The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1922-03-20
SUPERSTITION CAUSE
OF INDIAN CAPTURE
Mirror Flashed Light on Troopers
Face and Geronimo Thought II
Was Heavenly Message.

resulted in the surrender OF Geronimo,
the famous Indian and the Apache Kid
used the first smoke screen recorded in
this country, according to Col. Fred
Owens, of Chicago, a noted Texas
ranger of half a century ago.
Col. Owens, an old circus man, who
earned his title as ranger, cowboy
bronco buster pony express rider and
participant in many wild west pursuits
excluding those OF Geronimo and the
Kid, made these assertions here in
recital of his life. which has been
crammed full OF action and narrow es-
capes that read like passages from an
old dime novel.
Fred Owens, when 9 years old, was
missing from his home in Flemings-
burg. Ky. one morning in 1850. He had
q gone west.
At Is, or in 1868, he became Texas
ranger and made such a mark for him
self that he was sent to the Centennial
at Philadelphia with other rangers to
a represent the Lone Star State. In
1859 and so he was detailed to the
pony express through Mo- Mans Land,
or the Indian territory. He was never
held up, but many times outrode ban
dts bent on possessing the valuables
1ie carried.
In 1881 he took the saddle again as
an active ranger. About that time.
Geronimo, the most willy chief that
ever gave the American army trouble
was getting bad in west Texas Until
Geronimo's capture in the hills back
OF Chihuahua, Mexico, Colonel Owens
was material part of his pursuit And
he tells a story of the Indians cap
ture that may not be a part of the
records OF the war department. be-
cause Geronimo had few friends among
white men. The colonel was one of
these few.
In after years Geronimo told him
why he surrendered to the white man.
and 1t is story of the Indians SUI
perstitious nature. Geronimos pursu-
ers numbered among them a Captain
Hildebrand. When the Indian was
driven into the hills and the chase be-
came hot, IIildebrand's command was
crawling over the crags towards the
redskins stronghold. Just before his
surrender Geronimo caught sight of
the face Of Capt. Hildebrand and was
ready to fire. Then a bright light
flashed over the officers features. This
the Indian could not fathom, and it
drove all the fight out of him
In those days troopers in the army
were resourceful men. A private in the
advancing line had seen point of
vintage and thought his captain
should know OF ii. TO move or call
would reveal his position to the Indi-
ans. Yet he must get the attention of
Capt Hildebrand. Taking small mir
ror from his pocket he caught the rays
OF the sun. These reflected on the face
OF Hildebrand, then in imminent dan
ger of Geronimo's rifle. But the flash
|, beat the Indians trigger finger. He
saw the wonderful bright light and
thought it a message from heaven to
identify Capt Hildebrand as the
Great Spirit Geronimo ran up his
: flag of truce. merely stipulating that
he should not be hung or shot for his
outrages IL he surrendered. His terms
were accepted.
In 1884 the Apache Kid, half breed
outlaw and his band were marauding
in west Texas. The Apache Kid was of
the same tribe, but not related to Ger
onimo. Yet he possessed all the wiles
and savage cruelty of his chieftain.
Colonel Owens and his fellow rangers
were sent after the Apache Kid
The chase was 4 hot one. The Apache
Kid knew horses and from time to time
got remounts on the fastest and fresh
est horses in corrals he passed. The
rangers plugged along on their same
ponies. But they followed the trail so
fast that they drove the Apache Kid
and his band to a field of fewer corrals
and moro desperate straits
They surrendered the band at stink
ing Wells. SO called from the sulphur
fumes that rise from its pit As the
law circle closed in, the Apache Kid
made use OF smoke screen. The wind
was blowing from HIS band toward the
rangers. The Indian fired the prairie
Then, under cover OF the smoke. they
brought down some of the rangers.
Col. Owens did not escape. Two of
the Wolff boys with whom he had lived
when he first came to Texas, fell in
the rifle fire Colonel Owens dragged
them through II and returned to get
his horse. Then he rode into a bullet
that caught him in the left thigh and
another killed his horse, which fell on
the colonel, crushed his chest and left
him unconscious. When he came to
himself he was seven miles nearer civil
lization. being carried on the back of
friendly squaw. The Wolff boys were
saved.
Recuperating. he again took up the
chase and helped to make il merry for
the Apache Kid until that outlaw was
run 10 cover in Big Bear Canyon on the
Pecos river and died from a rangers
bullet.
He then broke is horses to work
without line. bride or bit, and their
performance was presented the first
time with the original Buffalo Bill