The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1871-10-26
Strasburg Cathedral and Clock.

A correspondent of the New York
EDening Post writes:
At the time Of the siege of Strasburg
exaggerated reports were circulated as
to the damage done to the cathedral,
and subsequently it was said that it was
not injured at all. Strike an average
and the truth is obtained. The cathedral
was damaged so much that a weeks fur
ther continuance of the bombardment
might have reduced it to ruins, and the
world Of art might have had occasion to
deplore the mutilation of Erwin Won
Steinbachs exquisite facade, or the fall
of the noblest tower and spire in exist
ence. The shells from the besieging
forces hit the cathedral very often, and
the damage actually done includes the
burning away of the outer roof, the des-
truction of the high stone-work balus-
trade on the north side of the tower, the
breaking away of several steps. so as to
render impossible two of the winding
staircases in the great tower, the break
ing of several of the windows, and vari-
GUS nicks in the walls which are not ap-
parent at first sight, and which can be
easily repaired. 1 could not see that any
harm was done to the ornamentation of
the facade, while the story published in
the New York papers that shell had
dashed through the roof and destroyed
the famous astronomical clock is utterly
untrue.
THE sTRAsBURG CLOCK.
This ingenious piece of theological
mechanism is in excellent condition,
and attracts as much attention as ever
At midday a crowd of some two hundred
people fills the transept of the cathedral
which contains this curious work, the
assemblage including peasants in quaint
costumes, priests, school-boys and a
great proportion of English and Ameri-
can tourists. At IL o'clock the usual
performance begins by a procession OF
the twelve Apostles before Christ, who
raises his hands, bestowing blessing on
each apostle as he passes by. At the
same time skeleton in a lower compart-
ment strikes the hour with human
bone on metallic disc. The cocx on
the summit of the clock ruffles his feath-
ers, stretches out his neck, and gives
good, sonorous crow, repeating his eff
forts three separate times. The noon
display is thus terminated, but many of
preston of disappointment, as if they
had expected to see the whole front of
the clock in motion, and display of
fireworks for finale.
AN ASCENSION.
Everybody who knows anything
about Strasburg cathedral knows that
but ona of the intended towers was
built. The top of the unfinished tower,
which is of the same height as the top of
the facade, is, in fact, level platform,
surrounded by an open-work balustrade |
with good-sized one-story dwelling |
house at one end, the magnificent fin
ished tower, capped by its spire, at the
other, and an open space in the middle. |
The house is occupied by several men |
who have charge of the clock and bells,
and who were up here during the entire
siege, exposed at every moment to the
falling shells, which have broken the
pavement in several places. They des-
cribe the period thus spent as one of
fearful horror. During the daytime the
view of the besiegers' batteries was much
obscured by smoke, but at night the
scene was terrific. Then, particularly,
was it feared that the spire might be
overthrown, and when fragments of its
outer decorations were knocked off, and
fell with crash to the pavement below,
the men living up on the church top
thought the dreaded moment had ar
rived. "But," observed one of them,
Struggling his shoulders, "what was to
be doneY Que pouLez gous? 1t was our
duty to stay up here, and we stayed.
come daily, the fee being but fifteen
centimes. To go to the top OF the other
tower itself costs half franc more, while
another franc must be paid If you wish
to ascend to the top of the spire, or rath-
er to the little balcony just below the
topmost final.