The Wasp, 1918 · page 310 of 330
The Wasp — 1918 — page 310: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page contains no political cartoon or satire. It's a narrative passage from what appears to be a serialized historical fiction story in *The Wasp* magazine. The text describes Master Gunner Fitzwalter, a naval officer serving under Admiral John Benbow (a historical English naval commander). The passage emphasizes Fitzwalter's professional dedication: his meticulous appearance, his nurturing leadership of his gun crews, his personal investment in their training, and his newfound sense of purpose aboard the ship *Breda*. The narrative culminates with a historical reference—Admiral Benbow's July 11, 1702 departure from Port Royal to search for French Admiral du Casse, an actual naval engagement from the War of Spanish Succession. This is straightforward historical adventure fiction, not satirical commentary.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
THE WASP 301 Master Gunner Fitzwalter messed as frequently _ with the midshipmen and junior lieutenants as with his brother master gunners. He always wore linen ; and, moreover, his linen and his lace were always scrupulously clean. The humble Todd saw to that. His coat was of decent blue, his breeches of spotless white, his stockings of black silk. He wore no wig, but his hair was always neatly tied and freshly powdered. He might have worn a full-bottomed wig for all John Benbow would have cared—so long as he attended to his duties. At his side he carried a straight, slender sword with a silver hilt. He talked little, read much, and nursed his five guns and his twenty men like a mother. His crews were constantly at drill, and for their extra work he paid them out of his own pocket. Since joining the Breda he had ceased to live for the moment but for the fight; but beyond _ the fight his thoughts did not go. Neither hope nor ambition awoke in him, but he was conscious of something new and soothing in his burned _ heart—contentment. 5 On the morning of July 11, 1702, Admiral _ Benbow sailed out of Port Royal in search of Admiral du Casse. Benbow’s flag flew on the V comichbooks.com