Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1873-10-03


A WONDERFUL CLocK.-The Philadelphia
Press contains the following description of
wonderful clock wonderfully made, from :
correspondent at Shamokin, Penn. z:
g Karl Ketter, poor German miner 0
the Excelsior Colliery, which IS situated with
in few miles of this borough, has exhibited
a clock here, during the past week, of ;
most remarkable character. lie had beer
three years constructing 1.-THE first two
years at intervals of time, and the last yeai
he worked at it day and night, scarcely
taking time enough to eat and sleep.
'' ile became almost mOn0maniac on the
sui. ct The clock was in his mind during
his waking hours and in his dreoms at night
| He occupied alone 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 in
| terest which his neighbors took in him and
his clock. They took him food and encou-
ragged in his labors.
The clock. which was made with no other
tools than two common jackniyes, is eight
feet high and four feet broad. Its 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 shows the day Of the month,
another shows the minutes and fractions of
minute. and the other the hour Of the day.
These dials are carved in n most unique man
ner, having emblematic figures upon them
and around them of almost 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 centre
Of this semicircular gallery, is the carved
wooden figure of our Saviour.
= At the ends Of the 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 it, is an eagle. Over the door, on the
lelt-hand side, is 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 grayely in procession,
Peter in the lead Advancing along the
gallery until they get opposite the figure Of
Jesus, each in turn, except Judas, slowly
turns round and bows his head To the Mas
ter. then recoycrs his former position as
Peter does this the cock crows They con-
tinue to advance to the other side Of the gal
lerv and enter the small door on the left.
A. Judas (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
fall view Of the cock, the cock grows again.
BY a simple arrangement this procession can
be made to come ont and pass around the
gallery at anv time desired
.'On pcdestals. at the extreme corners Of
the front of the clock, are carved wooden
statues OF Moses and Elias. Ia the rear are
two obelisks of the Egyptian style. upon
which are carved hicroElyVhic characters to
represent the ancient period Of the worlds
history The clock viii rcn thirty two
hours without winding. Mr. ket,eF. who Is
native of Freiburg, IN Baden, is very proud
of Lis workmanship. lie can scarcely bear
70 be away from il long enoagh @ eat Lis
meals. He has been offered zen thousand
dollars for it by a person FROM New York,
iut he refused IT,
D." Mr.. Ketter says he lad often heard Of
tie celebrated clock in Strasburg, but he
never saw it, and he has no knowledge how
it was constructed, neither has he ever had
any instruction in mechanics Of any kind.
His purpose is to exhibit it for q few months
in this country, and then take it with him
TO Germany.