Waterbury evening Democrat., 1903-11-06
MILLIONAIRE VENTZ ALIVE
Virginia Bandits Are Holding
 Him for Ransom

The Man Disappeared Last August
 and His Friends Thought Him
 Dead-B Bandits Want $1Oo,OOO-Let-
 ter Received From the Missing
 Man Asking That It Be Paid.
 Richmond. Va, Nov 6.--Heid fol $100,o00 ransom by kidnapersy in the widest part of a the Glrginia Ale ghanies, Edward IL. Wentz, the young Philadelphia millionaire who disap. peared after starting to ride across his big estate in that region three months ago is as helpless a captive as if ab. ducted by the widest tribe of modern India or Europe of the middle ages.
 The story of his seizure and conceal. ment fs confirmed by no less an au. thority than Representative Campbell Slemp, who has shown laTge interest in the search for the missing mine owner. The source of the lawmakers Information is not made clear.
 Young Wentz is in the hands of his abductors in the mountains of south west Virginia and is being held for the amount above mentioned, and it is the general opinion that it will be difficult if not impossible to restore the wealthy Philadelphian to his friends without payment of the ransom in full
 Alarming as the news is, in sense adelphia conveyed the information that J. s. Wentz, father of the vanished millionaire; D. B. Wentz, the young mans elder brother, and other mem bers of the family were narrowed by the growing conviction that Edward Wentz was dead-that he either had fallen victim to the hatred of the mountaineers he had banished from the Wentz estate or had stumbled into one of the hundreds of sink holes and natural caverns in the lAg hills. That he Is held for ransom, therefore, at least is an acknowledgements of his con tinued existence and, though fears for his life are held by friends here and in the Big Stone Gap lSoking for the capitalist, they now reaew the search with higher hearts and have fresh hope of seeing him alive again.
 
 Story of Strange Disappearance. Edward Wentz, who is thirty-three years old, left Big Stone Gap on Aug. IA on horseback, bound for the home of Charles Wax on Black mountain He dismounted a little way outside that town to help widow save her chil- dren and chatteIs from blazing hut and the last seen of him by dwellers in those parts was when he, rode by a country shop at the mountains foot.
 A mountain lad several hours later found his horse grazing beside the road. The bride had been tied so the animal could wander swithoutA getting caught in the reins. Wentz's. coat was strapped to the saddle The sheriff soon after organized a posse and start ed to find the young man, but after 8 determined effort concluded the task was hopeless.
 A sum almost as large as the ransom demanded has been spent in the search by the Virginia. Coal and Iron c0mpa ny, in which the Wentz family holds $ controlling interest, and by tho Wentzes directly.
 A letter has just been received from Wentz addressed to his parents, il which he states that he is we'll an6 asks that the ransom of $100.000 de manded tby his captors be at once pait so that he can get his freedom.
 A strange, well dressed man ap peared at Big Stone Gap last Friday and inquired for the Wentz offices, tt which he was directed, and there haC talk with Dr. John s. Wentz, tht father of the missing man, D. R Wentz, and the chief detective under whose directions the great search was being carried on in the mountains ot southwest Virginia and eastern Ken lucky. The strange man told then that Fl. l.. Wentz was still alive, ant that for S1O0,000 he would be deliv. cred to his family.
 Dr Wentz informed him that if he would bring back letter from his sor or some evidence that his son was stil alive he would then consider the pro position.
 The man said he would do so, anc that night left on Louisville X Nash ville train for Esserville, Va. iron which place he went into Stony noun tain.
 The stranger has just returned tt Big Stone Gap bringing a letter from young Wentz, who. in his own hand writing, assures his family that he is alive, is being held captive, -and asks that they at once pay the ransom ant effect his release.
 J. c. Wentz left here last night fol Philadelphia,
 When the negotiations are to bt completed and Edward l.. Wentz re stored to his family cannot now bt told. but it Is known that he is stil alive and that negotiations for his re lease are being made.