Rock Island Argus., 1900-02-13
OFFICIALS IN COMBAT
c. NJ. WithereII, Waterworks Su-
perintendent, and Aid. Fred
G III Clinch.
CLASH IN CITY CLERKS OFFICE

Gilman to Series of Jndign;tIes Chairman
of waterworks Committee Claims to
Have Been Subjected to at the Hands OF
the superintendent-AId.w Willis as Peace.
maker.
Aid. Fred Gall, chairman of the
waterworks committee, and C.. NJ.
Witherell, superintendent of water
works, who have been at swords
points since the present administra-
tiop of city affairs took hold, came to-
gether last night just prior to the
converting of the council, and were
engaged in an endeavor to disfgure
one another's countenance when the
impromptu go was interrupted. 1t
was declared a draw.
The fight occurred in City Clerk IL.
G. Schaffer's Office. The men eX-
changed few words in regard TO i'm
provements that are being made at
the waterworks plant. The delivery
of each was pretty warm, but it
was not thought a clash was in
prospect, when suddenly there was p
clinch. Each had blood in his
eve, and it was evident somebody
WAS going to be hurt before the
men were separated. Mr.. Schaf-
fer did not feel physically able to
90 between them. and rushed down
stairs into police headquarters to call
help. The first one he met was Aid.
Charles Willis, who was hurriedly
made acquainted with the situation
and he hustled into the presence
of the fighters. Placing one arm
around Aid. Gall. with the other he
pushed Mr.. Witherell aside. accom-
plishing a breakaway without a blow
being struck.
Aid. Gall was bleeding from cuts IN
the forehead and chin. These were
not inflicted by his adversary's fists.
but by falling against the iron railing
on top of the clerks counter. Aid.
Willis played as well the part of sur
geon as he did peace maker. covering
Aid Calls wounds with sticking plas-
tiers.
Aid. Gall Aggravated.
The clash between Messrs. Gall and
Witherell was the climax to a series
of indignities the chairman of the
waterworks committee claims to have
been subjected to at the hands of
the waterwOrks superintendent. As
chairman of this important depart
ment of the city Aid. Gall has a right
to pass upon all matters incurring ex-
penditure of money by the depart
Inent. He states he has tried to get
along with Mr.. WItherelI, put has
been unable to do SO, the latter Aid.
Gall says, having on different occas-
ions openly detied him, feeling that
he was safe in doing so, as he evil
IDENTIFY had the mayor at his back.
Last nights clash was prccipitated, il
is claimed, as a result of the superin-
tendent refusing TO consider the sug-
gestions of Aid. Gall with reference
to alterations at the waterworks.
The council recently empowered
this waterwOrks committee to make
necessary improvements At the pump
ing station. The extent of these was
agreed upon by the committee, from
whom the superintendent received |
his instructions. But the superin- |
tendent thought the committee did |
not 90 far enough in the matter of |
alterations. and took it upon himself |
TO have stairway removed calling |
for an expenditure on which the com |
mittec was not consulted. Aid. Gall |
was aggravated to the point where !
fOrbearanCe ceased To be virtue. |
When chairman and superintendent !
met face to face last night the chair |
man made some inquiries. The con-
sequences are related above.