The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1903-11-06
The Wentz Family at Last Hears
from Son, Thought to Be
s
Dead.
Young Man Writes He Is Held Cap
tive Awaiting Payment Of
100000 Ransom.
The Family Is Enormously Wealthy
and the Amount Probably
Will Be Paid.
ssnv York Sun Special Service.


Briston, Tenn, Nov. 6.--EdWard. l..
wentz, the young Philadelphia mill
ionaire who mysteriously disappeared
from his fathers home at Big stone
Gap, Va, Oct. IA, is alive and cap
tive in the Cumberland mountains.
Yesterday the home that mas oeen
Swallowed with grief was made bright
bv q letter from him addressed to his
parents in which he states that he is
well and asks that the ransom OF
100000 demanded by his captors be
at once paid, 50 that he can get his
freedom.
A strange, we'll dressed man ap-
peared at Big Stone Gap last Friday
and inquired for the Wentz offices, to
Which he was directed, and there had
a talk with DR.. John S. Dentz, father
of the missing man, D. B. Wentz and
the chief detective under whose direc-
tons the search was being carried on
In the mountains of southwest Vir-
ginia and eastern Kentucky. The
strange man told them that Wentz
was still alive and for 100000 he
would be delivered to his home. DIR.
Wentz informed him that II he would
bring back a letter from his son or
some evidence that he was still alive
he would then consider the PROPOSE
ton. The man said he would do so
and that night left on a Louisville &
Nashville train for Esserville, Va,
from which place he went into Stony
Mountain.
y Letter Is Delivered.
Now hope has been given reaiiza-
ton by the return to Big Stone Gap
OF the stranger, bringing letter from
young Mr.. Wentz himself, who in his
own handwriting assures his father
that he is alive, is being held captive
and asks that they at once pay the
ransom and effect his release.
Members of the Wentz family are
endeavoring to keep the matter from
the public until Edward l.. Wentz is
restored to them. They are relieved
of the long suspense in which they
have been held for the last twenty
four days and in which they were
bowed with grief over the sudden and
mysterious disappearance of the son
and brother. at2.sis5ta
When the negotiations are TO be
completed and Edward L. Wentz re-
stored to his family cannot now be
told, but it is known that he is still
alive and that nego citations for his re-
lease are being made.
Lost October IA.
e. L. Wentz, the son of DIR. J. S.
WentZ, q. wealthy mine owner Of
Philadelphia, has been missing since
Oct. ID. Fifteen hundred employees
of the Virginia Coal and Iron COM
pany and many private detectives
have searched the mountains Of Vir-
gillia and Tennessee without finding
a trace. The aggregate of rewards is
$50. 900 The Wentz family an
nounced that it would spend $1,000
900 in the search. Young Mr.. Wentz
represented his father on the coal
property. The estate is large, and
it was his custom to take long rides
over the mountains. Frequently he
went alone, altho he had been warned
that his firm attitude toward tres
passers had made enemies for him
among the rough mountaineers.
On the day he disappeared, young
Mr.. Wentz left his stopping place tt
go tC the home of the mine superin.
tendent He went horseback and al
night the horse wandered home alone
The last seen Of the young man was
when he rode up the mountain side
from his fathers home at Big Stone
Gap. At first it was thought he hac
been murdered. Clothing known tt
have been his and stained with BLOOD
was found in the woods. Knowins
the enmity borne him by several mer
the murder report was at first gener
ally believed.
The young man has been reported
In many places since then.