She struck a reef off Point Cabrillo, broke up and sank, killing six of her crew.
Captain Faucon, the mates, and three crew members reached Fort Ross in a ship's boat. Her loss of merchandise from China was estimated at $150,000.
When the sailors made it to San Francisco, local merchants listened to their tales carefully and sent an expedition to salvage the Frolic.
Would-be treasure hunters found local Indians wearing Chinese silks but never recovered any for themselves. They did, however, bring back stories of huge forests with enormous redwood trees.
San Francisco was a growing town at that time and needed timber. The sinking of the Frolic lead to the great California Timber rush and spurred the development of logging ports along every minor cove in Mendocino County.
(Portions of her goods were eventually recovered and have been on display at San Francisco's Maritime Museum.)
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