In the summer of 1916 two people were attacked by a 9ft shark who had made its way through Raritan Bay and into the brackish water of the Matawan Creek. A young boy, Lester Stillwell was swimming with his friends who were jumping off of the nearby piles of dilapidated Wycoff Dock when he was bitten, dragged underwater and killed by a shark.
His friends ran downtown for help, a short distance away, and asked their adult friend, Stanley Fisher, for assistance. After Stanley arrived at the creek a large crowd had already gathered and the water was red with blood. Stanley decided he would attempt to recover the boy's body. After diving below he found what remained of Lester and as her was bringing it to shore the shark attacked him, biting him and mortally wounding him in the process.
He dropped the boys body which was taken by the shark and passed away after being rushed to a hospital. The authorities dynamited the water and patrolled from the shark but it was never found.
Lester Stillwell's mangled body was recovered days later by the railroad trestle upriver from the remnants of the dock.