Evening journal., 1903-10-19
WENTZ MYSTERY
IS DEEPENING
One Thousand Men Are
Searching Mountains for
Missing Man
HE WAS PROBABLY MURDERED

Bristol, Tenn Oct. 19.-ft is now six
days since e. l.. Wentz, the young
Philadelphia millionaire, mysteriously
disappeared in the mountains Of Wise
county, w. Va, and notwithstanding
a party Of 1000 men have been scour-
ing the mountains fer five days no
clew has been gained as to what be-
came of him. The missing mans
brother D. l.. Went2, has increased
the reward for the finding Of the
young man from $4,000 to s25. GOO pro-
vided he is returned alive. The reward,
if the young man should be found dead,
is $4,000.
Tho 1000 men who work in the
mines, the coke ovens and the blast
furnaces on the Wentz estate are still
searching in the mountains, but their
search has become one for the body
OF the young man. Few entertain the
belief that he stul lives. The most
probable explanation of his disappear
ance is that he was held up in the
depths OF the forest by mountaineers
who had a grudge against him, muir
dered, and his body hidden in one Of
the numerous sink holes of the hills.
Young Wentz had many bitter enemies
by driving sqhattefs off the estate and
by his war on chestnut pickers who
cut down his trees. The theory that he
may be held for ransom is not believed
to be tenable. The mountaineers of
this section are given to vengeance,
but not TO brigandage. Il is thought
that the fate of Wentz will remain a
mystery and that his body will never
be found
e /. Wentz Is the general manager
OF the Virginia Coal and Iron Com
pany which Is the owner of about
100000 acres of coal lands in south
western Virginia. near Big Stone Gap.
Tho property is mostly covered with
forest and is very sparsely populated.
The company employs a number of
land agents to prevent the cutting of
timber and other trespasses, and Mr..
Wentz has been in the habit of visit
ing them from time to time and of rid
ing over the property in their com
pany
on Wednesday last ne left his home
at Big Stone Gap to visit one Of his
men, and was last seen in Kellyview,
which is about four miles from Appa-
lachia, station on the Louisville and
Nashville Railroad, and is on a we'll
travelled public road leading to Wise,
the county seat Of Wise county, Va.
Late that evening his horse returned
to Kellyview. The officers Of the com
pany we're notified by telephone. and
search was at once instituted. AS he
had not been found by the next morn
ing the entire f0rce Of the company
was set to wos shnd the search prose
cuted in every direction. AS yet nc
trace of him has been found.
When the young mans horse re
turned riderless, Wentz's coat was
tied to the saddle, and the bride reins
were hitohed to the saddle horn.
Charles Wax, to whose home Wentz
had intended to go did not see him
d. B. Wentz. who lives at Big Stone
Gap, has offered a reward of $500 for
tho recovery of his brother. alive or
dead
The suggestion that he might have
fallen or been thrown into a sink hole
must have originated with SOME one
not familiar with the locality. There
are no such caves there as are some
times found In limestone regions. and
the mining operations have been con
Quoted above water level. so that there
Is no place of concealment excepting
some ravine in the mountains. which
are in many places steep and precipi
tous. It is thus a case of utterly
mysterious disappearance, which can
not be explained or accounted for by
any known facts or conditions