Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1916-07-15
3rTGE FOIJN
WAR ON SHARKS
Cabinet Devises Ways and Means Q
Kidding Coast. Of Monsters

Matawan, N. j., July 15-Bucks--
ing the line like a football halfback,
giant shark plunged through the
chicken wire net that penned it in
Matawan creek, and escaped to the
ocaan last night. The fish, believed
to he the same one that killed a man
and a boy in a savage raid in the
creek Wednesday, efuded thousands
of persons who made up shark
posse and who lined the banks ready
to club or. hack Ito; death. z;
The chicken wire net was stretch
ed across the narrow Matawan creek
at Keyport, where the creek empies
into Raritan bay.
Washington, July Is = Tragic
stories of attacks by sharks upon
bathers along the New Jersey coast
were discussed at yesterdays meet
ing of the Cabinet. Later Secretary
McAdoo announced that the Coast
Guard would be ordered to do what
it could toward clearing the coast OF
the dangerous fish and preventing
further loss Of life.
Superintendent Cole, of the Coast
guard district covering the New Jer-
eey coast, reported today it was his
belief that three or four big sharks
had strayed in from the warm waters
of the Gulf Stream and that there
was no large school as many have
believed.
Immediate risks, he said, had been
averted by placing steel nets about
the beaches.
Superintendent Cole said many
persons held the theory that the re-
cent storm had diverted some OF the
warm surface water of the Gull
Stream and that the sharks had ap'
preached the shore with it.
New York, July 15-Reports OF
sharks continued to pour in today
from many points, not only along
the Atlantic Coast adjacent to New
York, but from places along the Hud.
son River, adding hourly to the ter
ror which has seized the bathers In
local. waters. While many alarming
bulletins! were announcing the ap-
pearance of sharks along the Jersey
and Long Island Coasts, the body OF
Hester Stillwell, II years old, who
was killed by shark in Matawar
Creek, Wednesday, rose to the sur
face of that stream in which dyna'
mite had been used continuously fol
day in the effort to raise the body
and kill or brighten away the sharks.
Lester Stillwell and Stanley Fisher
were killed by the shark in Matawa1
Creek, and Joseph Dunn, 10 year:
old, was later attacked, one leg be-
ing bitten off. Harry Van Clieg ant
William B. Clayton, Jr., of Matawar
found Lester Stillwell's body today
By permission of DR.. Harry Neafie
county physician, the body was re,
moved to an. undertaker's establish
ment.
The body. :bore the marks of the
fatal attack by the shark. The left
side of the abdomen was torn open
snd big piece of the flesh Isl gone
;Fhe: face is unmarked ! and the legs
and arms show, signs Of the tragic
fate of the lad.
The body came up. about 200. feet
to the west of where the boy was
swimming when the shark attacked
him. &
New York, July 15-A large schoo!
of sharks, several 5,of which came
close to the vessel was sighted ia
fortnight ago by the British full
rugged. ship Cumberland, which ar
rived yesterday from Antofogasta,
Chill, after 134 day voyage: One
about eight feet long was caught
and, killed. Captain, Barfeld said he
saw one large shark about three days
ago, and that never before in his
long career ;on the sea had he seen
sharks, so far north. -
Atlantic Highlands n. j., July ;l5-:-
A 25O pound shark, eight and one half
feet long, was; captured and killed
here yesterday. The big fish became
entangled in a fishing net and was
only killed after a struggle. The
shark was of the blue nose variety
with a white. belly. -.
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