The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1878-01-30
A Wonderful Clock.

The Reading (Pa.) Eagle says: In
Mengel's building is now on exhibition
in all probability the most wonderful
clock in the world. It was built by
Stephen D. 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 SIS, 900 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. It's 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 Ameri-
can clock about nine inches. Three
minutes before the hoY pipe organ
inside the clock plays aHanthem. Ithas
five tunes. Bells are then rung and
when the hour is struck, double doors in
an alcove open and figure of Jesus ap-
pears. Double doors to the left then
open, and the apostles appear slowly,
one by one, in procession. AS they ap-
pear and pass Jesus they turn towards
him, Jesus bows, the apostle turns again
and proceeds through the double doors
of an alcove on the right. As Peter ap-
proaches Satan looks out of 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 pro-
cession 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 is
four times per hour, whereas the Stras-
burg procession is made but once day,
at IL o'clock. Below the piazza is the
main dial, about thirteen inches in di-
ameter. To its right is figure of Time
with an ur-glass. Above this is q
window, ut which appear figures repre-
senting youth, manhood and old age
To the left of the dial is skeleton rep
resenting Death. When the hour hand
approaches the first quarter. Time re-
verses his hour glass and strikes one on
bell with his scythe, when another bell
inside responds, then childhood appears
instantly. When the hour hand ap.
proaches the second quarter or half hour,
there are heard the strokes of two bells.
Then Youth appears and the organ plays
a hymn. After this, Time strikes two
and reverses his hour glass, wien 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 tie court, when
the Saviour comes Walking out. Then
the apostles appear il 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 op top q soldier in armor is
constantly on guard, walking back and
forward. As the hours advance, Man
hood, Old Age and death take part in
the panorama.