St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1893-01-09
ICE WORKERS CONSPIRE
To Throw Chicago Into q Water
Famine in the Midst
OF winter.
The Discharge Of the Keeper of
the Crib Suddenly Rights
Matters.

CHICAGO, Jan. S.-The calamity of a
water famine was narrowly escaped by
/ Chicago today, and it would have been
q famine which IN all probability would
not have been relieved before spring.
Capt. Mckee, who for thirteen years
has been keeper of the crib of the Chi
cago pumping station, was jerked out of
his job so suddenly this morning that
his head is hardly through buZ.
ling vet. He was discharged by
CITY Engineer Clarke because of a re-
port that the men under Mckee in
tended to allow the ice to accumulate
around the intakes of the crib so that
the supply would be shut off. and then
they intended to strike, demanding the
removal of Mckee, who, they claimed,
had treated them badly. The situation
was one which admitted of no argu-
ment and McKee'S official head rolled
into the basket as soon as the condition
OF things became known at tue city hall.
The strike. If brought about, would
have been most disastrous. Intensely
cold weather would have soon formed
mass of ice, calculated the engineers,
that nothing but dynamite or the
return Of summer could remove.
A consultation was called at the
city engineers Office this morning to
take action in regard to the rumors
which had reached thems and action
prompt and decisive was decided upon.
City Engineer Clarke sent for William
II. Dahl, the assistant vessel dispatcher,
and then wrote letter to Capt. Mckee
removing him from office instanter and
appointing Capt. Dahl in his place. At
1920 o'clock in the forenoon Chief Clerk
John w. Cughlan. of the water office;
Engineer Vineyard, of the department,
and Capt. Dahl stepped on board a tug,
and start was made for the crib, which
was reached shortly after IL O'Clock.
Capt. Mckee was at the landing, and
the letter from the city engineer was
handed him. He read it, ana then
walked down stairs to where fourteen
men were at work keeping the ice from
the intake ports.
''Boys," he said. 1--WE been dis
charged and am goingto leave. l want
you to go with me-"
The men did not appear unanimous
in responding to the Invitation, and but
five threw down their tools and Joined
their chief. The entire party was
quickly taken to the shore. The cause
OF complaint against Mckee by the men
was that, Notwithstanding the fact
all night in the icy water, they could
get nothing warm TO drink, and that the
Mckee family occupied all the habit
able quarters at the crib, compelling the
men to sleep in rooms at and below the
water level. City Engineer Clarke de-
MED vehemently this evening that any
conspiracy had existed to allow the crib
10 freeze up. He told reporter several
times that nothing OF the kind had been
thought of. In the midst of
his denials, his assistant. Mr..
Cogh an, walked in, and Clarke
ordered him to tell the reporter that
there was no danger of the cribs being
allowed to freeze, and his assistant
promptly informed him that there had
been a conspiracy to that effect. aud
that it mad been nipped in the bud.
Il let Mckee 90 for his lack of dis
ciplne," said Mr.. Clarke, ''and | guess
did better than | thought l did,