It was two wrecks in January 1903 that linked together in the press and public mind the name Ship Bottom with the midpoint of Long Beach Island.

During a gale on the night of Jan. 20, 1903, the barkentine Abiel Abbott grounded on the bar off what is today Ship Bottom. Within hours, keeper Isaac Truex and his crew from Life-saving Station No. 20 were on the beach with their equipment, trying to effect a rescue.

The official report reads, “The Lyle gun was quickly placed in position and fired, but the projectile did not quite…