PROHIBITION

Southland Times, Issue 19658, 7 October 1922, Page 5

PROHIBITION

MR ‘■PUSSYFOOT” JOHNSON. ARRIVAL IN INVERCARGILL. Mr W. E. Johnson, popularly known as “Pussyfoot,” who has gained almost a world wide reputation as a Prohibition lecturer, arrived in Invercargill by the train from Gore yesterday morning. He was met at- the railway station by a large number of those connected with the Prohibition movement in Invercargill and was warmly welcomed. Shortly after his arrival he was entertained at morning tea, prior to leaving by motor car for Winton, where he delivered an address in the afternoon. It was apparent that a great amount of curiosity centres around the personality of the visitor and a large number of people, not all Prohibitionists, assembled at the railway station to obtain a glimpse of “Pussyfoot” about- whom so much has been heard. Mr Johnson bad a busy time yesterday. After the reeqjtion at Invercargill, he went to Winton with local representatives of the prohibition movement, addressing a meeting from the band rotunda in the afternoon. In the evening he was motored to Riverton, where he addressed another well-attended gathering of townsfolk. A( both centres Mr Johnson was followed with close attention, by those in attendance as he told the story of the carrying of prohibition in the United »Sstates and the state of thecoun try under the new regime. This evening, Mr Johnson will address a meeting in the King’s Hall at Invercargill. HOW HE GOT THE NAME “PUSSYFOOT” Various reports have been circulated as to how Mr W. E. Johnson, the renowned American Prohibition lecturer, obtained the name “Pussyfoot.” The real story of the incident which earned him the name is stated to be as follows: The owner of a pool hall in Haskell, on Indian Territory, sent a public notice to Johnson that if ever he came to Haskell, he would shoot him on sight. Everybody knew that- Johnson had been challenged. He could not afford to refuse to notice it; for in the West, in those days, the man who showed a sign of weakness or cowardice was done. He inquired if the pool hall keeper had ever seen him. He was told that he had not, but hail a very good description of him. Thereupon Johnson altered his make-up, mounted his horse, and went to Haskell. He tied up his horse in front of the pool house, and walked in, pretending to be drunk. Slamming a silver dollar on ihe counter, he demanded a drink. The pool hall keeper passed him over a bottle of sarsaparilla. Johnson slammed the bottle down in sudden passion. “What’s the use of that to me?” be yelled. “You give me the real hell fire.” The pool hall keeper had studied him, and, concluding that he was a genuine customer, took out a bottle of spirits and handed it over. Johnson poured out a drink, and then be demanded some tobacco. The saloon keeper had a .44 revolver sticking out of each hip pocket, and was the kind of man who would shoot at the first suspicion. Johnson wanted to get him in such a position, that he could not readily reach his guns. The man turned round to take his tobacco jar down out of a cupboard. Instantly, Johnson had whipped the revolvers out of his pockets, and placed their cold barrels on the ears of the bravo. He bad his man disarmed and le<l out a prisoner in no time. The West then named him “Pussyfoot.”