The Wasp, 1913 · page 50 of 364
The Wasp — 1913 — page 50: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page presents narrative fiction rather than political satire or cartooning. It depicts a confrontation between James Burnham (described as a "castaway" and "New Englander") and an unnamed shipmaster aboard a vessel. The scene involves Burnham politely requesting tobacco and information about his berth from a lounging shipmaster with a pipe. The shipmaster responds with "rattling oaths" and physical aggression, attacking Burnham at the throat. Burnham defensively sidesteps and kicks the man into the starboard rail, then evades a second attack. The passage appears to be serialized adventure or maritime fiction—a narrative story rather than editorial commentary or visual satire. Without additional context about the publication date, *The Wasp's* editorial stance, or who Burnham represents (if anyone), the specific satirical target remains unclear. The page number (49) suggests this is mid-story continuation.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
III We night fell James Burnham felt suf- ficiently revived in body and spirit to as- sert himself. He ascended the short ladder which led to the circumscribed poop-deck and accosted the shipmaster, who was lounging against the larboard rail with a pipe between his teeth. “T find you remiss in hospitality, and must ask you for tobacco, a pipe in which to smoke it, and some definite information as to the whereabouts of my berth,” he said coolly. A string of rattling oaths flew from the shipmas- ter, and he sprang from the support of the low rail straight at Burnham’s throat. The castaway stepped nimbly aside and shot out his right foot, and the New Englander stumbled across the narrow deck and came in sharp contact with the starboard rail. He turned, however, quick as a cat, and sprang again at the friendless castaway. Again Burnham 49 Comichooks.com