The Wasp — 1881 — page 37: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

This satirical cartoon depicts a bearded man in Native American headdress being attacked or tormented by several figures. The man holds what appears to be railroad bonds or financial documents labeled "RATES." Multiple hands and feet surround him in an aggressive manner, with one figure appearing to be a small caricatured person at the bottom. The title "THE RAILROADS—MAKING IT HOT" suggests this critiques railroad companies and their financial practices. The Native American imagery likely represents either a specific railroad executive or symbolizes the railroads themselves being subjected to pressure, possibly from regulators or public outcry over rate-fixing and monopolistic practices—major concerns during America's Gilded Age. The exact identities remain unclear without additional context.