Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1873-09-27
A Wonderful Clock-The Ingenuity OF
Poor German.

"A WOnuefIuI CtOck-lne ingenuity VI u
Poor German.
a correspondent of the Philadelphi
Press writing from Shamokin, Pa, on
the 18th, says: Karl Ketter, young
German miner of the Excelsior Colliery,
which is situated within few miles OF
this borough, has exhibited clock here,
during the past week, of the most re-
markable character He had been three
years constructing 1.-THE. first two
years at the intervals of time, and the
last year he worked at it day and night,
scarcely taking time enough to sleep
or eat. He became almost monoma-
MAC on the subject The clock was in
his mind during his waking hours and
in his dreams at night. He occupied
alone a small wooden shanty, where he
worked, slept and cooked his food.
Whatever cooking and sleeping he did,
however, was but little. 1t is thought
he would have nearly starved to death
but for the kindly interest which his
neighbors 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. 1t has SIX
teen sides and is surmounted by a globe
on 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
minutes and fractions OF minnie, and
the other the hour of the day. These
dials are carved in a most unique man
ner, having emblematic figures upon
them and around them Of almost every
imaginable description. Above the
dial plates is a semicircular gallery, ex-
tending around half the width Of the
framework of the clock. Immediately
in front, in the centre of this semlcircu-
lar gallery, is the carved wooden figure
of our Saviour. At the ends OF this
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 1t,
is an eagle. Over the door, on the left
hand side is a chicken cock. Twice a
day, that is st 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 i'll procession,
Peter in the lead. Advancing along
the gallery until they get opposite the
figure Jesus, each in turn, except Judas,
slowly turns around and bows his head
to the 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 reaD with his right hand
shielding his face, and his LETT hand
clasping the bag which is supposed to
contain the thirty pieces of silver, comes
in full view of the cock, the cock crows
again. BY simple arrangement this
procession can be made to come out and
pass around the gallery at any time de
sired. On pedestals, at the extreme
corners Of the front of the clock, are
carved wooden statues OF Moses and
Elias. In the rear are two obellsks OF
the Egyptian style, upon which are
carved hiercglyphic characters to repre-
sent the ancient period Of the worlds
history. The clock will run thirty-two
hours without winding. Mr.. ketter,
who is native of Frieburg, i'll Baden,
is very proud of his workmanship. lie
can scarcely bear to be away from 1t
long enough to eat his meals. He shas
been offered ten thousand dollars for 1t
by party from New York, but he re-
fused it. Mr. Ketter says he has often
heard of the celebrated clock i'll Straus-
burg, Germany, but never saw it, and
he has no knowledge Of how it was
constructed, neither has he ever had
any instruction in mechanics of any
kind. His purpose is to exhibit it for a
few.months in this country, and then
take it with him to Germany.