Shark Creek, USA

This is a picture of me and mine at Matawan Creek in New Jersey. In 1916 a shark thought to be a Great White swam a long way up this creek and savagely attacked three people - two fatally. Having had two of my relatives involved in unusual shark attacks over the last 80 years, I have long been fascinated with this particular attack, and since no-one had ever written a detailed book length account of the incidents, I determined to do just that. This was my first visit from England to the Creek only a few weeks before the Twin Towers attack. If anyone would like to here more about it, just please say so.
Marlin

Marlin, thank you for sharing. That's a very nice photo (as are the others) - Such an interesting story about the Creek as well. It does remind me of a NG docu about a creek or river or stream somewhere in the U.S. where a shark also is said to have swum and attacked people (but very long ago and no definite evidence of those attacks).

Yes, sure - I certainly would like to hear more about it.

No problemo, amiga. First of all , though, let me tell you the tale of one of my relatives who was involved in an unusual shark attack back in the 1930's.
Uncle John Masters (you have read about him already)
was stationed as a young oficer with the British Army in Aden. One Sunday morning when off duty he took his horse and rode along the beach for a few miles. Coming to where the dunes formed a high crest, he rode his horse up to the top for and stopped for a cigarette. After a few minutes, he head the sound of laughter and shouting, and he nudged his horse to the far side of the crest to see what was happening. When he got there, he saw down on the beach below splashing about in just a foot or so of water, were 5 or 6 Indian dhobi wallahs ( these were the servants that did the officer's laundry for them ). Clearly, it being their day off also,they were just having some fun ! As John looked at them, he saw appear on the far side of a sandbank that screened the Indians from the sea, a number of black fins cutting through the water - it was a pack of sharks !!! John was alarmed, but saw that the sharks were prevented from attacking the Indians by the low sandbank, over which lapped only an inch or so of water. But, to his horror, the first of several sharks slid up onto the sandbank and started to squirm across the wet sand to get to the Indians. Pulling out his pistol, John fired a shot or two into the air to alarm the Indians. Seeing who it was they just waved back and called at him. By now a fourth shark had slid up onto the sandbank and was sliding towards the Indians - those before it had by now swum under the surface and were heading for the men, who were completely oblivious to their impending doom ! John spurred his horse forward and down the steep dune ; the Indians were now fighting for their lives against these monster black sharks that were snapping and biting at them. Still on horseback, John rode into the thrashing,blood soaked water and fired at the sharks just two or three times before his pistol was empty. He had killed one but many continued the horrific attack. John's horse shied at the blood in the water - by now limbs, ripped off their owners,were floating in the water and a dead shark still snapped at bit at them, it's nerves still powering it's dead brain. John drew his sword and cut and slashed at the remaing monsters, two of which were attempting to pull a legless Indian, his torn leg stumps still spurting blood, across the sandbank back into the deeper water !The battle raged for several minutes and John's sword became blunted after many slashes at the hard, rough skins of the sharks. Slipping off his horse into the water, he told a Dhobi wallah to take his horse up the beach, whilst he dragged and pulled two of the survivors, one of whom's leg was almost wholly down a shark's throat. John stabbed at the shark's eyes with his by now broken sword- the blinded creature spat out the Indian's leg and thrashed feebly in the shallow water, sightless and lost.

By now, the reports of John's pistol had been heard in the camp and several soldiers galloped up on their horses, firing into the sharks as they tried to get away. Two Indians were lost, their bodies were never found ! John, always a hero to his men, was now their saviour, too !

I tell you more about the other attacks, soon !
Cheers,
Marlin.

Yo'Marlin That is s-o-m-e horrific but heroic story! Thank you so much for sharing this
He sure knew how to react swiftly and effectively, your Uncle John Masters {Feel-good-000200BB}

I grew up in Matawan. When we were kids, we used to scare the lights out of each other with tales of the Great White Shark. At camp, which took place about 300 feet from the banks of the Matawan Creek, we used to traumatize each other with kid stories of shark eggs laying in the cold waters. It was a fun little town to grow up in, I miss it! Have you finished your book?