The summer of 1916 brought a devastating heat wave to the Northeastern United States, driving thousands from sweltering cities to the New Jersey Shore seeking relief in the Atlantic waters. Prior to this period, the prevailing scientific consensus held that sharks posed little threat to bathers in temperate waters. The events that unfolded over twelve days in July shattered this belief, introducing unprecedented panic and permanently altering the public’s perception of the ocean. This sudden, concentrated series of attacks prompted an urgent investigation into the scientific reasons behind the tragedy.
The Unprecedented Events of July 1916
The initial attack occurred on July 1st at Beach Haven, a popular resort on Long Beach Island. Charles Vansant was swimming near the shore when a large creature inflicted severe wounds to his left thigh, causing him to bleed to death shortly after being pulled from the water. This isolated incident was initially met with skepticism by experts, who struggled to accept the possibility of a fatal shark attack in these latitudes.
Just five days later, on July 6th, the terror resurfaced about 45 miles north at Spring Lake. Charles Bruder, a hotel employee, was attacked a considerable distance from the beach, suffering catastrophic injuries that led to his immediate death. These back-to-back fatalities across two separate coastal towns ignited widespread alarm and speculation.
The situation escalated dramatically on July 12th, when the attacks moved away from the open ocean and into a highly unusual location: Matawan Creek. This tidal waterway, located 16 miles inland from the Atlantic Ocean, became the site of three separate attacks within a short period. Eleven-year-old Lester Stillwell was pulled under while swimming, and Stanley Fisher, who entered the creek to retrieve the boy’s body, was fatally wounded moments later.
Later that same day, Joseph Dunn was also attacked in the creek but was pulled to safety by his brother, making him the only survivor of the five victims. The unusual nature of these inland attacks, resulting in four deaths and one severe injury over less than two weeks, signaled that a singular set of circumstances brought the predator into continuous contact with people.
Identifying the Primary Suspect
The initial investigation focused on the great white shark (Carcharodon carcharias) as the perpetrator. This theory gained traction after the Matawan Creek incident when a large, 8.5-foot shark was captured in Raritan Bay, near the creek’s mouth. Scientists at the time reported that the shark contained human tissue and bone in its stomach.
However, modern analysis of the evidence and attack locations has shifted the scientific focus toward the bull shark (Carcharhinus leucas). Great white sharks are oceanic, cold-water creatures that rarely venture into shallow, low-salinity environments like a tidal creek. In contrast, the bull shark possesses a unique biological adaptation allowing it to regulate its internal salt balance, enabling it to survive in brackish and fresh water.
The clustered series of attacks deep within Matawan Creek makes a strong case for the bull shark, as this species is known for traversing far upstream into river systems. While the great white’s capture seemed to end the attacks, the physical evidence points toward either two different sharks or a single bull shark responsible for the entire series due to its biological flexibility.
Key Environmental and Biological Drivers
The unprecedented nature of the 1916 attacks resulted from a rare alignment of environmental and biological factors, not just a single rogue animal. One significant driver was the unusually high water temperature caused by the extreme summer heat wave. Warmer surface water temperatures can cause sharks to extend their normal migratory range northward along the coast.
This northward movement was encouraged by an abundance of prey species, such as menhaden, migrating in large schools near the shore. Sharks follow these concentrated food sources, and the presence of dense schools of baitfish near popular bathing areas naturally drew apex predators closer to human activity.
Matawan Creek Hydrology
The attacks in Matawan Creek were facilitated by the bull shark’s tolerance for low salinity, compounded by the creek’s hydrology. As a tidal system, the Atlantic Ocean pushes saltwater far inland, temporarily increasing the salinity and depth of the water at high tide. This tidal push, combined with prey fish seeking refuge, provided a viable pathway and feeding ground for a bull shark miles from the open sea.
Increased Human Exposure
Increased human exposure also played a role. The massive influx of tourists due to the heat meant more people were entering the water than ever before, dramatically increasing the potential for human-shark interaction. Furthermore, the lack of effective sewage treatment meant organic waste and runoff flowed directly into the ocean. This waste could have attracted smaller prey fish, which in turn drew larger predators into the shallow waters where people were swimming.