The Vancouver independent. (Vancouver, W.T. [Wash.]) 1875-1910, 1878-02-14
The Clock Of Clocks.

In Mengel's building is now on exhi.
bition in all probability the most won
derful clock in the world. 1t was built
by Stephen D. Engle, a matchmaker at
Hazelton. He is about forty-tive years
of age, and was about twenty years in
perfecting the clock. Mr.. Reid paid
Engle $4,000 for it. Engle never saw
the Strasburg clock. In fact, he has rot
travelled more than two hundred miles
from home any time. This clock
stands eleven feet high. At the 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 coors are dark brown and
gold. The Strasburg clock is thirty feet
high, yet its mechanism is not SO intri-
cate nor has it as many figures as the
Hazelton clock. The Strasburg clocks
figures are about three feet high and the
American clocks about nine inches.
Three minutes before the hour pipe Or
gan inside the clock plays an anthem.
1t has five tunes. Bells are then rung,
aud when the hour is struck double
doors in an alcove open and figure Of
Jesus appears. 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 apostles turn
again and proceed through the double
doors in an alcove to the right. AS
Peter approaches, Satan looks out of a
window above and tempts him. Five
times the devil appears, and when Peter
passes, denying Christ, the cock flaps
its wings and crows. When Judas APP
pears, Satan comes down from his win
dow and follows Judas out in the pro-
cessiop, and then goes back up to his
place to watch Judas, appearing on
both sides. AS the procession has
passed, Judas and the three Marys dis
appear and the doors are closed. The
scene can be repeated seven times in an
hour if necessary, and the natural mo-
ton of the clock produces it four times
per hour, whereas the Strasburg pro-
cession is made but once a day, at IL
O'Clock. Below the plaza is the main
dial, about thirteen inches in diameter.
70 its right is figure of Time, with an
hour lass. Above this is a window, at
which there appear figures, representing
youth, manhood, and old age. To the
left of the dial is skeleton represent
ing Death. When the hour hand APP
proaches the first quarter Time reverses
his hour glass and strikes one on bell
with his scythe, when another bell inside
responds; then Childhood appears in
stantly. When the hour hand approach
es the second quarter or half hour, there
are heard the stroke of two bells. Then
Youth appears and the organ plays a
hymn. After this Time strikes two and
reverses the 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 Sa-
vior comes walking out. Then the apes
ties appear in procession. The clock
also tells of moons changes, the tides,
the seasons, days, and day of the
month and year, and the signs of the
z pdiac; and ON the top soldier in armor
is constantly on guard, walking back
ward and forward. As the hours adj
vance, Manhood, Old Age and Death take
part In the pan rama.