it was 100 years ago that America became
terrified of sharks in 1916 a great
white was blamed for the first spate of
shark attacks recorded in US history
that summer the East Coast sweltered in
a relentless heat wave along the New
Jersey Shore thousands had discovered a
new pastime swimming in the ocean
on July 1st bathers spotted a man
thrashing in the surf he was helped to
shore but soon bled to death
five days later up the coast another
swimmer was attacked he too died soon
after public attention and fear were
fixed on this mysterious killer the next
attacks were even more surprising
because of their location far up the
seemingly peaceful Matawan Creek 411
miles from the open ocean it’s the old
white cloth docker that’s where all the
action happens it’s the location is
spectacular as far as world shark
attacks go Stanley Fisher was killed
while trying to recover the half-eaten
body of 11 year old Lester Stillwell a
few days after the Matawan attacks this
great white was caught in the bay that
leads to the creek reportedly its
stomach contained human remains
because Matawan Creek where the attacks
took place is basically fresh water some
now believe a bull shark might have been
to blame the cause of the New Jersey
attacks is still in question in the
century that followed the events have
remained unique in the Northeast us
but for the reputation of great white
sharks the damage was done the image of
sharks as monsters was set in the
popular imagination inspiring the iconic
1975 film jaws a story with strong
parallels to the 1916 events it is as if
God created the devil gave him
jaws despite overwhelming evidence
against the likelihood of shark attacks
100 years later sharks remain a symbol
of terror
terrified of sharks in 1916 a great
white was blamed for the first spate of
shark attacks recorded in US history
that summer the East Coast sweltered in
a relentless heat wave along the New
Jersey Shore thousands had discovered a
new pastime swimming in the ocean
on July 1st bathers spotted a man
thrashing in the surf he was helped to
shore but soon bled to death
five days later up the coast another
swimmer was attacked he too died soon
after public attention and fear were
fixed on this mysterious killer the next
attacks were even more surprising
because of their location far up the
seemingly peaceful Matawan Creek 411
miles from the open ocean it’s the old
white cloth docker that’s where all the
action happens it’s the location is
spectacular as far as world shark
attacks go Stanley Fisher was killed
while trying to recover the half-eaten
body of 11 year old Lester Stillwell a
few days after the Matawan attacks this
great white was caught in the bay that
leads to the creek reportedly its
stomach contained human remains
because Matawan Creek where the attacks
took place is basically fresh water some
now believe a bull shark might have been
to blame the cause of the New Jersey
attacks is still in question in the
century that followed the events have
remained unique in the Northeast us
but for the reputation of great white
sharks the damage was done the image of
sharks as monsters was set in the
popular imagination inspiring the iconic
1975 film jaws a story with strong
parallels to the 1916 events it is as if
God created the devil gave him
jaws despite overwhelming evidence
against the likelihood of shark attacks
100 years later sharks remain a symbol
of terror
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