AN AMAZING saga telling the story of the loss of the great sailing ship Prince Victor in the River Severn 112 years ago has been rediscovered in a cupboard of a house at St Briavels Common.

The story is written in verse and was tucked away for safe-keeping by Mrs Gladys Creswick, 79.

The saga recently came to light again and was brought to the Review by Mrs Creswick's daughter, Pauline Hughes, of Mount Pleasant, Lydney.

Pauline remembers how the long verse was recited word for word and unaided by her grandfather, Mr George Williams, of St Briavels Common.

"Mum has had the verse since childhood. It was given to her father and, she believes, was written by a Mr Whittington, of Hewelsfield. Unfortunately she cannot remember his christian name," said Pauline.

The verse tells the story of how the Prince Victor, a fully rigged Norwegian vessel, entered the Severn on Good Friday 1887 bound for Sharpness from New York with a cargo of paraffin.Captain Hans Cornelinsen was accompanied on the voyage by his wife Nathalie and eight year-old son, Olaf.

Under the guidance of a pilot and aided by three tugs, Prince Victor met her end when she struck the Whirls End sands off Beachley. She turned broadside to the tide and rolled over on the tug, Victoria. To this day no trace of the tug has ever been found, but by a miracle all the crew escaped by scrambling into the rigging of the doomed sailing ship.

The two victims were the captain's wife and son who were trapped in their cabin.

Prince Victor eventually came to rest near Woolaston. The crew were cared for locally and mother and son were buried at the village church.

The tragedy was not without a happier side for the mate is said to have met and married a local girl.