The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1894-03-05
WAIF OF THE PLAINS
The Girl for Whom Buffalo Bill
Boxed Fred Mays Ears.
The Famous Scout Found Her in the
Wild West, Saw to Her Education
and Debut in London.

NEW YORK, March 4-The story of how
Colonel Cody buffalo Bib came to take
fatherly interest in Miss Kathrine Glenn
mons, the actress. on whose account he
assaulted Fred May in Washington the
other day, reads like one Of Gustave Aim
ards wild romances of the border. Kath-
rine Clemmons is the young lady's stage
name, though in California society she
was known as Viola Dayan. and she has
been making a hit in the larger
cities OF the Eastern States by
starring Nina in "A Lady Of Ven
ice,' a play said to have been written by
Rev. Mr.. Troughton, an obscure English
clergyman. Her success as a star, how
ever, is not connected with this May-Cody
war, but the romance of her life as ii has
been told in print most certainly is.
According TO the tale told by the San
Francisco Examiner Miss Clemmons is de-
scended from an old military family, for
generations identified with the history of
the country. Some time after the close Of
the civil war her father, an officer Of the
army, was sent to the frontier to fight the
Indians. His young wife followed him TO
his post, and there two daughters were
born. During a movement of the troops
which the rafting officer had taken his
baby girl, but left his wife and elder daugh-
ter behind. his command was surprised by
a band of old Sitting Bulls warriors.
This was on the Deadwood and Chamber
lain trail in the bluffs of yellow clay, which
half conceal a SINCE ford crossing the
southern branch of the Big Cheyenne. This
is in the northwestern corner of what Is
now North Dakota
The Indians swooped down on Glenn,
mons's command and massacred right and
left. Buffalo Bill Cody was then chief
of the United States scouts: About sun
rise one morning he was leading a column
along the Deadwood trail when he came
upon the wreck of wagon-an army am
bulance. The scalped and mutilated bodies
of the officer in command and several
troopers were found near by.
Attracted by a child'S cry, Cody searched
the ambulance and found little girl, UNI
harmed but badly frightened. This girl
was Kathrine Clemmons. Her father was
the dead officer lying beside the trail From
papers In the ambulance Cody learned the
and cared for her until he could restore her
to her mother. For years Afterwards ne
watched with sclicitous regard the career
of the child which had come to him as a
waif of the desert
Mrs. Clemmons came to California, and
in time married again, her husband being
j. W. Dayan, head of the stationery de-
partment of the Southern Pacific company
For time they lived in Oakland, where
they had the entree OF the most exclusive
Jackson-street society. There the two
daughters were educated and made their
social debut. The eldest daughter married
IL
chardist of Niles, and she is now one or the
leaders Of Alameda county society;
The younger girl, the one who had been
so Economically thrown upon the protection
ton for the stage. She studied for some
time in San Francisco, and then essayed
The erratic George Vessels was engaged
as her leading support, and Harry McDow-
ell took charge of the management.
On the night of the performance the
great house was crowded with people of
social position in San Francisco and Oak
land. Vessels went off in a tantrum ana
was forced to lisp through the role, read
ing from the book.
some girl, tall, 1.-THE and excellently mold
ed. She had too, the rare knack of wear
ing clothes to the best advantage: But
though showered with flowers and ap-
plause the debutante felt from the per
Torrance that she was far from qualified
she aspired. She recognized that years of
study were necessary, and she posted on
to. London to seek tuition in the best
schools.
one day while Buffalo Bill was at the
height of his London success, hobnobbing
with the Prince of Wales and patronized
by the gallants of England, a tall, blonde
young woman walked into his hippodrome.
II am Kathrine Clemmons. she said.
1.-The girl you saved from the Indians at
Cody's fatherly interest in the girl was
at once rearoused. He advised her as to
her instructors, helped her socially ana
saw to it that she had proper chaperonage.
After she felt that she was in a position to
attempt the achievement of histrfonic fame
he backed her with his money.
She adopted the name of her childhood
as her stage name, and. after making
something of hit in England in Shak-
spearean roles, she came to America with
"a Lady of Venice" opening in Balti-
more Colonel Cody saw her safely in the
hands of her mother and sister. who went
on from California to witness her triumph.
Having won the other cities, Miss Glenn
mons essayed New York. and is now play
ing a successful engagement at the Broad
way Theater. In this city it Is supposed
that some insult which the irascible May
offered the young actress whom Cody had
practically made his ward caused the lat
ter to lose his temper and slap the Of
tenders face.