The Republican journal., 1883-12-06
A Jack-Knife Artist.

A ST. LOUIS MACHINIST'S MARVEL OF MEtHA-
NISM.
William Nohe claims to be the cham
pion Jack knife artist ofthe day, although
he was born in St. Louis and not \ ankee-
dom, says the post dispatch of that city.
Now he is whiting with might and
main, by night and day, and expects
eventually to carve out jack knife tor-
tune, if the cutlery holds out.
Il am making,' says lohe, ''what |
call the Missouri Pacific and Strasburg
Cathedral Automatic Wonder, with the
Golden Ark OF the Covenant. 1t will
contain over 100000 pieces, and will have
100 moving and working figures"
All around the gaunt and dismanted
church were piles Of cigar boxes and
laths, and myriads of nicely carved little
pieces of wood, apparently portions of
models of buildings. The whittier was a
small man, with keen eyes and ready
tongue, and about 30 years of age In
the course of an hours conversation he
said, in substance: II didn't know that
was anything extra Of whittier until
about l-69, when, in a small way, made
some models. | was in Texas working
at millwrighting The first large piece |
ever made was model Of a Bermuda
castle AfterWard made Bamoral cas-
tie, Bingon Castle. AIramar Castle (n
Egypt), the steamer Bristol, Sol0mons
Temple ana the Texas State Capitol at
Austin. Soiomon's Temple contained
l2,26c pieces, and had 1869 windows 1t
is now on exhibition in Texas The
Austin Capitol building has 81, 81 pieces
and POI moving people. Every room
and department in the building was
given, with all the officers and legislators.
Everybody WAS represented, down to the
man saving wood III the basement for the
furnaces All the figures Wcre moved by
d wooden engine, which was run 10y sand
falling on an overshot wheel made
this piece at odd moments in 1851.
never realized much for my labor, for the
reason that didn't know that it was
valuable, ! love to use the knife. and
can work al! day and far into the night
with the greatest enthusiasm There is
nothing tnat can he made out of wood
that can't carve with MY knife This
model Of Noah Ark pointingl has 34OO
pieces, ana yet | made it in 10 dals.
The cathedral Will be GXG feet ana II
feet high. 1t will contain - eco
pieces. From the chapel in the rear
file Of children will march around to
the grand arch and enter the cathe-
dral, going down two aisIes past the
altar, With ITS attendant bishop and
choristers, and finally pass out to the rear,
over the grand arch vi the cathedral is
the main dial, and above this the twelve
apostles and the Saviour ON the cross.
The apostles At dimes Will pass in front
OF the Saviour looking at him, all except
Judas, who will hang his head. The
church will bc illuminated With many
hundred windows ana lights In the two
depnts, with 20,0UU pieces each, there
will be the usual ticket sellers, baggage
agents, truckmcn, etc, all performing
their regular duties automatically. The
track for the tain will be III feet in
length, running entirely around the piece,
under mountain, through the dppotS
and beneath the cathedral. The tram
Will be completely appointed, even ID
automatic engineer, fireman ana cpnduc-
tol punching tickets. The water HiIi, ot
lc,nOn pieces, will be in complete run
nug order Without the cathedral ana
upon The grounds Will be 800 automatic
figures Of visitors strulHng about There
will also De loaded street ears, boat rac-
ING, dancing, pliZr lighting. racing. etc"
"flow will il be possible to keep 50
many figures performing such extremely
complicated motions without endless ma
chincry?"
That is where my strongest hold
comes in. can do anything with ma