The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1896-02-15
DEATH OF wASHEE BLOCK
She was Once One of the TeIIes OF the Ar
Kansas Valley.


News has arrived here by way of the
Guthrie Leader that Washee Block.
wife of Philip Block, died near Waton-
ga few days ago. To the average
Wichita reader the mere mention of
Washee's death would have no interest
and yet she was at one time the recog-
niZed belle of all this valley. There
were no Kismet or Crescent clubs in
those days and yet when Washee dane
ed by the blazing fire of the Indian
village the chivalry of all Wichita
looked on with rapidly beating hearts
and admiring eyes. Those were the
days when Wichita was not even a
dream, as a city. Bill Greiffenstein
was here and William Matthewson oc-
casionaly came to trade with the In
dams. At that time Washee's heart
and hand were worth many ponies
more than any average Indian could
give. About thirty years ago Phillip
Block came to the village TO trade off
some trinkets TO the Indians. He was
German and had good stock of
goods. He fell in love with Washee
and she reciprocated. They were mar
ried al the teepe of the brides parents
over about where Riverside park now
is and the wedding was the SWEETEST
Indian function of the time. Up until
about seven years ago they came here
often and used TO stop at the city hotel
Further details Of the deceased are
given in the following from the Guthrie
Leader:
j. hammond, living near WatOnga.
Ok, was in the city yesterday and gave
some interesting particulars regarding
Mrs. Phillip Block. or Washee Block.
as she was generally known, who died
a few days since. "Washee" was a
full-blooded Indian woman who at
tanned considerable notoriety as an In
dian politician, rendered efficient aid
TO the commissioners who were sent
from Washington 10 secure the COM
sent Of the Indians 70 the opening of
their lands % homestead settlement
and get them 10 take lands in several
y. At first the commissioners met
with such opposition from the Chey-
ennes and ArapahOes, but "Washee"
undertook the task OF securing sigma
lures 10 the petition asking that each
Indian be given l61 acres and that the
remaining land be sold 10 the govern
menL. WaSnea rode all through the
camps and with all the skill OF a train
81 diplomat. managed 70 turn the tide
OF sentiment in favor OF the govern
melts plan. Il took months Of ardu-
Gus toll for her 70 accom- plish the
work. bur Washee was 2 progress
i've Indian in every sense Of the word.
and she wanted her people 20 discard
says gerry and adopt the ways OF the
white man She had no education.
but IL was her ambition thar her FIVE
children should receive liberal educa-
ton. Her son Robert. & graduate q
the Haskell Institute and the most
brilliant young man ia The Cheyenne
tribe, : studying 20 BE- a civil enEin-
eer, and = now completing his special
course in a Cincinnati college. Her
Oldest daughter. Muskogee- = finely
educated and i the wife Of Kish Eaw-
kils. Cheyenne interpreter and clerk
The others. Matte, George and Mabel
are now attending the Haskell In
stltute a. Lawrence
Wa she's mother. now 10 years
old. lives not far from Wstonga and
i known Tar and wide a. the great
medicine woman OF TIE Cheyenne
tribe She has been known % g INFO
South Dakota 20 procure herbs from
which 70 brew her medicines. bat OK
ing % her great age she no lo1gL-
goes any farther from home than cus =
Cant0nement On the North Canadian
river
There has been talk about certain
alleged irregularities In ne nz1as. u