National opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1865-1874, 1873-08-29
Marvellous Mechanism.
The Womdsrfssl Clock that wss Made by
n Poor Miner n Man OF Genius
cam do with o Jnckknife.


Karl Ketter, a poor German miner Of
the Excelsior Col.iery, which is situated
within n few miles of Shamokin, Pa,
has exhibited clock of most remaIk-
able character. He has been three
years constructing 1.-THE first two years
at intervals Of time, aud the last year
he worked at it day and night, scarcely.
taking time enough to eat and sleep.
= He became almost mOnomaniac on
the subject. Tho clock was in his mind
during his working hours and in his
dreams at night. He occupied alone a
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.
The clock, which was made with no
other tools than two common jack
knives, is eight feet high and four feet
broad IT'S frame is Of the Gothic style
Of architecture. 1t has sixteen sides,
and is surmounted by globe, on top
of which is attached small golden
cross. On the front of the clock there
are four dial plates /; one shows the day
of the week, another hows the day OF
the month, another VS. the minutes
and fractions Of minute, and the other
the hour OF the day. These dials are
carved in most unique manner, hay
ing emblematic figures upon them and
around them of almost every imaginable
hx ,a1 ,,lutaQ 10 n
semi-circular gallery extending around
about half the width Of the framework
OF the clock. Immediately in front,
in the centre OF this semi-circuar gall
lery, is the carved wooden figure of our
Savior.
At the ends of the gallery on either
side there is u 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 a
cock. Twice day--that is at 1905 in
the day and at 1905 at 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, Of the twelve apostles, appear
and walk out slowly and gravely in pro-
cession, Peter in the lead. Advancing
along the gallery until they get OPP >site
the figure of Jesus, each in turn, except
Judas, slowly turns round and bows
his head to the Master, then recovers
his former position rs Peter does this
the cock crows. They continue to ad-
vance to tue other side Of the gallery
and enter the small door on the left. As
Judas (whois'i in the rear, with his right
hand shielding his face and his left
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. Hya simple arrangement
this procession ran be made to come
out and pass around the gallery at any
time desired.
Oh pedestals, at the extreme corners
of the front of the clock, are carved
wooden statues Of Moses and Elias. In
the rear are two obelisks Of the Egyp-
tian style, upon which are carved hiero-
glyphic characters to represent the
ancient periods OF the worlds history.
The clock will run thirty-two hours
without winding. Mr.. Ketter, who is
native of .Freiburg, Baden, is very
proud Of his workmanship. He can
scarcely bear to be away from it long
enough to eat his meals. He has been
offered $4,000 for it by person from
New York, but he refused it.
Mr.. Ketter says he has often heard of
the celebrated clock in Strassburg, but
he never saw it, and he has no knowl-
edge of how it was constructed neither |
has he ever had any instruction in
mechanics of any kind. His purpose is
to exhibit it for few months in this
and then take it with him to
GERMANY. ......... .... -..,.-