Even so, if you can update or improve it, please do so. The first recorded shark attacks in the united states happened in the new jersey shore in july 1916, when a great white swam to the beaches near beach haven and spring lake and, incredibly, to a. Close to shore the terrifying shark attacks of 1916. The jersey shore shark attacks of 1916 kids news article. Between july 1 and 12 of that year, a series of shark attacks terrified the coast of new jersey, as chronicled in the 2002 book close to shore. Despite the vansant attack, beaches along the jersey shore remained open. The beach was filled with people who had taken the train down from philadelphia to beat the city heat. Since 1916, scholars have debated which shark species was responsible and the number of animals involved, with the great white. With previous deadly attacks in beach haven and spring lake, new jersey, the shark made its way north and down a freshwater creek in matawan, new jersey on july 12, where it would attack and kill 12year old. The jersey shore shark attacks of 1916 were a series of shark attacks along the coast of new. Chet roscow is finally feeling at home in elm hills, new jersey. Many experts now dispute the original reports of the rogue shark being a great white and believe the killer was more likely a bull shark.
This article appeared on wikipedias main page as todays featured article on september 6, 2007. A shark sunk its teeth into charles vansant, the 25yearold son of a philadelphia businessman, out for an evening swim in the resort town of. During the summer before the united states entered world war i, when ocean. The peter benchley book jaws and later the movie with the same title were loosely based on this series of incidents. The jersey shore shark attacks of 1916 were a series of shark attacks along the coast of new jersey, in the united states, between july 1 and 12, 1916, in which four people were killed and one injured. It was a film that has year after year kept many beach goers out of the oceans water for good. Warmer temperatures and more people in the water may have been contributing factors to the nj shark attacks of. The terrifying shark attacks of 1916, scientists at the american museum of natural history in new york cited oelrichs as. In mesmerizing detail, journalist michael capuzzos close to shore recounts the dramatic true story of a series of shark attacks that occurred along the new jersey shore in july 1916 resulting in the largest shark hunt in history, and the end of americans naivete about the dangers of the sea. According to the local paper, on july 1st, a shark had attacked and fatally wounded a lone swimmer off the coast of beach haven, new jersey, just seventy miles south of elm hills.
Down at the shark tank, i thought about the attacks that occurred along the jersey shore in 1916. However, 1916 was the hottest summer on record, and the first season in american history that more revealing designs were worn in public. Chet finds out that a great white shark has been attacking swimmers not far. The shark attacks of 1916 2010 read online free book by. Read these 3 books on the terror of shark attacks the. Site of the new jersey shark attacks of 1916 matawan, new. New jersey shark attacks that left 4 people dead in 1916.
Published on jun 1, 2012 the 1916 shark attack spree began with an unsuspecting young man going for a leisurely swim off the jersey shore and his unexplainable violent end. The first recorded multiple fatal shark attacks left four people dead at the new jersey shore over a period of 12 days. Matawan, nj town historian john savolaine discusses the 1916 new jersey shark attacks which took place in bradley beach, spring lake and matawan. Jersey shore shark attacks of 1916 is a featured article. The 1916 shark attacks off the jersey coast that was. Overall, it is a very nice aquarium, especially for the kids. In the summer of 1916 no one had yet imagined that so many could fall victim to a lone and vicious killer. Discover site of the new jersey shark attacks of 1916 in matawan, new. While the book and blockbuster film are fiction, 100 years ago in new jersey there was the real thing, with eerie similarities to jaws a series of deadly shark attacks. The jersey shore shark attacks of 1916 were a series of shark attacks along the coast of new jersey between july 1 and july 12, 1916. But until now many havent known the series of reallife shark attacks in 1916 that sent new jerseys.
