Democratic Sentinel, Volume 2, Number 2, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 22 February 1878 — A Tery Complete Clock. [ARTICLE]

A Tery Complete Clock.

Stephen D. Engle, an ingenious clock and watchmaker of Hazleton, has completed a clocx showing such remarkable mechanical skill t,.at our readers will lead of it with Interest. Mr. Engie is about forty-five years old, and has teen about twenty perfecting it. He never saw the remarkable Strarburg clock. In fact, he has not traveled 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. It is about three feet deep at the base, gradually less towards the top. Its colors are dark brown and gold. The Strasburg clock is tnirty feet high, yet its mechaaism is not ss intricate nor has it so many figures as the Hazleton clock. The Strasburg clock’s figures are about three feet high, and the American click’s about nine inches. Three minutes before the hour, a pipe organ inside the clock plays an anthem. It has five tubes. Bills are then rung, and when the hour is struck double doors in an alcove open, and a figure of Jesus appears. Double doors to the left then open, and the apostles apnear slowly, one by one, in procession. As they appear and pass Jesus, they turn towards him. Jesus jows, and the apostles turn again and proceed through the double doors in au alcove on the right. As Peter approaches, Satan looks out of a window above and tempts jhim. Five times j the devil appears, and when Peter passes, denying Christ, the cock flaps its wings and crows. When Judas appears, Satan comes down from the 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 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 a day, at. 12 o’clock. Below the piaza is the main dial, about thirteen inches in diameter. To its right is a figure of Time with an hour-glass. Above this is a window, at which figures representing Youth, Manhood and Old Age. To the left of the dial is a skeleton, rep Death. When the hour hand approaches the first qurter Time reverses his hour-glass and strikes on a bell with bis scythe, when another bell inside responds; then Childhood appears instantly. When the hour hand approaches the second quarter or half hour there *re 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, when two bells respond instde. One minute afterthis a chime of bells is heard, when a folding door opens in the upper porch and < n > at the right of the court, and the Savior comes walking o it. Then the apostles appear in procession.

The clock also tells the moon’s changes, the tide, the seasons, days, days of the month and year, and the signs of the zodiac; and on the top a soldierin armor isconstantly on guard, walking back and forward. As the hours i dvanee Manhood, Old Age and Death take part in the panorama.