The Shark Attacks That Made Us Fear the Water

HISTORY This Week

The HISTORY® Channel

History, Education, Society & Culture

4.6 • 3.9K Ratings

🗓️ 11 August 2025

⏱️ 35 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

August 15, 1915. American diplomat J. T. Du Bois publishes a letter in The New York Times. It’s not about diplomacy or foreign affairs. This letter is about sharks. It’s Du Bois’ attempt to prove to the American public that “Man-Eating Sharks” - as he calls them - are real. Because in 1916? Most people think they’re a myth. Experts say that sharks aren’t dangerous. That they’re “rabbit” tame and too weak-jawed to pose any real threat to humans—at least, in the North East. But the following summer, a series of mysterious attacks in New Jersey will radically change the conversation and lead to a giant sea change in our feelings about sharks. What happens when the myth of the man-eater becomes real? Special thanks to Richard G. Fernicola, author of Twelve Days of Terror: A Definitive Investigation of the 1916 New Jersey Shark Attacks, and Dr. Gavin Naylor, director of the Florida Program for Shark Research at the Florida Museum of Natural History. We also referenced the book Close to Shore: The Terrifying Shark Attacks of 1916 by Michael Capuzzo. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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1:03.8	The History Channel, Original Podcast.
1:08.4	History This Week, August 15 15, 1915.
1:14.1	I'm Sally Helm.
1:17.5	J.T. Dubois has been thinking a lot about sharks.
1:23.2	He's recently wrapped up his post as the American Consul General to Singapore.
1:29.3	Consul generals have many duties. They assist Americans abroad.
1:31.3	They help out with diplomacy.
1:33.3	But Dubois also gave himself a special job.
	...

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