How America’s First Shark Panic Spurred a Century of Fear | National Geographic

it was 100 years ago that America became

it was 100 years ago that America became terrified of sharks in 1916 a great

terrified of sharks in 1916 a great

terrified of sharks in 1916 a great white was blamed for the first spate of

white was blamed for the first spate of

white was blamed for the first spate of shark attacks recorded in US history

shark attacks recorded in US history

shark attacks recorded in US history that summer the East Coast sweltered in

that summer the East Coast sweltered in

that summer the East Coast sweltered in a relentless heat wave along the New

a relentless heat wave along the New

a relentless heat wave along the New Jersey Shore thousands had discovered a

Jersey Shore thousands had discovered a

Jersey Shore thousands had discovered a new pastime swimming in the ocean

new pastime swimming in the ocean

new pastime swimming in the ocean on July 1st bathers spotted a man

on July 1st bathers spotted a man

on July 1st bathers spotted a man thrashing in the surf he was helped to

thrashing in the surf he was helped to

thrashing in the surf he was helped to shore but soon bled to death

shore but soon bled to death

shore but soon bled to death five days later up the coast another

five days later up the coast another

five days later up the coast another swimmer was attacked he too died soon

swimmer was attacked he too died soon

swimmer was attacked he too died soon after public attention and fear were

after public attention and fear were

after public attention and fear were fixed on this mysterious killer the next

fixed on this mysterious killer the next

fixed on this mysterious killer the next attacks were even more surprising

attacks were even more surprising

attacks were even more surprising because of their location far up the

because of their location far up the

because of their location far up the seemingly peaceful Matawan Creek 411

seemingly peaceful Matawan Creek 411

seemingly peaceful Matawan Creek 411 miles from the open ocean it’s the old

miles from the open ocean it’s the old

miles from the open ocean it’s the old white cloth docker that’s where all the

white cloth docker that’s where all the

white cloth docker that’s where all the action happens it’s the location is

action happens it’s the location is

action happens it’s the location is spectacular as far as world shark

spectacular as far as world shark

spectacular as far as world shark attacks go Stanley Fisher was killed

attacks go Stanley Fisher was killed

attacks go Stanley Fisher was killed while trying to recover the half-eaten

while trying to recover the half-eaten

while trying to recover the half-eaten body of 11 year old Lester Stillwell a

body of 11 year old Lester Stillwell a

body of 11 year old Lester Stillwell a few days after the Matawan attacks this

few days after the Matawan attacks this

few days after the Matawan attacks this great white was caught in the bay that

great white was caught in the bay that

great white was caught in the bay that leads to the creek reportedly its

leads to the creek reportedly its

leads to the creek reportedly its stomach contained human remains

stomach contained human remains

stomach contained human remains because Matawan Creek where the attacks

because Matawan Creek where the attacks

because Matawan Creek where the attacks took place is basically fresh water some

took place is basically fresh water some

took place is basically fresh water some now believe a bull shark might have been

now believe a bull shark might have been

now believe a bull shark might have been to blame the cause of the New Jersey

to blame the cause of the New Jersey

to blame the cause of the New Jersey attacks is still in question in the

attacks is still in question in the

attacks is still in question in the century that followed the events have

century that followed the events have

century that followed the events have remained unique in the Northeast us

remained unique in the Northeast us

remained unique in the Northeast us but for the reputation of great white

but for the reputation of great white

but for the reputation of great white sharks the damage was done the image of

sharks the damage was done the image of

sharks the damage was done the image of sharks as monsters was set in the

sharks as monsters was set in the

sharks as monsters was set in the popular imagination inspiring the iconic

popular imagination inspiring the iconic

popular imagination inspiring the iconic 1975 film jaws a story with strong

1975 film jaws a story with strong

1975 film jaws a story with strong parallels to the 1916 events it is as if

parallels to the 1916 events it is as if

parallels to the 1916 events it is as if God created the devil gave him

God created the devil gave him

God created the devil gave him jaws despite overwhelming evidence

jaws despite overwhelming evidence

jaws despite overwhelming evidence against the likelihood of shark attacks

against the likelihood of shark attacks

against the likelihood of shark attacks 100 years later sharks remain a symbol

100 years later sharks remain a symbol

100 years later sharks remain a symbol of terror