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Formatted by U.S. Data Repository Chief Archivist, Linda Talbott
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                             A BRAVE CAPTAIN
    The man who endangers his own life to save the lives of others
 is a hero in the highest and best sense.  Such service is deserving
 of recognition and admiration, and the name of whoever performs
 it is entitled to secure a place in the annals of his country.  Any
 history of Manistee that did not make honorable mention of the 
 name and heroic service of Capt. Charles Gnewuch would be sig-
 nally incomplete.  His life has not been especially eventful except
 in the valorous service in which he has distinguished himself, (that
 of rescueing life from a watery grave).
    Most of his life has been spent upon the water.  In the Spring
 of 1860 he came to Manistee as captain of the tug "Boule."  Subse-
 quently he became master of the tug "G. W. Tift," and managed it
 in the towing business at Manistee and Milwaukee until the time
 he became captain of the tug "Parsons" of the Canfield Tug Line.
 He managed her until the old tug "Williams" was put on the line.
 He then took charge of that, and when the new and powerful tug
 "Williams" was put on, took charge of her, and together they have
 been in places of safety and danger to the present time.
    The captain has long been famous for his deeds of bravery, and
 in May, 1881, the United States Government bestowed upon him
 the highest honor awarded by our laws to deeds of valor in life-
 saving, viz., a handsome gold medal.  The medal is round in shape,
 about two inches in diameter, and a quarter of an inch thick.  Upon
 its face is a raised picture representing three men in a boat out upon
 the water in a fearful storm.  The waves are dashing furiously 
 about the frail boat, while the three inmates are throwing lines to
 struggling persons in the water.  In the rear of this scene is an old
 wreck of a schooner being rapidly dashed in pieces, and from which
 it is supposed the people in the water have jumped to save them-
 selves, at the last moment.  Around the rim of the face are the
 words, "Life-saving service of the first class.  United States of
 America."  Upon the opposite side of the medal is a picture of a
 woman standing by a shield, upon which are inscribed the words,
 "To Capt. Charles Gnewuch for signal heroism in saving life from
 shipwreck -- 1874-1880.  Act of Congress, June 20, 1874."  Around
 the rim on this side are the words, "In testimony of heroic deeds
 in saving life from the perils of the sea."  The medal is said to
 contain about $80 worth of gold.
    Accompanying were eulogistic letters from Senator Ferry and
 Hon. William Windom, secretary of the treasury.  The latter refers
 to various acts of heroism between the years 1874-1880, during
 which time Capt. Gnewuch saved from drowning in the water of
 Lake Michigan twenty-four persons, and in nearly every instance at
 the imminent peril of his life.
    Prior to the passage of the law under which the medal was
 given, the captain had saved many lives.  His valiant service in this
 direction dates as far back as 1858, to the time when he was a com-
 mon sailor, and from that time down to the present his career has
 been thickly marked with these incidents.
    Capt. Gnewuch is a gentleman of extreme modesty, and never
 refers to what he has done unless pressed into a recital of some of his
 perilous adventures; but he is widely known, not only on account of
 his great nautical skill, but for his unassuming integrity and worth
 as a man.  At the present time he owns an interest in the Canfield
 Tug Line, but he sticks as faithfully to his favorite tug as though
 she could not float without him.
 
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SOURCE: History of Manistee, Mason and Oceana counties, Michigan
        With Illustrations and Biographical Sketches of
        Some Of Its Prominent Men and Pioneers
        Chicago: H. R. Page & Co., - 1882
        Page 61