Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-06-21

. the recovery of their son dead or alive.
The search was begun anew and an army
Of men kept it up for month, but 1t was
fruitless. Many theories We're advanced.
some of which seemed plausible, but
most of them We're quickly exploded The
detectives who were called TO work on the
case were completely nonplused as the
mystery deepened. They succeeded in
tracing Wentz several miles into the
mountains, but he had disappeared. ap-
parently as completely as If the earth
had swallowed him up.
Search for Wentz Abandoned.
Finally the search was abandoned. the
Wentz family returning to Pennsylvania.
1t remained for poor mountain cattle
driver. eight months later, to stumble
over the body of the young millionaire in
the fastness of the Black mountains. while
driving COWS one Sunday afternoon. The
offer of the reward had not been with
drawn and he received the amount prof
fered The find caused great sensation
and hundreds of persons hurried to the
scene. Dozens of members of the search
ing parties of months before recalled dis
tinctly of having passed over the spot
where the body was found
The body of the young millionaire was
riddled with bullets. a pair of eyeglasses.
intact. worn by the young man. were
found ten feet from the body. A revolver
was found. suggesting suicide, but not
chamber was empty. This deepened the
mystery. The shots had been fired. ac-
cording to experts who examined the
body, in such a manner as 1t would have
been practically impossible for him to
have committed suicide. The circum-
stances indicated suicide. however though
there were strong reasons to believe that
he had been murdered.
A few weeks after his disappearance.
and before the body was found. sensa-
ton was sprung when the Will OF young
Wentz, executed some months before he
left home was offered for probate In
Wise county 1t contained provision
beoueathing nearly all of his large estate
TO a Miss Brookmre of st. Louis, beau
tiful society girl Of that city. to whom,
it is said, he was engaged and about to
be married.
This recalled the fact that during the
excitement attending the young mans
disappearance and few days afterWaro
beautiful young woman arrived at Big
Stone Gap and took great interest in the
case. She refused to reveal her identity
and all efforts to discover her interest
were vain.
Insurance Man Disappears.
Soon after VENTS body was found ].
B. Gearhart. a prominent insurance man
Of Bristol, went to Wise county. Va.
and left Big Stone Gap in vehicle for a
trip through the mysterious Black noun
tains This was the last that was ever
heard Of him. and he disappeared as COM
pletely as II the earth had swallowed
him up A search was instituted. but re-
vealed no clue that might solve the mys-
terry His relatives have never heard OF
him. and no one has returned to Bristol
to claim his handsome library and large
amount of other, personal property. The
theory advanced was that he was robbed
and murdered by the moonshiners that
infest that section and his body buried or
disposed of in some manner.
About one year ago Walter Kent.
young man twenty-five years old, en-
ployed as a civil engineer and a member
of surveying corps engaged in locating
line of railroad through Wise county.
Va, suddenly disappeared within few
miles of the spot where VENTS body was
found.
1t was late one afternoon when he left
the camp in the mountains He had just
received his salary check Of $50 for his
months work and had this amount in
cash He left saying that he was going
up the mountain about mile TO pay his
washerwoman and would return before
dark.
Night came and he did not return. The
next morning did not see him at the
camp, and his friends became alarmed