The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1906-06-21
TRIP VAIN Wrinkle
ARRIVES RI: YES IN. In TOWN N.
Like His Predecessor, Walks the
Streets, "a Stranger and
Unknown.
HE is CAPTAIN w. c. FLEET
Comes Back to Richmond to See
His Friends After A # y Thirty
Years Absence.
HE is CAPTAIN w. C. FLEET

Rip Van Wrinkle, No 2, arrived in
Richmond and like his famous progenltor
appears a stranger and unknown. He
walked the streets looking Tor some well
come sign of the years agone. and for
some familiar face, but other generations
had sprung up, and the generation he
had known when Richmond was still
Towering in her youth Ind gone to, rest
tw It'll their forgotten. fathers. The friends
OF other days who were still left gazed
at him askance as he trodA the weary
streets, where he had once been wont to
stop and parley with his friends, and he
passed on, as one who remembers but Is
himself forgot.
Fortunately, however, ct last some one
recognized a certain tWlnl1ing In the
eyes, some half forgotten tone in his
voice. and a hand clasp soon bridged the
lapse of thirty years. It seemed like
home then, and the: stranger was taken
across once familiar threshold and made
to sit by friendly ingle.l III
Left Thirty Years Ago.
Il The Rip Van Wrinkle OF, this story IL
Captain Nyilllam Ct ristophers FL Get, who
left Richmond thirty years ago and went
to Palestine. Tex, where he has resided
all these years. This was the first visit
10 tne SCellc u ms yOuti6 A1A11iAoo'A' t1u
glad he was to run across q friend Of
those other years. 81.
He was met ly DIR. George B. Steel,
his brother-in-law. Of No. 400 East Main
Street where he is now staying.
II, Captain Fleet Is the son OF the late
Captain James Robert Fleet, and was
born and reared z In King md Queen
county. He&is a nephew!of Colonel Alex
$ander Fleet, who for many years, in we
o.luen time, .represeintydH HIS native 1eoun-
ty in the Legislature. His mother was
% sister Of the venerable DR.. Robert Rys
land, the first president OF Richmond
College, and Dr.. Charles H. Ryland, the
secretary and treasurer Of Richmond Co.'s
3lege for thirty-four years, is his first
cousin. Captain Fleet Is related to- all
the Fleets, Rylnnds, Bagbys and Polards.
Ri Captain Fleet served with distinction
through the war. between the States. see
ing service in the battles of Seven Pines,
sharpsburg, Fredericksburg, gettysburg,
and many Others. He was
captain Of the battery raised !inl MID le-
sex county.a battery tlatsserFed with
Captain William Pegram's aina Field s. bri--ss
gade. and in General q. q. X. f1ill's dlvi-
sion. sii.s
u He lived short time in Richmond, on
Clay Street, thirty years ago, and then
went to Palestine. Texas, where he Is
engaged in the furniture business. I
But Nine Were Left.
Captain Fleet visited in Middlesex coun-
ty last week. and on last Sunday went
to his old church. He walked in, per-
feet stranger; ,none5 knew him, nor did
he remember any one himself.St 5lli
After making himself known he met
only eight friends who were leftaof all
he had known and loved in the days Of
his youth. He also visited IN King and
Queen county, and then paid g visit to
his brother. Mr.. Ryland Fleet, the post
master in Ashland S35 III si4
Captain Fleet Is In his seventy-tlrst
year. but is still hale and hearty, and
walks and speaks with the Syigor Of many
OF far fewer years. His wife is the
o Il Mr. James EC .nsCrane,
who was prominently Known In z Rich
mond many years ago, and the daughter
Of Mr.. David Crane, wholwas also we'll
known ini Richmond In his lifetime. and
Is still Remembered by many.
He will Ereturn to his home on Friday,
but says that he will be here again next
year with the members Of the John H.
Regan Camp OF Confederate Veterans, of
Palestine who are making large prepare
tons to be present at the grand reunion
Of the veterans In 1907.