Summer of Blood

    On July 6, Charles Bruder, 27, was swimming south of Cliffwood. A large shark attacked him. 

    This time, there were few doubts about what had happened. Soon every beach up and down the shore was closed. Overnight, people’s ideas about sharks changed. The creatures seemed like monsters. 

    But later, scientists learned that these ideas were wrong too. Most sharks don’t deliberately attack humans. Many bites happen when a shark mistakes a swimmer for a seal or sea lion.

    We may never know what caused this shark to attack humans. But the “man-eater of New Jersey” would soon kill again.

    On July 6, Charles Bruder, 27, was swimming south of Cliffwood when he was attacked by a large shark. 

    There were few doubts about what had happened this time, and soon every beach up and down the shore was closed. Overnight, people stopped seeing sharks as timid creatures and began regarding them as monsters. 

    But later, scientists realized that these ideas were also incorrect. In general, sharks don’t deliberately attack humans. When a human is bitten, it’s frequently because the shark mistakes a swimmer for a seal or sea lion.

    It may never be known what caused this shark to attack humans—but the “man-eater of New Jersey” would soon kill again.

    When Joseph, Michael, and Jerry jumped into the creek on July 12, they must have known about the attacks. But why would the boys worry?

    The creek was 15 miles away from the sea. It seemed as safe as a bathtub.

    But the creek is linked to the Atlantic Ocean. Fishermen traveled into the creek from the ocean all the time. If a boat could make that journey, why not a shark?

    One of the few people who understood this was Thomas Cottrell. He used to be a sea captain. Cottrell was walking along the creek that day when he saw a shark.

    The captain raced into a crowded barbershop. “There’s a shark in the creek!” he shouted.

    Nobody moved. Everyone thought he was just a confused old man. So Cottrell rushed to the dock and fired up his boat. 

    He steered it up the creek, shouting out warnings to swimmers.

    When Joe, Michael, and Jerry jumped into the creek on July 12, they must have known about the attacks. But why would they worry? The creek was 15 miles from the sea. It seemed as safe as a bathtub.

    But the creek is linked to the Atlantic Ocean. Fishermen went into the creek from the ocean all the time. If a boat could make that trip, why not a shark?

    A few people understood this. One was Thomas Cottrell. He had been a sea captain. Cottrell was walking along the creek that day when he saw a shark.

    He raced into a barbershop. “There’s a shark in the creek!” he shouted.

    No one moved. People thought he was just a confused old man. So he rushed to the dock and fired up his boat. 

    He steered it up the creek, shouting warnings to swimmers.

    When Joseph, Michael, and Jerry jumped into the creek on July 12, they must have known about the attacks. But why would they worry? The creek, 15 miles away from the sea, seemed as safe as a bathtub.

    But the creek is linked to the Atlantic Ocean. Fishermen traveled into the creek from the ocean all the time—and if a boat could make that journey, why not a shark?

    One of the few people who understood this was Thomas Cottrell, a former sea captain. Cottrell was walking along the creek that day when he spotted a shark.

    Racing into a crowded barbershop, the captain shouted, “There’s a shark in the creek!”

    When everyone ignored him, believing he was simply a confused old man, Cottrell rushed to the dock and fired up his boat. He steered it up the creek, shouting warnings to swimmers.

    As Joe, Michael, and Jerry started their swim, they had no idea what was happening up the creek. A few minutes earlier, a shark had killed two more people. It wasn’t until they heard someone shouting that the boys knew they were in danger.

    By then, it was too late.

    The shark pulled Joe under the water. Michael and Jerry tried to wrestle Joe free, but the shark was too strong. 

    Then a boat appeared. It was Captain Cottrell and two other men. Those men jumped into the water. They tried to pull Joe from the shark. Joe was sure he’d be ripped in two.

    But suddenly, the shark opened its jaws.

    Joe was free.

    Back on land, he was rushed to the hospital. Nobody believed he would survive.

    As Joe, Michael, and Jerry started their swim, they didn’t know what was happening up the creek. A few minutes earlier, a shark had killed two more people. It wasn’t until they heard someone shouting that the boys knew they were in danger.

    By then, it was too late.

    The shark pulled Joe under the water. Michael and Jerry tried to pull him free. But the shark was too strong. 

    Then a boat appeared. It was Captain Cottrell and two other men. Those men jumped into the water. They tried to pull Joe free. Joe thought he’d be ripped in two.

    Then the shark opened its jaws.

    Joe was free.

    Back on land, he was rushed to the hospital. No one thought he would survive.

    As Joe, Michael, and Jerry started their swim, they were completely unaware of the horrifying events taking place up the creek. (Only a few minutes earlier, a shark had killed two more people.) It wasn’t until they heard someone shouting that the boys realized they were in danger—and by that time, it was too late.

    The shark pulled Joe under the water. Michael and Jerry tried to wrestle Joe free, but the shark was too strong. 

    Then Captain Cottrell arrived in his boat with two other men, who jumped into the water and tried to pull Joe from the shark. Joe was sure he’d be ripped in two.

    But suddenly, the shark opened its jaws.

    Joe was free.

    Back on land, he was rushed to the hospital. Nobody believed he would survive.

    The Matawan attacks shocked the world. America went to war—against sharks. 

    Fishermen charged out to sea, ready to kill. Women with rifles stood on creek banks. President Woodrow Wilson sent a Coast Guard ship into the waters off New Jersey. Its orders: Destroy any shark.

    On July 14, a man caught a great white shark near Matawan Creek. Inside its belly were 15 pounds of what seemed to be human flesh and bones.

    The world cheered! It seemed like the man-eater had been found. 

    And on September 15, Joe left the hospital. He fully recovered and lived into old age. He almost never talked about the summer of 1916. But those who knew him said he felt lucky.

    He had escaped the New Jersey man-eater. 

    The Matawan attacks shocked the world. By the following day, America had gone to war—against sharks. 

    Fishermen charged out to sea, prepared to kill. Women armed with rifles stood on creek banks. President Woodrow Wilson sent a Coast Guard ship into the waters off New Jersey with orders to destroy any shark.

    Then, on July 14, a man caught a great white shark near Matawan Creek—and inside its belly were 15 pounds of what appeared to be human flesh and bones.

    The world celebrated! It seemed clear that the man-eater had been found. 

    And on September 15, Joe was released from  the hospital. He recovered completely and lived into old age. He almost never talked about the summer of 1916, but those who knew him said he considered himself a fortunate man.

    After all, he had escaped the New Jersey man-eater. 

_{Text copyright ©Lauren Tarshis}

_{Text copyright ©Lauren Tarshis}

_{Text copyright ©Lauren Tarshis}