The Wasp — May 8, 1880 — page 4: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

# "The Gorilla When Angered" This page features a satirical illustration depicting a gorilla in a threatening pose surrounded by tropical vegetation. The accompanying text discusses Rev. I.S. Kalloch, Mayor of San Francisco and "father of the murderer," and references a murder case involving the "irreverend M. H." and Chinese Consul Mr. Bee. The cartoon appears to use the gorilla image as a racial caricature, likely associating certain individuals or groups with animalistic behavior—a common (and deeply offensive) satirical tactic of 19th-century American publications. The text mentions murder, bail, and inflammatory rhetoric about "working classes" and "San Francisco," suggesting commentary on a specific violent incident and subsequent legal proceedings, though the exact historical event requires additional context to identify precisely.