The Wasp, 1918 · page 320 of 330
The Wasp — 1918 — page 320: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page appears to be **narrative prose rather than a cartoon**—likely an excerpt from a serialized historical fiction story about a naval battle. The text depicts the death of **James Burnham** during a sea engagement involving the ship *Breda*. An admiral (identified as **Benbow**, likely referencing the historical English Admiral John Benbow) commands the vessel despite suffering a severe leg wound from chain-shot. The passage is sentimental/heroic rather than satirical: it portrays Burnham's noble death in combat and the admiral's steadfast courage despite injury. The narrative suggests that Burnham's death marked a turning point—"a terrible spirit of destruction had fled from the *Breda*"—implying the ship's fighting prowess diminished after his loss. **Without seeing the actual page image or knowing *The Wasp's* publication date, I cannot confirm** whether this is satire or straightforward historical adventure fiction, or what contemporary events this might reference.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
THE WASSER es ee 31t . action. All showed. the marks of British teeth. That day’s fight was not an hour advanced before a flying splinter of teak struck James Burnham across the chest and hurled him to the deck, senseless and dying. Henry odd caught him in his arms as he fell. The admiral went down and knelt beside him. A surgeon poured brandy between the grey lips. The _ gun-captain opened his eyes. ** Lad, you would have been safe! ”? whispered Benbow. ‘I lied when I said otherwise.” * Tt is better this way, breathed James. *“May God have mercy on your soul,” said the admiral tenderly. * T look for no mercy,” replied James. “‘ Where is Todd? Right here, of course. Good-bye to you, lad!” : He was dead before they could carry him below. Half an hour later the admiral’s right leg was smashed by a chain-shot. He ordered a cot to be brought to the quarter-deck. From’ the cot he directed the last desperate passages of that desperate fight. : But a terrible spirit of destruction had fled from the Breda with the flight of James Burn- ham’s soul, No longer did her guns repulse comichooks.com