Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1915-07-25
CAPTAIN ROBERT WRIGHT,
PICTURESQUE VETERAN
Made Fourteen Trips Between Will
mington and Nassau In Block
adc Service.
MEMBER OF CONFEDERATE NAVY
Following Fall Of Fort Fisher Went
to Liverpool, and Received 10000
as His Share Of Vessels Cargo.
Loves Richmond, Adopted Home.

10 Liverpool, anu received = 10, 900
as His Share Of Vessels Cargo.
Loves Richmond. Adopted Home.
After serving throughout tho War
between the States as an engineer in
the Confcderatcs States navv CAPTAIN
Robert Wright went TO England fol-
lowing the fail Of Fort Fisher. and
there sold his share OF a cargo of cot
ton and Guininc for $4,000 in gold "A
booming Britisher told me that If
came BACK 10 America that the Yankees
would take the money from me. so
hidnt come back just them" was the
way Captain WITCH, explained Why he
cid not return forthwith to tho United
states. Instead, he remained I'm Liver
pool! bought out a small tobacco bust
ness and entered commercial life.
Captain Wright is .onc Of the most
picturesque figures in Richmond among
the veterans OF III. civil War Willie
Ia" years hay" wnitcn"d his bGU" Anti
ADDED droop TO his shoulders. tho pas
sax" OF tiuIe has no Whit dnm1ened
his enthusiasm nor his activity. At
sevcnty-nve he IL hale ana hearty. and
H. attributes his health TO III. days he
spent u sea dog.
Though Richmond is only his adopted
city. he nevertheless feels II keen in
toics, in it's welfare. Born in Norfolk
on April Is. .lStp. Bob Wright entered
Il private school there ut an early age.
Completing his studies. he became a
!rachinisis apprentice. which trade he
followed for three years. after which
hc devoted himself 10 the task Of b.irg
all apprentice TO "a marine engineer.
Vie successfully passe, III. required
~, linn st,.,g nh l.iL
as third assistant engineer. He en-
tered the service OF the Virginia
Steamship Company. plying between
Norfolk. New York and Richmond, and
he was aboard tn. side wheeler James
town when Virginia seeded from the
Union.
FINDS HIMSELF MEMBER
or "VIRGINIA NAVY"
That vessel was promptly seized by
the state, and then Captain Wright
found himself member OF the Viz
rinja navy" lie assisted in fitting out
the jamestown and Yorktown as ships
OF war. ard then returned 10 Norfolk
There ne assisted In fitting out the
McrrmaC, after which he entered the
Confederate navy, and was sent 10
Richmond aboard a tug. which success
fully ran the blockade being main
tanned at the mouth of the James River
by the Cumberland and Congress He
was then given his commission in the
Confederate navy as "a third assistant
engineer. and WAS ordered 10 Charles
ton :. -. 10 do work at the torpedo
station there.
III 1864 he saw his first submarine
IN Charleston harbor. HIS friend.
Charles Hasker. was the first man to
attempt TO take her below the surface;
and did so successfully, but the vessel
became ertangled in the torpedo net
OF Federal man-o'-War and was cap
turcd. Iiasker was held prisoner until
the close OF The war.
Captain Wright was then assigned
teen trips between Wilmington. y. c.;
Nassau and Bermuda.
When Fort Fisher surrendered. his
vessel went to Liverpool. carrying a
cargo OF quininc and cotton. AS an
officer OF the vessel. he was entitled
"a the profits derived from the sale
OF the cargo. and received $4,000
lie remained in England for two
years. believing that the Yankees
would take his money II he returned to
America He claimed an English
woman as his bride. who later accom-
panied him back 10 Norfolk. They
returned a few years later 10 Liver
vision.