On the foggy night of Dec. 11, 1916, the 351-foot Army transport Sumner, once described as the most elegant ship in the Army, ran aground in calm seas just beyond the breakers at Barnegat Light. The first concern of the local Coast Guard was to save the women and children aboard, and by mid-morning of the 12th this had been accomplished.
According to the official report, “About 10 a.m. the Mohawk dropped anchor 200 yards off the Sumner’s quarter.
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