The New York herald., 1922-03-05
GERONIMO YIELDED
TO POCKET MIRROR
Thought It's Flash in Battle
Was Order From Great
Spirit.
FIRST SMOKE SCREEN
Apache Kid Used Tt, Says
Noted Ranger in Recital
Of His Life.
SMOKE SCREEN

this country. according 10 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.
including those OF Geronimo and the
recital OF his life, which has been
crammed full of action and narrow
escapes that read like the passage from
an old dime novel.
Fred Owens when 3 years old was
missing from his home in Fleminssburg
Ky. one morning in 1859. He had gone
West
At IS, or in 1868, he became q Texas
Ranger and made such mark for him.
self that he was sent to the Centennial
at Philadelphia with other rangers to
represent the Lone Star State. In 1873
79 and 1880 he was detailed to the pony
express through No Mans Land. or the
Indian Territory. He was never held
up. but many times outrode bandits
bent on. possessing the valuables he car
ried. LIKE
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 Geron-
imo's capture in the hills back of Chi
nuahua. Mexico. Col Owens was a ma
teral part OF his pursuit. And he tells
a story of the Indians capture that may
not be part Of the records Of the War
Department. because 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 it
Is story of the Indians superstitious
nature. Geronmo's pursuers numbered
among them a Capt. Hildebrand. When
the Indian was driven into the hills and
the chase became hot Hildebrand's COM
mand was crawling over the crags toward
the redskins stronghold. Just before his
surrender Geronimo caught sight Of the
face OF Capt. Hildebrand and was ready
to fire. Then bright light flashed over
the officers features. This the Indian
could not fathom, and 1t drove all the
fight out of him.
Pocket Mirror Saved Him.
In those days troopers in the army
were resourceful men, private in the
advancing line had seen a point of van
tage and thought his Captain should
know OF 1t. To move or call would re-
veal his position to the Indians yet he
must get the attention OF Capt. Hide
brand. Taking a small mirror from his
pocket he caught the rays Of the sun.
These reflected on the face OF Hldc-
brand, then in imminent danger of Ge-
ronmo's rife. But the flash beat the In
dams trigger finger. He saw the Won
derful bright light and thought it a mes
sage from heaven to identify Capt. Hide
brand as the Great Spirit. Geronimo ran
up his flag OF: truce. merely STIMULATING
that he should not be hung or shot for
his outrages II he surrendered His
terms were accepted.
h In 1884 the Apache Kid. a half breed
outlaw. and his band were ynarauding in
west Texas. The Apache E'd was of the
same tribe, but not related to Geronimo.
Yet he possessed all the wiles and savage
cruelty OF his chieftain. Col. Owens and
his fellow rangers were sent after the
Apache Kid.
The chase was hot one. The Apache
Kid knew horses and from time to time
got remounts on the fastest and freshest
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
field Of fewer corrals and more des-
perate straits.
They surround the band at Stink
ing Wells. so-csiled from the sulphur
fumes that rise from it's pit. As the
law circle closed in the Apache Kid
made use of smoke screen. Tie
wind was blowing from his band toward
the rangers. The Indians fired the
prairie. Then under cover OF the smoke
they brought down some of the rangers.
Colonel Is wounded.
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. Col Owens dragged them
through Il and returned to get his
horse Then he rode into bullet that
caught him in the left thigh and another
killed his horse, which fell on the Colo
mel. crushed his chest. and left him un-
conscious. When he came TO himself he
was seven miles nearer civilization. be-
Ing carried OIL the back OF friendly
souaw. The Wolff boys were saved.
Recuperating he again took UP the
chase and helped TO make 1t merry for
the Apache Kid until that outlaw was
run to cover in Big Bear Canyon on the
Pecos River, and died from a rangers
bullet.
He then broke eighteen horhes to work
without line, bride or bit. and their
performance was presented the first time
with the original Buffalo Bill show In
Omaha In 1884. In 1886 Col. owens
N ent back to Texas. lie added TO his
string OF naked racers" as they were
called. and presented them for two sea-
sons with the Barnum 4 Bailey Circus.
Then he sold them 20 that company.
lie returned to Texas and took up the
trail OF Bass Scott and his band OF
cestle rustlers. This crowd was ex-
terminated 100 miles from Fort Stock
ton. but before their end Col. owens had
received a terrible wound that crushed
in his left side.
This laid him up for some time, but
he went on the last big drive" OF cat
, tic from Texas. There were five thou
sand head in the herd. In stevens
Saucer Texas, so called because the
hnIs form giant saucer. coyote
barked and a. cowboy fired shot at
him. When the stampede was over ono
thousand head OF cattle were dead anu
twenty-five hundred were lost.
returning to civilization, Col. Owens
Laard OF q midget broncho pony born on
Tie trail. lie bought this little animal,
which was the great trick pony Cleo"
TIe trained "Cleo" and the animal was
taken around the world twice by Col.
owens. ."Clco" died In 1918. Col. Owens
then left the road. ..t.
What Is thought OF him by showmen
is evidenced BY his initial, and since
automatic elections as chaplain OF their
club. He can still take the thumb. fore
and middle fingers OF his pistol hand.
roll and crimp cigarette the cowboys
way. in spite OF the fact that those three