.-Do you feel that Christ Is the
son o. God and that you are prepared
to meet your Savior!
A-Yes.
Coy a woman d, you know
Millie, who used to live IN he moun-
tains!
Axes face frightened up ss lie said
yes.
Q.-(from in the crowd) Are you
willing 70 go, Akef
A.-Yes.
Another person called to him and
asked il he knew him. Bunke said
he did. The same one asked him il
he bore in mind what he told HIM
yesterday. Bunke said "yes."
A voice from the crowd: ado you
remember, Bunke, what you told me
on Pecan street,
A-oh, yes, | remember what you
told me.
OILS j: come plumb true?
No answer.
This lsst questioner was said TO be
Henry Morrow, for a time charged
with rape. Il is SAID that he had
warned AXE as to his life and advised
him to sct differently.
Another person ked him il he was
willing to die. He replied, yes"
Q -Bunke, are you guilty Of the
charge that they waat to put you to
death fotl
A.-No. sir.
Q.-Do yon know who did iil
A. Yes, do.
Q.--Can't Won call his nsmef