The Wasp, 1918 · page 223 of 330
The Wasp — 1918 — page 223: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page is **text only** — a passage from what appears to be a serialized adventure narrative, not a political cartoon or satirical comic. It describes naval action involving ships named the *Wasp* and the *Tartar* during what seems to be a Caribbean conflict. The passage recounts a chase and battle between Major Deck's schooner and the *Tartar*, with the *Wasp* acquiring a fearsome reputation for speed. The *Tartar* successfully engages Deck in combat and returns to Nevis with prisoners ("material for a score of hangings"). **Without additional context**, it's unclear if this is historical fiction, satire of actual events, or purely imaginative. The colonial Caribbean setting and military figures suggest this may reference real naval conflicts, but the specific historical moment is not apparent from this excerpt alone. The dramatic, breathless prose style is typical of period adventure fiction rather than political satire.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
_ XIv Tae white schooner’s reputation soon by leaps 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 seriously wounded in the neck while boarding Deck’s schooner, was carried — 214 icomicbooks:com) |