The Wasp, 1918 · page 264 of 330
The Wasp — 1918 — page 264: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page contains literary text rather than a cartoon. It's an excerpt from a serialized adventure narrative involving naval conflict, likely from the late 19th century. The passage describes a tactical plan by **James Burnham** to capture a white schooner by luring out "John" (apparently a rival captain). Burnham plans to provoke a confrontation, declare Trimmer's treachery, then attack with hidden explosives and armed followers. **Captain Smith** of the brig *Virtue* examines an approaching French trading-schooner through his telescope, unaware of danger. The text suggests this is from a serialized adventure story with naval/pirate themes. Without seeing the full narrative context or publication date clearly stated, the specific historical events or figures being satirized remain unclear. The melodramatic tone and emphasis on violence and treachery suggests satirical commentary on adventure fiction conventions rather than contemporary politics.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
7 ee eee ee ee Se ee ee ae ee THE WASP 255° Out John would come, unable to resist so easy a prize, and lay the white schooner alongside without loss of time or ammunition. He knew John’s way of dealing with an easy proposition. Then, even while the boarders were coming . up the brig’s side, he would declare himself and proclaim Trimmer’s treachery. Should this fail to excite a demonstration on his behalf aboard the white schooner, and he vowed that ‘it would not fail utterly, then the hidden bombs and grenades would be thrown over the brig’s rail upon the schooner’s deck, and in the ensuing confusion, and consternation he would follow the explosives with the heroic ten and the New England recruits at his back. Perhaps James Burnham’s reasoning powers carried his argument ; but it is more likely that his reputation for courage and success, assisted by a craving for bloodshed in every one of those dread hearts, brought his ten followers to his view. The brig Virtue was a slow sailer, blunt of build and foul of bottom. Captain Smith examined the shabby little fore-and-after through his glass and felt no premonition of disaster. An ordin- ary French interisland trading-schooner was all he saw, with three ragged fellows on her narrow | deck, a chicken-coop lashed at the foot of the comichooks.com