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The First Attack at Jersey Shore
Charles Epting Vansant, 25, an English immigrant living in Philadelphia, became the first of five victims of a series of shark attacks in New Jersey that struck the country with a panic and inspired the movie "Jaws." The U.S. was no longer viewed as a safe place for immigrants; many people from other countries had no desire to go to America during this time. The new fear of sharks spread far beyond America's shores, and in many countries, these animals will never be viewed the same way again. -
The Nightmare at Spring Lake
Charles Bruder, 27, became the second victim and fatality of several attacks which were supposedly being caused by the same shark. Even after the deaths of Vansant and Bruder, however, beaches remained open because the nation did not yet believe the attacks in New Jersey were anything to worry about. -
The War at Matawan Creek
Matawan Creek, an inlet where fresh and salt water mix, was the most unlikely place for a shark attack to occur, but it is infamous to this day for three attacks. Lester Stillwell, 11, was attacked at around 2 p.m. at the Wyckoff dock. His friends rushed to get help, and Watson Stanley Fisher, a 24 year old local businessman, became the next victim while trying to recover Stillwell's body. Joseph Dunn, 14, was attacked 30 minutes later and was the only surviving victim at Jersey Shore. -
Identifying the Jersey Man-Eater
Michael Schleisser, a taxidermist, caught a 7.5 foot long, 325 pound great white shark (Carcharodon carcharias) after it towed his boat a short distance as a result of getting snagged in a fishing net that had been thrown overboard. The attacks stopped afterward, and it appeared the Jersey man-eater was caught. Although, a few skeptics believed the culprit was a bull shark (Carcharhinus leucas), a highly aggressive and territorial shark known to attack humans unprovoked.
