The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1904-02-14
MYSTERIOUS Disappearances.

The disnppearnnce in Ocober last Of Ed
ward Il. Wentz from the neighbor1hoodd
Of Big Stone Gap, Va, never has been
cleared up. He was a millionaire and
had been conducting large mining enter
prlses UP to tho day when he mounted
his horse to ride few miles OH business es's
rho belief Of his family seems to be
that te was murdered and that his body
was burned or consumed in q coke oven.
But proof Of this Is lacking. 55t
Now we are told that the missing mans
brother and other members of the family
have turned tho Wentz property over to
a manager and have gone to their Old
homo in Philadelphia, where they VIII
live in future. 1t is said that this nctios
has been taxed at the desire Of the miss
ing mans mother, who feels uneasy
whilst members of her family live IN the
neighborhood whore her son Edward
lived and died, rs is generally believed.
The Wentz family probably have more
Information on this subject than the pub
lie has, but from what we have seen
published, we think It not impossible that
Edward Nventz is yet alive; certainly
there is absence Of conclusive evidence
that he is dead. 4
Cases are OF frequent occurrence where
men who have been given up as lost,
years afterwards reappear at their homes.
In Virginia there have been several re-
markable cases in the past few years.
Fifteen or twenty years ago there WIS
all instance Of young man Of well
known Z family, whose homo possessed
every attribute Of luxury and happiness,
who without any cause justifying such
action disappeared and remained lost 10
his familp for about seven years. All
that time he was never heard from. BY
some Of the household he was mourned
as dead; others, however. insisted that
he was alive and would return: and SO
he did. ss{ tiaf 1
What his reasons were for inflict!ng
such distress upon his parents wo never
heard, If, indeed, he gave any. ~
Similar cases are of record in every
part OF the country. and unaccountao bic
! as tile Rdisappearance .ot young Wentz Is,
It has had its analogue time and again
in other States.
IT seems curious that sane man should
without good cause wish to pursue such
course. but, as We have said, 1T has been
| done over and Oft Men who were ap-
parcntly content in their homes and
homes and who had unstlnted means,
have taken it into their heads to leave
in a night and be seen no more for years.
In some cases they have been found, Will
| ing afterwards to give explanations or
their action; in other cases they have
been dumb as to the motives that inspired
| them. sg.. ne,
AS a matter of fact. sometimes the man
i is n silly sensational monger: at other
! times he is possessed Of a vagary, which
he cannot overcome; at other times he
4 has a secret hidden from the world, ind
some men have been too proud" to re-
trace their foolish course though they
regretted It. But If there could BIO any
reliable statistics on the subject It Is
fairly certain they would show that mos
4 people who "mystorlously dlsap come
TO no harm, though they bring boundess
4 trouble upon others.
We do not undertake to say that youns
4 Wcntz belongs to any ono OF these
lassesA-nevertheless we hope he may b
alive, and that he will soon return and II
good health.