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About The Book

This book delves into a chilling chapter of American history, recounting the unprecedented shark attacks that occurred along the New Jersey coast in July 1916. The narrative begins with Charles Vansant, a young graduate who became the first recorded fatality of a shark attack in the United States. His screams from the ocean went unheeded by beachgoers, initially dismissed as a prank. This tragic event was soon followed by another attack on Swiss tourist Charles Bruder, whose gruesome injuries shocked onlookers and ignited widespread panic.

The horror escalated when 11-year-old Lester Stillwell was seized by a shark while swimming in Matawan Creek. His friends' desperate attempts to save him led to local tailor Stanley Fisher diving into the water, only to become another victim himself. The media frenzy surrounding these incidents momentarily eclipsed news of World War I, highlighting society's deep-seated fears regarding nature's unpredictability.

As residents armed themselves to combat this threat, national attention focused on New Jersey's coastline. Ultimately, it was lion tamer Michael Schleisser who ended the terror after killing the great white shark responsible for these attacks using only a broken oar. Inside its stomach were remnants of human remains, further solidifying public fear and fascination with sharks.

This account not only chronicles the events surrounding these harrowing encounters but also explores their lasting impact on American culture and attitudes toward sharks. It highlights how one species' predatory behavior can reshape societal perceptions and inspire legends like Frank Mundus—a figure who would later influence cinematic portrayals of sharks in popular culture.

Author, Songwriter, Marine Corps Veteran, Mother and Grandmother

Mary Elizabeth Baker is a Marine Corps Veteran, author, and motivational speaker with more than 30 years of leadership experience in the mortgage and finance industry. A former upper-level sales executive, she led, trained, and mentored hundreds of professionals, helping them take command of their careers, finances, and personal responsibility. Her no-excuses approach to leadership was forged during eight years of service in U.S. Marine Corps aviation, where discipline, accountability, and resilience were not optional—they were survival skills. That foundation shaped her career in corporate leadership, where she became known not just for managing teams, but for transforming them. Mary specialized in developing mental toughness, instilling personal accountability, and teaching individuals how to build real financial stability in a results-driven world. As a sought-after motivational speaker and sales trainer, Mary has coached professionals across multiple industries, challenging them to abandon victimhood, break free from limiting beliefs, and adopt the habits required for long-term success. Her work emphasizes self-discipline, responsibility, and leadership—principles she believes are essential not only in business, but in life, relationships, and family. Now retired from the corporate world, Mary devotes her time to writing and speaking, using her lived experience to confront cultural myths and restore truth, balance, and accountability. Her books span self-improvement, financial literacy, cultural commentary, and fiction, all united by a common thread: the belief that strong individuals build strong families—and strong families build strong societies. Mary lives by the principles that shaped her life and career: discipline, resilience, accountability, faith, and an unwavering commitment to personal responsibility.

The Man Who Conquered Jaws

About The Book

Mary Elizabeth Bakers Books

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