The Wasp, 1913 · page 251 of 364
The Wasp — 1913 — page 251: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page is **not a political cartoon** but rather **prose fiction**—specifically Chapter XIV from a serialized adventure novel appearing in *The Wasp* magazine. The text describes a naval chase narrative involving two vessels: the white schooner "Wasp" (feared as a "menace") and the "Tartar" (a pursuing ship). Characters include Major Deck, Commander Scovil, and Alexander Burnham. The passage recounts a maritime conflict where the *Tartar* captures the *Wasp*, returning to Nevis with prisoners destined for execution ("material for a score of hangings"). This appears to be **historical fiction**, possibly set during the Caribbean colonial period or a similar era of naval conflict. The page contains no visible editorial cartooning, caricature, or satire—it's simply serialized literary content with period page numbering (246).
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
XIV HE white schooner’s reputation grew by leaps ap and bounds. Seamen called her the Wasp and cursed her as they named her. The evil one was aboard her surely, for yesterday she was seen off St. Vincent and to-day she was reported off Martinique. Major Deck and Duval were not worth worrying about now that this white menace was darting from one end of that terror-stricken sea to the other at a speed that no mortal vessel could accomplish. The governor of Nevis and Commander Scovil believed only one-quarter of what they heard, but the Tartar got her anchor up again and sailed out on her third cruise. She had drawn blanks twice; but this time she drew Major Deck. A short fight followed a long chase. The Tartar put back to Nevis with the material for a score of hangings ironed in her hold and her own wounded in the cockpit. Alexander Burnham, who had been seri- ously wounded in the neck while boarding Deck’s 246 Comichooks.com