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The Bowery Boys: New York City History

#462 The Jersey Shore Shark Attacks of 1916

The Bowery Boys: New York City History

Tom Meyers

Society & Culture, History, Documentary, Places & Travel

4.83.6K Ratings

🗓️ 3 July 2025

⏱️ 49 minutes

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

What was in the water when sharks began killing people in New Jersey in 1916?

Transcript

Click on a timestamp to play from that location

0:00.0

The Bowery Boys podcast is proud to be sponsored by founded by NYC, celebrating New York City's 400th anniversary in 2025 and the 250th anniversary of the United States in 2006.

0:14.0

Read about all the exciting events and world-class institutions commemorating the five borough's legacy of groundbreaking achievements

0:22.1

and find ways to celebrate the city that's always making history at founded by nyc.com.

0:32.3

The following show contains descriptions of violence related to shark attacks. You've been warned.

0:43.3

As the 1st of July approached in the year 1916,

0:48.3

as Americans were preparing for the 140th anniversary of the nation's birth,

0:53.3

a disturbing story appeared in select newspapers

0:56.9

across the country. Quoting from the Lancaster News Journal, on July 1st at Beach Haven, New

1:03.6

Jersey, Charles Eptic Van Zant of Philadelphia was attacked by a nine-foot shark as he was about to end a swim in the surf.

1:13.8

The great manhunter had been seen moving swiftly around him, and warning cries went up from

1:19.2

those on the beach, but they came too late. Mr. Van Zant was less than 50 yards from the beach,

1:25.8

but evidently failed to understand the meaning of the

1:28.7

warnings, for he appeared to swim leisurely on. Of a sudden, the shark made a dash with immense

1:34.7

jaws open. It caught the young man and closed upon his body, while the astounded onlookers

1:41.2

turned away in horror. The sea became crimson with blood as Van Zant

1:46.6

struggled to free himself. Alexander Ott, a champion swimmer, and others were quick to go to the

1:52.3

aid of the imperiled man and frightened off the monster, then brought the mangled form of Mr.

1:58.1

Van Zant to the beach. Everything possible was done for him, but he passed away

2:03.5

in a few moments. Van Zant was but 24 years old, a young man of unusual promise. It was the first

2:13.0

day of July. The events which followed during that unfortunate month would mystify scientists,

2:20.3

terrified beachgoers in New Jersey and New York, transform the nature of recreational destinations

2:26.8

along the East Coast, and set in stone a few myths and legends about the seas most misunderstood

...

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