The terrifying shark attacks of 1916 is a nonfiction book by american author michael capuzzo and was first published in 2001. July 1, 1916, was a fine day at the new jersey resort town of beach haven. Al savolaine, right, a historian who wrote a book about the attack. The new jersey shark attacks of 1916 helped make the animal an icon of terror. A definitive investigation of the 1916 new jersey shark. It was built around the popularity of the wellknown mtv program, jersey shore. As in, the famous jersey shore shark attacks of 1916, in which two. I survived the shark attacks of 1916 book king county. The particulars of each attack who got bitten, when, where, and how badly have been told and retold many times in popular shark books and documentaries. Can 10yearold chet and his friends survive a swim in the local creek. Combining rich historical detail and a harrowing, pulsepounding narrative, close to shore brilliantly recreates the summer of 1916, when a rogue great white shark attacked swimmers along the new jersey shore, triggering mass hysteria and launching the. Details the first documented cases in american history of sharks attacking swimmers, which occured along the atlantic coast of new jersey in 1916 includes bibliographical references p.
A definitive investigation of the 1916 new jersey shark attacks. Combining rich historical detail and a harrowing, pulsepounding narrative, close to shore brilliantly recreates the summer of 1916, when a rogue great white shark attacked swimmers along the new jersey shore, triggering mass hysteria and launching the most extensive shark hunt in history. It was the trio that rushed in on the morning of july 3rd, 1916, just as chet was finishing up his shift at his uncles diner, to report the big news. In july, 1916, chet roscow is fascinated by news accounts of the great white shark said to be attacking people along the new jersey shore not far from his home, but when he goes swimming in matawan creek he discovers the truth of the stories. In twelve days in the summer of 1916 shark attacks along the new jersey shore had left four dead and one maimed with the rogue shark still on the loose.
In july 1916 a lone great white left its usual deepocean. Its the summer of 1916 and the jersey shore is being terrorized by a great white shark. It was now apparent that a single shark could be responsible for all of these attacks. Combining rich historic factor and a harrowing, pulsepounding narrative, close to shore brilliantly recreates the summer time time of 1916, when a rogue good white shark attacked swimmers alongside the new jersey shore, triggering mass hysteria and launching in all probability probably the most in depth shark hunt in historic previous. The surf rolled in and broke against the warm sands. Shark attack is a 2012 television film that aired on syfy on june 8, 2012 and was written by michael ciminera and richard gnolfo. In the summer of 1916, panic struck the jersey shore. It was the titanic of shark attacks, said richard fernicola, a new jersey physician and author of twelve days of terror, an account of what became known as the matawan maneater. The shark attacks that were the inspiration for jaws. Site of the new jersey shark attacks of 1916 matawan.
It centers on the events along the new jersey shore in the summer of 1916, when a solitary great white shark left its usual habitat and began attacking beachgoers in the vacation towns of beach haven and. White shark attacked swimmers along the new jersey shore, triggering mass. This is a good book about a boy named chet roscow who lives in oak hills. The incidents occurred during a deadly summer heat wave and polio epidemic in the united states that drove thousands of people to the seaside resorts of the jersey shore. A century later, memories of fatal shark attacks linger in new jersey. I survived the shark attacks of 1916 by lauren tarshis is about a kid named chet and when he plays a prank on his friends the stop trusting him and when chet spots a shark fin while he is swimming he tries to warn his friends, but when they dont believe him he tries to save them. Chets moves to his uncle jerrys house while his mom and dad move to new york. For 12 days in new jersey in july 1916, a series of shark attacks terrified beachgoers into. Shark attacks secret boards 4th grade reading book study shark week reading resources i survived atlantic city. The jersey shore attacks of 1916 the unmuseum rogue shark.
According to michael capuzzos 2001 book on the attacks, close to shore. See more ideas about shark, shark week and jersey shore shark attack. This book takes the reader back to 1916 and the shark attacks in beach. The matawan historical society is holding events remembering the attacks. The shark attacks of 1916, by historical fiction writer lauren tarshis brings to life this gruesome, but fascinating incident. In july of 1916, new jersey became the site of a series of vicious shark attacks that would span 12 days and take the lives of four people and severely injuring one with previous deadly attacks.