The Washington herald., 1908-06-22
Deep and Dark Mystery OF
Virginia Hill.
DANGER SPOT FOR TOURISTS
No One Who Has Ever Ventured 10
Explore It's Dark Recesses Has
Come Bnck TO Tell the stOry-Even
Revenue Officers Swallowed Up by
the Ghost of Roaring Creek.
-ial 10 The Washington Herald.

Richmond. Va. June 2O.-Within less
than half a century many persons have
been swallowed up in the deep ravines
Of Black Mountain. in Wise County. Va.
never 10 be found again.
The old mountain. with its somber,
frowning front, true 70 the Significance Of
its name. carries many strange secrets
locked in its bosom. Men have ridden
into its shadows in the flush OF manhood.
the eternal gates Of silence closing noise
lessly behind them.
The region is Inhabited by mountain
people who are a law unto themselves.
Few men have ever ventured alone into
the mountain and come back TO tell the
tale. The history Of each new disappear
ance goes down 10 the legend Of the
region as another weird tale TO be told
as 20 what became Of those who disap-
peared, and the manner or reason Of
death OF those whose bodies have been
recovered is as uncertain as the other
secrets Of the great black pile
Disappearance of millionaire.
4A4p - AANA az buh4AN A4ALW 44AAAD VI lAAD
mysterious incidents associated with this
wild section Of the country until the
sudden disappearance Of Edward Lessen
ring Wentz, the young Philadelphia
millionaire. who rode away from his
home at Big Stone Gap on his favorite
pony on the morning OF October a. 1894,
never 10 return.
on the evening OF that day the horse
ridden by Wentz. riderless but with
bride and saddle stu on. was found
IN the ford OF POwelvs River. not far
from Roaring Fork, the spot from which
several other men had disappeared before
the day Of the millionaire.
Hundreds Joined in Search.
For weeks hundreds OF men secured the
mountains. hcnting through every ravine
and every cave for some trace Of the lost
man. The impression gained credence
that Weutz had been klpnapped-suppos-
edly for the purpose Of holding him for
ransom. This led 10 the Offering OF a re-
ward OF $500 for his recovery alive.
Stimulated by the offer OF the reward.
hundreds OF bold men Joined in the
search. Five months after the search had
been abandoned a moUltaIneer unexpect-
edly came upon the body Of Wentz lying
in a lonely spot among the fallen trees.
The flesh had rotted from the bones. and
some OF the teeth had fallen from the
mouth. The head of the man lay upon
one OF the fallen trees. The mystery was
in a manner cleared by the finding OF the
body. The theory that the young mil
liOnaiTe had committed suicide was ad-
vanced. Eternity alone VIII clear entirely
this mystery OF the mountains.
Whole Country Interested.
The disappearance OF Wentz was flashed
over the wires TO all parts Of the country.
The mysteries shrouding Black Noun
tain. which lies on the border between
Virginia and Kentucky, became a matter
Of great public interest The daily papers
carried columns OF well-written theory
attempting TO explain in some plausible
manner the means and the cause Of the
death OF Wentz But the secret lay hid
den in the recesses Of the rocky hills, and
there were none so bold as 10 go and look
for f. The history Of the Wentz case
brought forth many other grewsome sto-
ries OF that region. i became known
that in the course Of the years half a
dozen or more men had disappeared from
approximately the same spot from which
Wentz disappeared. OF these the body OF
Wentz was the only body recovered.
What became of the others will prob
ably never BE- known. All Of the sup
posed victims OF the mountains had ven
tured into the wild region where the mad
waters Of Roaring Greek leap and pitch
down the rugged mountain ravine. over
. -f- 70 fref Tho frrfnf
stream known as Powells River. OF all OF
the men who have disappeared from time
10 time for half a century under the
shadow Of the great mountain OF mystery.
the bleaching bones Of Wentz alone were
left TO tell portion OF the sorry tale.
The Gearhnrt Mystery.
A mysterious disappearance next pre-
ceding that of Wentz was when James b
Gearhart. a Bristol insurance man. vent
ured into the mountain fastness. The
disappearance Of Gearhart is as much a
mystery now as when searchers were
peering fearfully into the ravines after
his body. He left at his lodging quarter;
in Bristol a valuable library. a wardrobe
full Of clothing. and other personal prop
erty. These effects have remained un-
claimed 20 this day.
Gearhart left Bristol for a ten-day
trip through the mining regions in the
pursuance Of his business. He left the
hotel at Appalachia one mdrning for a
trip into the surrounding country He
took the road which led by the way OF
Roaring Fork and the mysterious spot
near the ford in Powell's River.
That was the last ever seen OF Gear
hart. Inquiry has been made In every
part Of the country. but no trace has
ever been found Of the missing man.
Went TO His Lonely Death.
Former Congressman James b. Rich
mond. Of Gate City. relates that this spot
in Black Mountain holds a parallel 20
the Wentz and Gearhart cases. The oc-
currence in question took place Just prior
TO the civil war. Two men were searching
for a herd of lost cattle In the wilds of
the mountain region. When they came
TO the fatal spot near the mouth Of Roar
ing Fork they dismounted and hitched
their horses in order 10 reach on foot
points inaccessible when mounted.
They separated at the gorge. taking
separate ridges in the ascent. having
agreed TO return and meet at the mouth
of the gorge within a specified time.
Only one Of these men ever followed
the backward trail. He waited in vain
and called repeatedly TO his companion.
Finally. as the shades Of night began
20 fall, ne mounted and rode away from
the lonely spot alone. Search was made
for the missing man Immediately there
after. From that day TO this-and in the
meantime many other men have walked
out OF the world Of men through the
same rocky gorge-nO trace Of him has
ever been discovered.
Revenue Officers Lost, Too.
A party of revenue officers. whose names
have been lost in the course Of years