The Cordova daily times., 1922-03-13

the famous Indian, and the Apache Kid used the first smoke screen on record, according to Colonel Fred Owens of Chicago, a noted Texas ranger of half century ago.
 Colonel Owens, an old circus man, who earned his title as ranger, cow boy, bronco buster. pony express rid CT and participant in many wild west pursuits, including those of Geronimo and the Kid, made these assertions here in a recital of his life, which has been crammed full of action and mar row escapes that read like the pass ages from an old dime novel.
 Fred Owens, when nine years old, was missing from his home in Elem ingsburg. Kentucky, one morning in | 1859. He had gone west.
 NO MANS LAND RIDER At eighteen, or in 1868, he became a Texas ranger and made such mark l for himself that he was sent to the l Centennial at Philadelphia with other rangers to represent the Lone Star l state. In 1S7S-79 and 80 he was de- 1 tailed 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 carried.
 In 1881 he took the saddle again as m active ranger. About that time Geronimo, the most willy chief that ever gave the American army trouble, was getting bad in West Texas. Until Beronimo's capture in the hills back of Chihuahua, Mexico, Colonel Owens was material part of his pur- suit. And he tells a story of the 1n- dian's 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.
 CHIEF SEES BRIGHT LIGHT ! after years Geronimo told him rwhv he surrendered to the white men, and it is a story of the Indians su- perstitious nature. Geronimo's pur- suers numbered among them Cap tain Hildegrand. When the Indian was driven into the hills and the chase became hot Hillebrand's command was crawling over the crags towards the red skins stronghold. Just be- fore his surrender Geronimo caught sight of the face of Captain Hide brand 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.
 MYSTERY OF THE LIGHT
 In those days troopers in the army were resourceful men. A private in the advancing line had seen point of vantage and thought his cap- tain should know of it. To move or call would reveal his position to the Indians. Yet he must get the at tention of Captain Hildebrand. Talk ing a small mirror from his pocket he caught the rays of the sun. These reflector on the face of Hildebrand, then in imminent danger of Geron- imo's rifle. But the flash beat the Indians trigger finger. He saw the wonderful bright light and thought it a message from Heaven to ident- ify Capt. Hilebrand, as the Great Spirit Georoimo ran up his flag Of truce, merely stipulating that he should not be hung or shot for his outrages if he surrendered. His terms were accepted.
 STORY OF APACHE KID
 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 Geronimo. 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 hot one. The Apache Kid knew horses and from time to time got remounts on the fastest and freshests horses in cor rals he passed. The rangers plugged along on their same poines. But they followed the trail so fast that they drove the Apache Kid and his band to field of fewer corrals and more desparate straits.
 They surrendered the band at Stinking Wells, so called from the Sulphur fumes that rise from it's pit. As tho 1au circlo cJoaad fin the