The Wasp, 1918 · page 180 of 330
The Wasp — 1918 — page 180: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page appears to be from a **serialized fictional narrative** rather than a political cartoon or satire. It describes a pirate raid on a merchant vessel called the *Polly*, commanded by "Captain Trimmer." The text recounts the plunder: gold coins worth 2,000 guineas, jewels, silks, and silver discovered hidden in the ship's berth. The *Polly* was found in poor condition—low provisions, foul water, no gunpowder—but her hold contained valuable merchandise. Trimmer transfers the valuables and recruits to his own schooner, then scuttles the captured ship. **The satire's target remains unclear** from this excerpt alone. Without seeing accompanying illustrations or earlier context, it's impossible to identify whether this narrative mocks specific political figures, contemporary piracy debates, or naval policy. The story may be allegorical social commentary disguised as adventure fiction—a common *Wasp* technique—but the specific references are not visible here.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
THE WASP 171 a number of profitable captures since his last trip ashore for the purpose of caching his plunder. English, Spanish, and French gold coins to the value of two thousand guineas were found beneath the decking of the late commander’s berth. Silks, set and unset jewels, and a sack of silver coins were found in the same hiding- place. _ On the other hand, the provisions were low, the water was foul in the casks, and the last grain of gunpowder vanished. The hold was more than half filled with a jumble of all manner of merchandise. After a thorough overhauling of the Polly, Trimmer put back to his own schooner with the woman and her personal belongings, the jewels, - and the little bags of gold coins. The silver, some useful pistols and cutlasses, and several boat-loads of general merchandise followed in the transfer from schooner to schooner. Then the Polly was scuttled. This affair had reduced the white schooner’s company from forty-six to twenty-seven, includ- ing the wounded; but three of the Spanish sailors from the valiant brig had expressed their willingness to enlist with Captain Trimmer and were being held under consideration. These, comichooks.com