The Wasp, 1918 · page 153 of 330
The Wasp — 1918 — page 153: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page appears to be from a serialized narrative rather than a political cartoon. It's a literary passage describing events aboard a ship—specifically the takeover of the brig *Good Cheer* by escaped convicts and prisoners. The text recounts how John Trimmer, a prisoner, led a mutiny: he freed fellow inmates, overpowered the officers, and was elected captain by the survivors. His co-conspirators—Dodd (an ex-highwayman) and Slim Sam (a pickpocket)—were promoted to first and second mate respectively. The passage notes that many of the prisoners died during heavy weather following the mutiny. Without seeing illustrations or knowing *The Wasp's* publication date, the satirical intent is unclear, though the narrative's focus on criminals assuming command of a legitimate vessel may be social commentary. The detailed descriptions of the anchored schooner suggest this is part of a longer fictional story serialized in the magazine.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
144 THE WASP The white schooner lay in a deep, narrow | pocket hemmed in by tangled forests. The | entrance to this haven was not more than twenty | - yards across, but it widened within to a width of close upon eighty yards. Here was sea-room in which to swing the schooner around with the — ‘help of the boats. She lay now at the back of the basin, with her nose toward the entrance, | moored by two lines. Awnings of old sails shaded the decks. Trimmer showed Burnham over the schooner, then told his story. He had slipped his shackles, — fréed his companions in misery, and over- powered the officers and crew of the brig Good Cheer, as we know. The life of the third mate 4 had been spared because none of the jail-birds _ knew navigation. The brig made heavy yeathe throwgHoue the week immediately followingher change ofmasters. A score of the miserable beings sickened and died and were thrown into the sea. The survivors | of the desperate and deplorable company elected 4 John Trimmer to the post of captain; Dodd, ~ another ex-highwayman, to the berth of first © mate; and a pickpocket called Slim Sam to | the honourable position of second officer. The — former third mate kept his old berth and |