The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1916-07-20
MAN.EATING SHARKS.
Hunters Patrolling New York and
New Jersey Beaches for Them.

New York, July 13.-Armed shark
hunters in motor boats patrolled the
New York and New Jersey coasts to-
day, while others lined the beaches
in a concerted effort to exterminate
the man-eaters which have moved
north from their customary haunts,
apparently in large numbers. The
village authorities of Matawan, n. j.,
offered a reward of 500 for every
shark brought in dead or alive.
The belief that a single shark was
responsible for the killing of four
swimmers in New Jersey waters
within the past two weeks, two of
them yesterday in Matawan Creek, a
shallow inlet sixteen miles from the
open sea, has been dispelled by per-
sons who actually have seen half
dozen or more of the monsters.
One theory is that sharks which
formerly fed on refuse thrown over
board from the many ocean ships
that piled before the war began now
have become ravenous. Even those
not ordinarily classed as man-eaters,
it is said have been driven by starva-
tion to lurk in the waters of the At
lantic coast, warm at this season, and
attack human beings.
Huge Fishes Seen.
Three of the huge fishes were seen
to-day in Matawan Creek and are be-
lieved to be bottled up there. Nets
have been stretched under a bridge
about mile and. a half from the
mouth of the inlet to prevent egress.
A British sloop arriving from Ber-
muda was reported tonight to have
killed a score of sharks during the
voyage, one of them off the New Jer-
sey coast
Terror has seized the multitudes
who have bathed at beaches along
the New York and New Jersey coasts
and comparatively few persons Aow
| venture into the water. At Ashbury
Park and other New Jersey resorts
wire nets have been strung around
the bathing areas.
Dr.. George G. Reynolds, of Mata-
wan, who attended Stanley Fisher,
who, was so seriously mangled in a
battle with a shark yesterday that he
died few hours later, performed an
autopsy on Fishers body today. He
declared that the flesh torn by the
man.eater's teeth was impregnated
with peculiar poisonous <fquid,
which seemed to have deadening
effect on the nerves and muscles.
This probably explained, he said,
why Fisher apparently had little
sensation of pain when the shark
took off his leg.
Devoured by Shark.
Little hope is entertained for the
recovery of the body Of 2-year-old
Lester Stillwell, the other victim of
the Matawan Creek tragedy. 1t is
believed that he was devoured by
the shark, as persistent dragging of
the inlet and dynamiting of the wa
ter have failed to bring up the body.
Many conflicting reports were re-
ceived here during the day from va
rious points along the New York and
New Jersey coasts regarding the kill
ing of sharks, but only one appears
to have any foundation in fact. This
was the news brought in by Anthony
Lundy, captain of a fishing smack,
who said his party of New York
fishermen had clubbed to death a
nine-foot shark, weighing 400
pounds, while cruising yesterday off
Elberson, N. J.
A fisherman reported tonight that
he had vainly tried to kill with an
oar a seven-foot shark which became
entangled in his nets. He said the
fish tried to strike his boat.
Part of Cargo to Anderson.