This is one of the few examples of the information one may find at the Kelley House archives: .

Steamer Ajax wrecked at Blunts Reef-ten mile, south of shelter cove total wreck.

Value $125,000 insured $75,000

Wrecked Nov. 1890

Beacon Jan 3, 1891

The Ajax which sank a few months ago just north of Shelter Cove went to pieces during the late storms and the wreckage is now strewn along the beach.

September 27, 1890 Mendocino Beacon

The Oregon Coal and Navigation steamer Ajax, on her way to San Francisco, struck a rock at Blunt's Reef, ten miles south of Shelter Cove, on Thursday morning of last week and is a total wreck . The sea was calm at the time, but the fog was so thick that the lookout could not see one third the length of the vessel. The passengers and crew took to the boats and had no trouble in landing at Shelter Cove. Some of them passed through here on Saturday, on their way to the city. The vessel and cargo were valued at $125,000, and was insured for $75,000.

October 4, 1890 The underwriters have abandoned all ideas of saving anything from the steamer Ajax which was wrecked on Blunt's reef on the 18th ult. A telegram has been sent to captian Whitelaw; the wrecker asked him if he would buy her, but yet no answer has been received from him. She is lying about two miles off Shelter Cove, in eighteen fathoms of water, and at low tide about four feet of her mast can bee seen above the water. - S.F. Post.

Last Saturday several parties of the wrecked steamer Ajax passed through our village. From them we learned that the steamer ran six hours after striking the reef or rock off Cape Mendocino, and landed all the passengers about 10 miles from shelter cove. There were 50 persons on board, including the crew, who came ashore in four boats, leaving the steamer to sink, which it did soon after it was abandoned. - Sept 27, 1890. Mendocino Beacon "Backward Glance".

The Chinese of the Mendocino Coast

Dogholes and Donkey Engines (a general history of the area produced by the State of California)

James Dean in Mendocino (a history of the making of "East of Eden")

Water Towers and Windmills of Mendocino

Tour of Mendocino (a self-guided historical tour of the town)

Call the Kelley House Musuem (707-937-5791) for more information.