The Wasp — 1914 — page 194: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

This page contains narrative fiction rather than political satire or cartoons. The text describes a naval action sequence involving three boats approaching a wounded schooner called the *Black Polly*. James Burnham, armed with a sword, leads the rescue effort from the second boat. When the quartermaster's boat reaches the *Black Polly's* side, something "black and red" falls from the schooner into the boat—apparently an explosive device set by pirates still aboard the vessel. The passage depicts the chaos of the explosion: the schooner rolling heavily, men and equipment thrown into the sea. Burnham's boat continues forward through the debris. This appears to be adventure fiction rather than editorial satire, so there is no political commentary or social critique to interpret for a modern reader.