The Topeka State Journal

KANSAS NEWS.

Two Wichita Men Return From Guatemala Tour.

Found Gold Dust Plentiful-
Country Very Rich.

QUEER TOWN CLOCK.
Consists of a Piece of Iron on Which a Policeman Strikes the Hours With a Club When He Isn't Asleep.

Wichita, March 11.-Messrs. F. B. Garcelon, the Colwich banker, and John Mahan of this city have returned from Guatemala, to which country they went some three or four weeks ago. They sailed from New Orleans for Livingston, Guatemala, on the 23d of January and were five days crossing the Gulf, a portion of which time was occupied in skirting the Yucatan coast to what is known as the Yucatan channel to Belieze, British Honduras.

The town clock of Livingston is a great curiosity. It consists of a piece of railroad iron suspended in the air, and the time of day or night is struck upon it by a policeman detailed for that purpose. This time-striker uses a bludgeon to make the iron resound, and what was still more ludicrous to the travelers was the fact that the time-striker seemed to mark his hours just whenever he happened to think of it. For instance, if he should become engrossed in a game of cards he might forget all about the "clock" and let it "run" an hour and a half between strikes.

The natives use a long running vine—wind it around some hoops, plaster it with clay and make a handsome vessel which is carried upon the heads of women.

The sidewalks in the cities are narrow and the streets are laid off with painful irregularity, and as to the buildings, a stranger cannot tell which is a church, a bank or a residence.

The travelers brought back many silver coins, ranging from 3 1/2 cents up to 10. Paper money is called "monkey" money and silver money is called "tin money" by the natives.

Everybody in this country must pay their debts. A man might as well be accused of murder as dodging a debt, and he might as well hide out in the jungle. The law prohibits the transfer of real estate until the stipulated price is paid spot cash.

As to mining, the returned parties seem well pleased, and the reporter was shown an envelope half full of the prettiest gold dust he ever saw. Prof. Woodman of Colorado, who remained in Guatemala, said he never saw anything as rich in his life.