The sun., 1873-08-14
MARVELLOUs MECHANISM.
The Wonderful Clock that was Made BY .
Poor Miner-Whet a MIN Of Gepius can
do with n Jnckknife.
Correspondence Of the Phfid feiphfd Press.


| SHAMoKIN, Pa, Aug. 10.-Karl Ketter, n
poor German miner of tho Excelsior Colllery,
which IL situated within a few miles OF this
borough, has exhibited clock hore during the
| past week Of a most remarkable character. He
| had been three years constructing 1.-THE FIRST
two wears at intervals Of time, and the last year
| he worked at II day and night, scarcely taking
time enough to. sleep and eat.
| He became almost a monomaniac on the sub
| 1ect; The clock was In his mind during his
waking hours and In his dreams at night. lie
| occupied alone small wooden shanty, where
he worked, slept, and cooked his food. What
ever sleeping and cooking he did, however,
was but little IL Is thought he would have
nearly starved but for the kindly interest
which his neghbors took In him and his clock.
They took him food and encouraged him In his
labors.
The clock. which was made with no other
tools than two common jack-knives, Is eight
feet high and four feet broad. Its frame is OF
the Gothic style of architecture. IL has sixteen
sides, and IL surmountcd by globe, on top of
which i attached small golden CROSS. ON the
front Of the clock there are four dial plates ono
show the day of the week, another shows the
DAY ot the month, another shows the minutes
ana ana ir9cuons OF a minute, and the other the
hour of the day. These dials are carved In
mos, unique manner, having erlblematc figures
upon them and around them of almost every
y ascm-circllar gallery extending around about
bait the width Of the framework of the clock.
immediately in front, in the ccntre Of this sent
circular gallery, Is the carved wooden nguro Of
our Saviour.
At the ends of the gallery on either side there
Is small door opening into the body Of the
clock. over the door. ON the right hand side OF
the CLOCK. as you stand facing II, IL an eagle.
over the door on the left hand side isa cock.
Twice day-that Is nt l2:tS in the day and at
l2aD ~ night-a sweet chime Of bells begins to
play. the small door on the right hand side
opens, and the small wooden figures admirably
carved, vi the twelve Apostles, appear aud walk
out slowly and gravely In procession, Peter In
the lead. Advancing along the gallery until
they get opposite the hguro OF Jesus, each In
turn. except Judas, slowly turns round and
bows ms head to he Master, then RECEIVERS his
former position: as Peter does this the cock
crows. They continue to advance to the other
side Of the gallery and enter the small door on
the LEFT. As Judas (who Is In the rear, with
his right hand shielding his face aud his left
hand clasping the bag which IL supposed To- con
tain The thirty pieces Of silver, comes in fun
view Of the chock. the cock crows again. Nv a
simple arrangement this procession can he made
10 come out and pass around the gallery at any
time desired.
On ucdcstals, at the extreme corners OF the
front OF the clock, are carved wooden statues
Of Moses and Elias. In the rear are two ube-
lisks OF the Egyptian style, upon which are
carved hicrpglyphiC characters to represent the
ancient periods OF the worlds history. The
clock VIII run thirty-two hours without winding.
Mr.. ketter who Is a native Of Frciburg, in
Baden, T. very proud of his workmanship. lie
can scarcely bear ~ he away from 1t long enough
To eat his meals. lie has been offered $1,000
for IL by person ftum New York, but he re-
fused il.
Mr.. ketter says he had often heard OF the cell
cbratcu clock IN Strdssburg hut'he never saw IT,,
and he has no knowledge of how 1t was con
structed; neither has he ever had any iustruc-
tiun IN mechanics ~ any kind. Hs purpose Is
to exhibit IL for a few months In this country.
ana then take twith him to Germany.