The Wasp, 1913 · page 312 of 364
The Wasp — 1913 — page 312: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page contains narrative text rather than a cartoon. It appears to be from a serialized story in *The Wasp* magazine describing a pirate or naval adventure. The passage recounts a meeting where a character named Burnham proposes a risky venture to his crew. Having already won an easy victory (explained by Welsh Owen), Burnham now argues for returning to "Trimmer's harbor" to fight approximately 100 shore-based opponents for treasure allegedly hidden in the jungle and stored aboard a captured schooner. The text emphasizes the treasure's value ("rich as lords") against the dangers ("risk of their ship and their lives"), presenting a classic risk-versus-reward scenario. Without seeing the actual illustrations, we cannot determine if this is satirizing real historical figures, contemporary politicians, or serving as pure adventure fiction. The magazine's satirical nature suggests potential political allegory, but the text alone doesn't clarify the specific targets or commentary.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
THE WASP 305 Welsh Owen explained Burnham’s easy victory by telling of the hideous state of affairs in the har- bor. James heard him with interest, then told his own story briefly. The dead were thrown over- board, and the schooner’s decks were washed. Pro- visions were transferred from the brig to the schooner, after which the Virtue was scuttled. There was treasure aboard the schooner, but there was more treasure hidden in the jungles be- hind the harbor. The schooner’s company num- bered twenty. The population of the harbor, such as it was, must have numbered close upon one hundred. Burnham called a meeting of his followers and explained the condition of things ashore. He told them that the schooner was fit for sea, with stores. and fresh water enough for the needs of her small company and gold and silver in the lazarettos. He was ready to sail to three other places where treas- ure was stored. They would all be rich as lords. Was it worth the risk of their ship and their lives, he asked them, to reénter Trimmer’s harbor and fight with the hundred ashore for a few thou- Comichooks.com