The Wasp — 1881 — page 516: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

This page presents the officers of the USS Jeannette, an Arctic exploration vessel. The left panel shows the ship itself navigating icy waters. The right panel displays four portraits labeled with officers' names, including James M. Ambler (Surgeon), John W. Danenhower (2nd Officer), Jerome J. Collins (Ice Pilot and Correspondent of the N.Y. Herald), and Newcomb (Astronomer and Naturalist). The Wasp, a satirical magazine, likely used this to comment on the ship's notable Arctic expedition or the public attention it garnered. The inclusion of a Herald correspondent suggests commentary on media coverage of exploration voyages—a significant Victorian-era phenomenon where newspapers sponsored and publicized such adventures. The specific focus on the officers indicates satire regarding their credentials or the expedition's composition.