The St. Charles herald. [volume] (Hahnville, La.) 1873-1993, 1917-05-12

ties. AS has been said, Texas was thu
jumping of place for most of the gam
blers and bad men" who had infested
Indian Territory. Johnson went ovel
the border to Sherman, and here he
pulled of a coup which gave him the
reputation Of being the "nerviest'
man in the Southwest. In fact, his
deed is believed to be without parable
outside OF dime novel fiction.
There was a certain establishment
known to be both liquor Joint" and
gambling house, but it was almost
impossible to get into the place with
out being known, and, once in, it was
practically impossible to obtain evil
dence that would convict, for the law
required a man to be identified before
he could be convicted of the sale OF
liquor.
Going to the building, Johnson found
guard posted. He talked his way
past him with his good-natured,
smooth Yankee accents, and went on
till he met another guard. He talked
his way past him also and met third
guard. The third guard, after cross
questioning him, admitted him to an
inner door, which was locked. A voice
on the other side demanded to know
what Johnson wanted.
I'm from the Territory and l have
a ten-dollar thirst" said Johnson.
We'll. II you're thirsty, come in"
answered the voice. The door was IN
locked and Johnson found a fourth
guard behind it. He went further and
came to place where about 100 men
were gambling and engaging in vari-
Gus amusements.
At the far end was a bar, where
drinks OF all sorts except soft" were
being served The bartender wore a
mask and was dressed in q Mother
Hubbard, so that the only way in
which he could be identified would be
by his production in court.
What's yours?" he inquired Of John
son.
"Old rye" answered Johnson.
The bartender placed the bottle
upon the bar. AS he stopped forward
Johnson whipped off his mask and
pulled his two Colt revolvers. You're
under arrest" he said.
Jerking him across the bar, he
marched him through the midst Of the
astounded gamblers, opened the locked
door, passed the four guards, who were
still too much confused to realize that
there was only one raider, and took
him to the lookup.
Shortly after this a man in a small
town near Okmulgee sent word to
Johnson that If he came to his town
to start anything" he would kill him
on sight. This was the sort of stu
alton that always tickled Johnson,
and he met it in his characteristic
way.
After making inquiries he learned
that the man knew of him only by
reputation and by photographs pub
lished in the newspapers. According
ly Johnson changed his appearance as
much as possible-which was not
on a horse and rode to the
town, where he at once made for the
saloon. 1t was wide open and appar-
emily in a prosperous condition.
What's yours?" inquired the letter
writer.
"Old rye answered Johnson.
The proprietor, who had a Colt AS
in each hip pocket, turned his back
to Johnson for a moment to get the |
bottle. Johnson leaned over the bar
and with each hand deity extracted |
0ne of the revolVers. Then he arrested |
the man at the point Of his own
weapons and marched him away.
At the beginning of his career, vari- !
JUS epithets were applied to Johnson.
Whisky Johnson" and Pale Ale |
Johnson" were familiar sobriquets. But |
after this sensational exploit he was
Known as "Pussyfoot Johnson" This
lppellation clung to him, and in every
state where an Indian reservation eX-
SITS he is known today only under that
AI4C' oOAIoOu "Ol hSO dlHIOoL iA'dIl-
IDLY at night. He never gave the out
avs a chance to shoot if he could
lelp it. He says, too, that he never
killed a man in his life. But the
nurderous nature of his undertaking
S shown by the fact that some two
lozen outlaws and deputies persisted
Turing Johnson S Indian Territory cam
,aign.
1t was a case Of one man against
.lmost the entire population of the
Territory, and that one man created
revulsion Of sentiment that entirely
the liquor traffic among
indians until the time of statehood ar