The Wasp, 1913 · page 131 of 364
The Wasp — 1913 — page 131: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page introduces a pirate ship narrative for *The Wasp* magazine's readers. The text describes a new pirate vessel operating in the Caribbean near Nevis, distinguished by a white schooner flying a red flag bearing a broken leg-iron device—symbolizing liberation from slavery's chains. The pirate has already attacked shipping three times near Barbados and St. Lucia. The broken leg-iron flag is significant: it suggests this pirate targeted slave ships or vessels involved in slavery, positioning themselves as anti-slavery raiders rather than common criminals. The text's reference to "dreadful and brazen outrages against humanity" appears ironic given the flag's abolitionist symbolism—likely the magazine's commentary on who actually commits outrages (slavery itself) versus how authorities characterize resistance to it. Without seeing illustrations, the exact satirical angle remains unclear, but this appears to be documenting piracy with anti-slavery dimensions during the slavery era.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
ET 128 THE WASP Three weeks after the arrival of the frigate in Nevis, while the society of the little island was en- gaged with feastings, junketings, and flirtations, a small bark entered the harbor with a fine story to tell of recent high-sea outrages that had taken place to the southward. The master of the bark told his news to the governor of the island and the com- mander of the frigate. From his account it was evident that a new and exceedingly venturesome gentleman of fortune had set to work among the islands. This latest practitioner was not to be confounded with Major Deck, Hellfire Hicks, or Duval. He sailed a big, white schooner and flew a red flag emblazoned with a device that might be intended _ to represent a broken leg-iron. The schooner had already been named the Wasp by honest seafarers, because of the swiftness of her sting. She had already stung three times, to the sure knowledge of the master of the bark—once off Car- lisle Bay, in Barbados, and twice off St. Lucia. The dreadful and brazen outrages against humanity Comichooks.com