The daily gazette., 1877-12-29
THE CLOCK OF CLOCKS.
A PENNSYLVANIA oUTDoEs TMn
WORK OF HABRECHT, OF


| In Mengals building is now OF
exhibition in all probability the
most wonderful clock in the world
1t was built by Stephen D. Engle, q
matchmaker, at Hazleton, Pa. He
is about As yeas Of age and was
about twenty years in perfecting the
clock Mr.. keid paid Engle $5,-
600 for it. Engle never saw the
Strasburg clock. In fact, he has not
travelled more than two hundred
miles from home at any time. This
clock stands eleven feet high. AT
its base it is about four feet wide
and at the top about two. 1t is
about three feet deep at the base,
gradually less towards the top. Its
colors are dark brown and gold.
The Strasburg clock is thirty feet
high, yet its mechanism is not so in
tricate nor has it as many figures as
the Hazleton clock. The Strasburg
clocks figures are about 3 feet high,
and the American CLOCK about 8 in
ches. Three minutes before the
hour a pipe organ inside the clock
plays an anthem. 1t has five tunes.
Bells are then rung, and when the
hour is struck double doors in an al
cove open and a figure of Jesus ap-
pears. Double doors to the left then
open, and the apostles appear slowly,
one by one in procession. AS they
appear and pass Jesus they turn to-
wards him. Jesus bows, the apos-
tie turns again and proceeds through
the double doors in an alcove on the
right As Peter approaches Satan
looks out of a window above and
tempts him. Five times he appears,
and when Peter passes; denying
Christ, the cock flaps its wings and
COWS. When Judas appears Satan
comes down from his window and
follows judas out in the procession,
and then goes book up to his place to
watch Judas appearing on both side7.
AS the procession has passed,
Judas and the three Marys disap-
pear and the doors are closed.
The scene can be repeated seven
times in an hour if necessary, and
the natural motion of the clock pro-
duces it four times per hour, whereas
the Strasburg procession is made
but once day at II o'clock. Be
low the piazza is the main dial
about l3 inches in diameter, To its
right is figure ofTime with an hour
glass. Above this is a window, at
which appear figures representing
Youth, Manhood and Old Age. To
the left of the dial is a skeleton re-
presenting Death. When the hour
hand approaches the first qnarter
Time reverses his hour-glass and
strikes one on a bell with his scythe,
when another bell inside responds
then Childhood appears instantly.
when the hour hand approaches the
second quarter or half hour there
are heard the strokes of two bells. |
Tehn Youth ap pears and the organ
plays a hymn. After this Time
strikes two and reverses his hour
glass, when two bells respond inside.
One minute after this chime of bells |
is heard, when folding door opens
in the upper porch and one at the !
right of the court, when the Saviour
comes walking out. Then the apos-
ties appear in procession. The clock
also tells of the moons changes, the
tides, the seasons, days, and day of
the month and year, and the signs of
the zodiac; and on top soldier in
armor is constantly on guard walk
ing back and forward. As the hours
advance Manhood, Old Age and |
Death take part in the panorama. |
-Reod,ng (Po.1 Eagle.