The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1873-08-30


THE INGENUITY OF \ POOR GERMAN Penn
SILNANI\ MINER
/ The Philadelphia Press of today contains
the following description of a wonderful clock
wonderfully made from II correspondent at
Shamokin, Penn:
Karl Kctter, poor German mincr of EX.
cclsior Collicry, which is situated within a
few miles of this borough, has exhibited n
clock here, during the past week. of II most
remarkable character lie had been three
years constructing 1.-THE first two years at
| intervals of time and the last year he worked
at it day and nigh, scarcely taking time
enough to sleep and eat.
"IlG became almost mOnomaniaC on the
! subject. The clock was in his mind during
the 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, how.
ever, was but little 1t is thought he would
have nearly starved but for the kindly inter
est which his ncighbors took in him and his
clock. They took him food and encouraged
him in mis- labors.
The clock, which was made with no other
tools than two common iaCk-knivcS, is eight
feet high and four feet broad. It's frame is of
the gothic style of architecture. 1t has six
teen sides and is surmOuntcd by small gold
ell cross. On the front of the clock there are
four dlalplatcs; one shows the month, anoth-
cr shows the minutes and fraction, of min
ute, and the other the hour of the day These
dlalS are carved in Il most unique manner,
having emblcmatlc figures upon them and
around them of almost every Imaginable DIES.
cription. Above The diaLpatcS is a scmi.cir-
cular gallery extending around about half
the width of the framework of the clock. I'm.
mcdiatcly in front, in the center of this semi.
circular gallery, is the carved wooden figure
of our Savior.
"Atthe ends of the gallery, ON either side,
there is a small door opening into the body
of the clock. Over the door, ON the rghthand
side of the clock as YOU stand facing it is an
eagle Over the door, on the lctthand side, is
a cock. Twice a 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 Apos-
ties, appear and walk out slowly and grave
ly in procession, Peter in the lead Advancing
along the gallery until they get opposite the
slowly turns round and bows his head to the
Master, then recovering his former position
as Peter does this the cock crows. They con
tinuc to advance to the other side of the gal
lcry and enter the small door on the left As
JuduS (vho 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 cock, the cock crows again BY a
simple arrangement this procession can be
made to come out and pass around the gal
lcry at any time desired.
"Cp pCdcstals, at the extreme COmCsS of tie
front of the clock, are carycl wooden statues
of Moses and Elias. In the rear are two OBJ
lisks of the Egyptian style, upon which are
carved hieorglyphic characters to represent
the ancient period of the worlds history
The clock will run thirty-two hours without
winding Mr. Kettcr, who is native of Fret
burg in Baden, is very proud of his work
man>hip. lie can scarcely bear to be away
from it long enough to cat his meals He
has been offered ten thousand dollars for it
by person from New York but he refused
it.
"Nr. Kctcr says Hhc had often heard of
the celebrated clock in Strasburg, but he ncv
or saw il, and he has no knowledge Of how it
was constructed, neither has he ever had any
instruction in mechanics Of any kind lii>
purpose i 10 exhibit few months in this
country, and then take it with him TO Gcrma-
ne