The Wasp, 1913 · page 186 of 364
The Wasp — 1913 — page 186: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This appears to be a literary excerpt rather than a political cartoon. The text is narrative prose depicting sailors spotting two damaged vessels at sea. The characters—Trimmer, Captain, and James Burnham—discuss what appears to be an opportunity to "reap the harvest" from these crippled ships, with mention of "Hellfire Hicks," suggesting piracy or salvage of wrecked vessels. The passage uses period nautical dialect ("d'ye," "blister me") and implies opportunistic maritime predation. Without additional context about *The Wasp's* publication date or the full story, the specific satirical target remains unclear—though the tone suggests commentary on maritime lawlessness or unethical salvage practices. The page number (181) indicates this is mid-story, making isolated interpretation difficult.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
THE WASP 181 Trimmer’s hand lifted from the other’s shoulder and pointed into the gray ahead. He uttered a vol- ley of oaths which, though they fairly blistered the air, were intended to express satisfaction and as- tonishment. Burnham peered in the direction indi- cated and saw a something, a vague shape, in the gloom of sea and sky. “A schooner!” exclaimed the captain. “And crippled, too! Beaten off, as I live! Then where’s the trader? There she lays; d’ye see her? Both crippled. And here are we, Master Burnham, to reap the harvest, like the good farmers we are. Blister me, it’s a case I’ve dreamed of, but never hoped to see! And who'll it be, now? Hellfire Hicks, d’ye think? I'll tell ye in two or three min- utes. The light grows fast.” He slapped Burnham on the back and hurried aft in high spirits. The light flooded swiftly out of the east, and James Burnham saw two vessels rocking on the little gray seas not half a mile away from the schooner and within two hundred yards of each Comichooks.com