The evening world., 1903-11-06
100000 RANSOM
FOR FL. VENT
Bandits Demand that Sum to
Release Abducted Millionaire,
Who Is Now Their Prisoner in
the Mountains of Virginia.

|
BRISTOL. Tenn. Nov. cit Is now
known that Edward l.. Wentz. tho miss
ing son of the Pennsylvania millionaire.
has been kidnapped and is being held
for $780, 900 ransom.
A letter has been forwarded from tho
missing man to his father In which he
asks hat the ransom be paid.
The story Of the Kidnapping of wentz
reads like a romance OF medieval
Europe or modern Bulgaria. that such
a crime could be carried to a successful
issue in this country seems beyond be-
lief, and yet the relatives of the missing
man are preparing to pay the ransom.
and will undoubtedly agree to the stipu-
lations OF the kidnappers that no at
tempt to arrest then. shall be made or
ahv pursuit organized after the ransom
Is paid.
Edward L Vents made man enemies
among the rough mountaineers who
formerly lived on The big estate in the
Virginia ~Alleghanies which he governed
for the Virginia Coal and Iron Com
par He was firm IN his attitude
against trespasseds, and many threats
against his life were made,
II was at first thought that he had
been murdered. and the relief his rcia-
tives feel in knowing that he is alive
coounts In a great measure for their
willingness to pay the itansom de-
manded.
Rode on on horseback.
On Aug. II Edward Wentz left his
place al Big Stone Gap OF horseback.
He was bound for the home OF Charles
Wax, n mine superintendent. who lives
on Black Mountain. After leaving town
he dismounted to help a poor woman
save her children and household effects
from her burning cottage. The last
seen OF him was when he o by a
country shop at the foot OF the noun
tain.
Several hours later his horse was
found grazing on the road by a noun
tain boy. The bride had been tied up
so the horse would not step on 1t. ana
the missing mans coat was tied to the
saddle.
1t was thought that Wentz had eithor
hen killed or hat he had fallen into
one OF the many deep holes or a
doned mines In the mountains.
The Sheriff organized posses and the
Virginia Coal and Iron Company sent
squads OF men from the mines to searoh
for the missing man and hardly n foot
OF the mountain was left UNEMPLOYED.
The underbrush was beaten, the rivers
and lakes were dragged and tested with
dynamite. and men clambered In and out
of every hole known on the mountains,
but without finding a trace OF the MISS
Ing man.
KidnnpPer Appears.
Finally. after weeks OF painful sus-
pense on the part of the relatives and
friends. a well-dressed man rode into
Big Stone Gap. and inquired for the
Wentz offices. There he met DR.. John
s. Wentz. D.. B. wentz. and the chief
DIGESTIVE under whose direction the
search a been made
The stranger refused to give any
name. but assured the wentzes that Ed
ward L. wentz was alive and would
be returned to his family unframed for
800. 900.
DR.. WentZ Informed the stranger that
If he would bring back n letter from
his son. showing he was still alive. the
proposition for ransom would then be
considered. The stranger promised 10
do SO. and that night left on n Louis
Vile n Nashville train tor EsservilIe,
Va. At Esserville he secured n horse
and rode of into the recesses of Stony
Mountain. An attempt to follow him or
find the missing man In the mountain
proved futile, and now the stranger
has returned to Big Stone Gap with a
letter from Edward L. Wentz asking
that the ransom be paid.
Representative Slemp. who represents
the Ninth District in Congress and who
is a bigger man in the eyes of the
rough, uncouth mountaineers thar the
President. has confirmed the story of
the letter and the ransom. 1t is be-
lieved that he has been told the story
OF the kidnapping, but fears to reveal
all he knows because to DO so might
imperl the captive's life.
AL that is positively known Is that
Wentz Is held captive in the mountains
Of Southwest Virginia,