The Van Buren press., 1873-08-26
Marvellous Mechanism .
The WondsrfuI Clock-RA Nan of
Gssius Can Do With a Jaekknvs.
(Corre.po.d.nce of the Phil. Press

tCorrespondsnce Of the Phil. Pressl
/ SnAhoKIx, Pa, Aug. 10.
Karl Kettsr, q poor German miner OF
the Excelsior colliery, which is situated
within few miles Of this borough, has
exhibited clock here during the past
week Of a most remarkable character.
He had been three years constructing it
the first two years at intervals Of time,
and the last year he worked at it day and
night, scarcely taking time enough to eat
and sleep.
He became almost q monomaniac on
the subject. The clock was in his mind
during his waking hours aud 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 kinlly in
tersst which his neightors 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 archi
lecture. 1t has sixteen sides and is sur
mounted by globe. on top of which is
attached small golden cross. On the
front Of the clock there are four dial
plates; one shows tho day of the week,
another shows the day of the month, an
other shows the minutes and fractions of
q minute, and the other the hour Of the
day. These dals are carved in a most
unique manner, having emblematic fig
ures upon them and around them OF al.
most every Imaginable description Above
the dial plates is a semi circular gallery
extending around about half the width Of
the frame work Of the clock. lmmedi
atsly in front, in tho centre Of this semi
circular gallery is the carved wooden
figure Of our Savior.
At the ends of the gallery on either
side there is q small door opening into
the body of the clock. Over the door on
the right hand side of the cloch, as you
stand facing it, is an eagle. Over the
door on the left hand side is cock.
Twice day-tAat is at IL :05 in the day
and at IL :05 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, ofths
twelve apostles, appear and walk out
slowly and gravely in procession, Peter
in the lead. Advancing along the gal
lery until they get opposite the figure Of
Jesus, each in turn, except Judas, slo owly
turns round and bows his head to the
Master, then receivers his former posi-
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 Jndas (who is 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 clock, the cock crows again. BY
simple arrangement this procession can
be made to come out and pass around
he gallery at any time desired
On pcdestals, at the extreme corners
Of the front of the clock,are carved wood
en- statutes Of Moses and Elias. In the
rear are two obelsks of the Egyptian
style, upon which are carved heroglyph-
ic characters to represent the ancient Pc
riods of the worlds history. The clock
will run thirty two hours without wind
ing. Mr.. Ketter, who is native Of Erie
burg, in Baden, is very proud of his work
manship lie can scarcely bear to be
away from it long enough to eat his
meals He has been offerc 1000 for
it by person from New York, but he
refused it.
Mr. Kcttcr says he had often heard of
the celebrated clock in Strassburg, but
he never saw it, and hc has no knowl
edge Of how it was constructed; neither
has he ever had any instruction in me-
chanics Of any kind His purpose is to
exhibit it for a few months in this coun-
try, and then take it with him to Ger
many.
TEXAS RADICAL NOMINATIONS.
DALLAS, August 21.
The republican state convention has
made the following nominations For
governor, f. j. Davis; for lieutenant
governor, p. II. Taylor; for compt:ol
Ter, j. W. Thomas; for treasurer, A. L.
Moere; for land commissioner, Jacob
Knehler; for superintendent Of educa-
ton, A. B. Merton. The tieketis thought
to bs a fair one The convention ad-
journed sine die.
A rHIEF's FACE MASHED.
LEAvENwoRTu, Ks, Aug. 10.
Early this morning, just as the Rock
Island train was starting, Baggage. mas
ter Manning pounded the face OF c. r
Jennison, a notorious gambler and jay
hawker.during the war, to jelly, closing
both his eyes, breaking his nose and jaw,
and otherwise badly injuring him. Dur
ing the fight the train started, and Man
ming pitched the senselsss form OF Jen
nison out af the car while under motion.
Jennison was taken to his gambling
house and remained insensible nearly all
day. Jcnnison and Manning had been
gambling, the former had won all the
latter's money, and some words passed
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