Tragedy Averted on a Chili Cincinnati Thursday

On Fountain Square today, tragedy was narrowly averted by a fleet-footed Skyline worker pushing a cart full of miniature hot dogs.  Cincinnatians, no strangers to mob violence, had queued up in frigid, wet conditions and braved lengthy lines for 60 cent Coneys from Skyline Chili, in celebration of the chili chain’s 60th anniversary.  Just minutes after the P.A. announcement that the chili tents would be closing at one o’clock, however, the hot dogs ran out. Offers by quick-thinking chili servers to the panicked chili enthusiasts to provide chili cheese sandwiches in lieu of actual coneys–at best a stop-gap measure–were met with scorn and mutiny appeared imminent.  Moments later, however, reinforcements appeared, contained in a chili-spattered insulated carrier, pushed by an intrepid chili courier.  To shouts of encouragement from his fellow employees, as well as hoots from hungry, cheapskate customers, the dogs were hustled across the square to find their place on tiny white buns, under chili and cheese, with onions and mustard for companionship.  -Ed Scripsi