The Union daily times. [volume] (Union, S.C.) 1918-current, 1922-03-06
Superstition Resulted in
Surrendes of Geronimo

screen recorded in this country, a.
cording to Col. Feed Owens Of Chi
cago. noted Texas ranger of half
century ago,
Col. Owens, an old circus man. who
earned his title as ranger, cowboy,
broncho buster, pony express rider
and participant in many wild west
pursuits, including those Of Geronimo
and the Kid made these assertions
here in recital of his life, which has
been crammed full Of action and mar.
row escapes that read like the pas
sages from an old dime novel.
Fred Owens when nine years old
was missing from his home in Flem-
ingsburg, Kentucky, one morning ir
1859. He had gone west.
At eighteen,or in 1868, he becam,
a Texas rangre and made such 4
mark for himself that he was sent to
the Centennial at Philadelphia with
other rangers to represent the Lone
Star state. In 1s78-79 and so he we
detailed to the pony express through
No Mans Land, or the Indian Ter
ritory. 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 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 Gerenimo's capture in
the hills back of Chihuahua, Mexico,
Colonel Owens was material part
of his pursuit. And he tells 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 n story of the Indians su-
perstitious nature. Geronimo's pur.
suers numbered among them a Cap
tain Hildebrand. When the Indian
was driven into the hills and the
chase became hot, Hildebrand's COM
mand was crawling over the crags
towards the red skins stronghold.
Just before his surrender Geronimo
caught sight of the face of Captain
Hildebrand and was ready to fire.
Then 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 resSa,rceful men. A private in
the advai Eing line had seen a point
of vantage and thought his captain
should know of it. To move or call
would reveal his position to the In
dians. Yet he must get the attention
Of Captain Hiluebrand. Taking a
small mirrow from his pocket he
caught the rays of the sun. These
reflected on the face of Hildebrand,
then in imminent danger of Geroni-
mos rifle. But the flash beat the
Indians trigger finger. He saw the
wonderful, bright light and thought
it was 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 if 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 Geronimo. Yet
h 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 q hot one The
Apache Kid knew horses and from
time to time got remounts on the
fastest and freshest horses in cor
rails 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 desperate straits.
The surrounded the band at Stink
ing Wells, SO called from the sulphur
fumes that rise from it's pit. AS the
law circle closed in, the Apache Kid
made use Of a smoke screen. The
wind was blowing from his band to-
ward the rangers. The Indian fired
the prairie. Then, under cover of
the smoke they brought down some
of the rangers.
Colonel Owens did not escape
Two of the Wolff boys with whom he
had lived when he first came to Tex
as fell in the rifle fire. Col. Owens
dragged them through it and return
ed 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 Colonel
crushed his chest, and left him un-
conscious. When ne came to himself
he was seven miles nearer civiliza-
ton, being carried on the back of a
friendly suuaw. The Wolff bows