In December 1916, the Army transport Sumner was stranded just beyond the breakers in Barnegat Light. Once called the most elegant transport in the Army, the 351-foot ship had served the nation in both the Atlantic and Pacific oceans and survived typhoons, hurricanes and collisions. Her service to the nation was quickly coming to an end, but her connection with LBI was just beginning.

The New York Times of Dec. 17 announced the government’s failure.