Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1873-08-29
A Wonderful Clock.

A CORRESPONDENT of the Philadelphia
Press, writing from skamokin, Pa, gives
the following description of wonderful
clock constructed by poor German
Pennsylvania miner:
Karl Ketter, a 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 has 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
sleep and eat. He became almost mono
maniac 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 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 Its
frame is of the gothic style of architec.
ture. 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 the day of the week,
another shows the day of the month, an
other shows the minutes and fractions of
| a minute, and another the hour of the
day. These dials are carved in most
unique manner, having emblematic fig.
ures upon them and around them of al.
most every imaginable description.
Above the dial-plates is semi-circular
| gallery, extending around about half the
width of the framework of the clock
Immediately in front, in the center OF
this semi-circular gallery, is the carved
wooden figure of our Saviour. AT
the ends of the gallery, on eithel
sde' iTI there lDto is the small hod door open .hc
clock. Over the door on the right hand
side of the clock, as you stand facing it, j:
an eagle. Over the door on the left hand
| side, is a chicken cock. Twice day, tha
is, at IL :05 in the day and at 12 :05 at night
a sweet chime of bells begin to play, tho
small door on the right hand side opens
and the small wooden figures, admirably
carved, of the twelve Apostles, appear anC
walk out slowly and gravely in proces
| sion, Peter in the lead. Advancing alonl
! the gallery until they get opposite the fig
ure of Jesus, each in turn, except udas
slowly turns around and bows his head t.
the Master, then RECEIVERS his former posi-
| ton; as Peter does this the cock crows
| They continue to advance to the othe
side of the gallery, and enter the small
door on the left. As Judas (who is in tn
rear, with his right hand shielding hi
face, and the left hand clasping the bay
which is supposed to contain the thirt,
pieces of silver, comes in full view o
the cock, the cock crows again. By sim
pie arrangement this procession can b
made to come out and pass around tn
gallery at any time desired. On pedestals
at the extreme corners at the front of tn
clock, are carved wooden statues of Nose
and Elias. In the rear are two obelisks @
the Egyptian style, upon which are carve
hieroglyphic characters to represent tn
ancient period of the worlds history. Tn
clock will run thirty-two hours withou
winding. Mr.. Ketter, who is a native c
Frieburg, in Baden, is very proud of hi
workmanship. He can scarcely bear I
be away from it long enough to eat hi
meals. lie has been offered $4,000 for
by party from New York, but he refu
ed it.
Mr.. Ketter says he had often heard {
the celebrated clock in Strasburg, Ge
many, but he never saw it, and he has n
knowledge of how it was constructet
neither has he ever had any instructio
in mechanics of any kind.