Jersey Shore shark attacks of 1916 facts for kids

German American Michael Schleisser and the great white shark caught in Raritan Bay thought to be the "Jersey man-eater", as seen in the Bronx Home News

The Jersey Shore shark attacks of 1916 were a series of unusual and tragic incidents where sharks attacked people along the coast of New Jersey, USA, over a short period in July 1916. Four people lost their lives, and one child was seriously injured but survived. These events caused a lot of panic, changed how people thought about sharks, and even inspired famous stories like Jaws.

The First Incidents: Beach Haven and Spring Lake

Map of the Jersey Shore attacks

Between July 1 and July 12, five people were attacked by sharks in different locations along the New Jersey coast. This was incredibly rare and shocking at the time.

July 1, 1916 – Beach Haven: The first attack happened to a young man named Charles Epting Vansant, who was 23 years old and on vacation with his family. He was swimming in the ocean with a dog when a shark bit him. Lifeguards and others quickly pulled him from the water, but he was very badly hurt and sadly passed away later that day.

July 6, 1916 – Spring Lake: Just five days later, about 45 miles north of the first attack, another incident occurred. Charles Bruder, a 27-year-old hotel worker, was swimming far from shore when a shark attacked him. Lifeguards rushed to help, but he was severely injured and lost his life before they could get him to safety.

These two attacks, happening so close together, started to make people very worried. Scientists at the time didn't believe sharks in these waters would attack humans without being provoked, so they were very surprised.

The Unbelievable Creek Attacks: Matawan

The most surprising attacks happened on July 12, 1916, in a place called Matawan Creek. This was about 30 miles inland from the ocean, which made it a very unusual spot for shark encounters.

• Lester Stillwell, 11: A group of boys, including 11-year-old Lester Stillwell, were playing in the creek. They saw what they thought was an old log, but it turned out to be a shark! Before Lester could get out of the water, the shark pulled him under.

• Watson Stanley Fisher, 24: When the other boys ran for help, a local businessman named Watson Stanley Fisher bravely dove into the creek to search for Lester. While trying to find the boy, the shark attacked Mr. Fisher, seriously injuring his leg. He was brought to shore but sadly passed away later that day.

• Joseph Dunn, 14: Less than an hour later, and about half a mile away in the same creek, 14-year-old Joseph Dunn was also attacked. The shark bit his leg, but his brother and a friend fought off the shark and managed to rescue him! Joseph was badly hurt but was taken to a hospital and, thankfully, recovered from his injuries. He was the only survivor of these five attacks.

How People Reacted: Panic and Protection

The news of these attacks spread quickly, causing a huge wave of fear and panic along the East Coast.

Many people stopped going to the beaches, and seaside towns lost a lot of money from tourism. It's estimated that New Jersey resort owners lost about $250,000 in 1916, which would be like losing about $7.4 million today (in 2025 dollars)! At first, many scientists didn't believe sharks were dangerous to humans in these waters. Some even thought the shark might have mistaken a person for a dog or another animal. But after the Matawan Creek attacks, they had to rethink everything they thought they knew about sharks.

People were so scared that they started massive shark hunts. Boats with armed people patrolled the waters, and bounties (rewards) were offered for catching sharks. Some towns even put up steel nets around their swimming areas to protect people. President Woodrow Wilson, who was the President of the United States at the time, even discussed the attacks with his government.

The Mystery of the "Jersey Man-Eater": Which Shark Was It?

After the attacks, everyone wanted to know what kind of shark was responsible. Scientists and the public had different ideas:

• The Great White Shark Theory: A few days after the Matawan attacks, a fisherman named Michael Schleisser caught a large, 7.5-foot-long (2.3 meters) shark in Raritan Bay, not far from Matawan Creek. When he opened its stomach, he found "suspicious fleshy material and bones" that scientists identified as human remains. This shark was a young Great White Shark. Many believed this was the "Jersey man-eater" because no more attacks happened after it was caught.
• The Bull Shark Theory: However, some scientists today think that a Bull Shark might have been involved, especially in the Matawan Creek attacks. Bull Sharks are known for being able to swim from the ocean into freshwater rivers and creeks, which Great White Sharks usually don't do. They are also known for being quite aggressive.

One Shark or Many?

It's still a debate! Some experts believe one "rogue" shark was responsible for all the attacks, traveling along the coast and into the creek. Others think it might have been several different sharks, especially since many sharks were reported in the area that summer. Today, in 2026, scientists continue to study the evidence and discuss these possibilities.

Revising Science: Learning About Sharks

Before 1916, many American scientists thought sharks in the temperate waters of the northeastern United States were mostly harmless to humans. They believed it was very unlikely for a shark to attack a living person without being provoked. One famous banker even offered a $500 reward (which would be about $15,000 today!) for proof of a shark attack in these waters, and no one ever claimed it!

The Jersey Shore attacks completely changed this view. Scientists realized that some shark species could indeed be dangerous and that we needed to learn much more about their behavior. This event was a big moment for marine biology, helping scientists understand sharks better and leading to more research.

Sharks in Popular Culture: From Panic to Jaws

The 1916 shark attacks left a lasting mark on American culture:

• Cartoons and Symbols: In newspapers, sharks quickly became symbols in editorial cartoons. They represented all sorts of dangers of the time, like political figures, German submarines during World War I, and even the heat wave and a polio epidemic that were also happening that summer.
• The Inspiration for Jaws: Perhaps the most famous cultural impact is how these attacks inspired the classic novel Jaws by Peter Benchley, published in 1974, and the blockbuster movie directed by Steven Spielberg in 1975. In the movie, the characters even mention the 1916 Jersey Shore attacks as a warning of what a dangerous shark can do!
• Documentaries: Over the years, many documentaries have been made about these mysterious events, including "12 Days of Terror" and "Blood in the Water," trying to piece together exactly what happened and why.

Images for kids

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  Philadelphia Inquirer coverage of the attacks at Matawan, with portraits of Stanley Fisher (bottom right) and Lester Stilwell

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  Leading scientists of the American Museum of Natural History in New York City debated the threat posed by sharks before and after the 1916 Jersey Shore attacks

See also

In Spanish: Ola de ataques de tiburón de Nueva Jersey de 1916 para niños