The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1873-09-03
A Wonderful Clock.

4 ShamOkin, Pa, correspondent of
the Philadelphia Pres saws: Kari
Ketter, a poor German miner of tae
Excelsior COlliery. which is zituatrd
within a few miles Of this boroug-,
has exhibited a clock here. during the
past week. Of a most remarkable
character. He had been three years
constructing 1.-THE first two years at
intervals Of time, and the last year he
worked at it dav and night, scarcely
taking time enough to eat and sleep.
He became almost
\ MONOMANIAC
on the subject. The clock was in his
mind during his waking hours and in
his dreams at night. He occupied
small wooden shanty, where he
worked, slept, and cooked his food
Whatever sleeping and cooking he
did, however, was but little. 1t is
thought he would have nearly starved
but for the kindly interest which his
neighbors took in him and his clock.
They took him food and encouraged
him IN his labors.
\ DESCRIPTION OF THE MARVEL.
The clock, which was made with
no other tools than two common lack
knives, is eight feet high and four
feet broad. Its frame is of the gothic
style Of architecture 1t has sixteen
sides and Is surmOunted by d globe,
on the top of which is attached a
small golden cross. On the front of
the clock there are four dial plates:
one shows the day of the week,
another shows the day of the month.
another the minutes and fractions of
q minute, and the other the hour of
the day. These diaIs are carved in a
most unique manner, having emblem
attic figures upon them and around
them in almost every imaginable des-
cription. Above the dial plates is a
semi-circular gallery, extending
around about half the width of the
frame work of the clock Immedi-
ately in front, in the centre of this
semi-circular gallery, is the carved
wooden figure of
At the ends of the gallery, on either
side, there is a small door, opening
into the body of the clock. Over the
door, on the right-hand side Of the
clock, as YOU stand facing it, is an
eagle. Over the door, on the left
hand side, is 4 chicken cock. Twice
q day, that is, at 1905 in the day and
at 1905 AT night, sweet chime Of
bells begin TO play. the small door on
the right-hand side opens. and the
small wooden figures, admirably
carved, of the twelve Apostles, appear
and walk out slowly and gravely in
procession, Peter in the lead. Adj
7aneing along the gallery until they
get opposite the figure of Jesus, each
in turn, except Judas, slowly turns
around and bows his head to the
Master, then RECEIVERS his fOrmerpOsi-
ton; 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, and his left
hand clasping the bag which is sup
posed to contain the thirty pieces of
Silver, comes in full view of the cock,
the cock crows again. BY a simple
arrangement this procession can be
made TO come out and pass around
the gallery at any time desired. On
pedestals, at the extreme corners of
the front of the clock. are carved
wooden statues Of
In the rear are two obelisks of the
Egyptian style, upon which are carved
hieroglyphic characters to represent
the ancient period of the worlds
history. The clock viii run thirty
two hours without winding. Mr..
Ketter. who is a native of Frieburg,
in Baden, is very proud of his work
manship. He can scarcely Dear to be
away from it long enough to eat his
meals. He has been offered ten
thousand dollars for it by party
from New York. but be refused it
Mr.. Ketter says he has often heard
of the celebrated clock in Strawsburg,
Germany, but he never saw it, and
has no knowledge of how it was con- i
structed in mechanics Of any kind
His purpose is to exhibit it for 8
few months in this country, and then
take it with him to Germany.