Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1878-01-23
The Clock OF Clocks.

In Reading, Pa, there is now exhibit
ing, in all probability, the most wonder
full clock in the world. It was built by
Stephen B. Engle, matchmaker at
Hazleton. He is about forty-fve 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
not travelled more than two hundred
miles from home at 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 .colors are dark,
brown and gold The Strasburg clock
is thirty feet high, yet it's mechanism
is not SO intricate nor has it as many
figures as the ,Hazleton clock. The
Strasburg clocks figures are about three
feet high and the American clocks about
nine inches. Three minutes before the
hour pipe organ inside the clock plays
ad anthem. 1t has five tunes. Bells are
then rung, and when the hour is struck
double doors in an aloove open and a
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
toward him, Jesus bows. the apostles
turn again and proceed 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 the devil appears, and when Peter
passes, denying Christ, the cock flaps its
wings and crows When Judas appears,
Satan comes down from his window and
follows Judas out in the procession, 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 disappear and the doors
are closed.
The scene can be repeated seven times
in an hour if necessary, and the natural
motion Of the clock produces it four
times per hour, whereas the Strasburg
procession is made but once day, at II
o'clock. Below the plaza is the main
dial, about thirteen inches in diameter
To its right is figure Of Time, with an
hour-glass. Above this is window, at
which there appear figures, representing
youth, manhood, and old age. TO the
left of the dial is a skeleton representing
Death. When the hour hand approach
es the first quarter Time reverses his
hour-glass and strikes one on bell with
his scythe, when another bell inside re-
spends; then Childhood appears instant
ly. When the hour hand approaches
the second quarter or half hour, there is
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 Savior
comes walking out. Then the apostles
appear in procession. The clock also
tells of the moons changes, the tides,
the seasons, days, and day Of tie month
and year, and the signs Of tie zodiac;
and Oh the top a soldier in armour is
constantly on guard, walking backward
and forward. AS the hours advance,
Manhood, Old Age and Death take part
III the panorama