Copyright USGenNet Inc., 2012, All Rights Reserved U.S. Data Repository Please read U.S. Data Repository Copyright Statement on this page: Transcribed and submitted by Linda Talbott for the US Data Repository http://www.us-data.org/ ========================================================================= U.S. Data Repository NOTICE: These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or presentation by any other organization. Non-commercial organizations desiring to use this material must obtain the consent of the transcriber prior to use. Individuals desiring to use this material in their own research may do so. ========================================================================= Formatted by U.S. Data Repository Chief Archivist, Linda Talbott All of the above information must remain when copied or downloaded. =========================================================================== SOURCE: The Milwaukee Sentinel Wednesday, July 26, 1944 TUG CAPTAIN Is Dead at 85 -------------- William Gnewuch Dies After Fall; Piloted Boats Here for Many Years Capt. William Gnewuch, 85, who at his retirement in 1942 was the oldest tugboat captain on the Great Lakes and a veteran of 67 years of life on the water, died Tuesday at Mount Sinai hospital. Capt. Gnewuch's death was the result of injuries received Sunday when he fell 15 feet from a second story window at his home, 3063 N. Oakland av. He had a record for daring rescues. His father, Capt. Charles Gnewuch, received a congressional medal citation for life saving when Capt. Gnewuch was still a small boy. At the age of 16 he was already sailing with his father. He was born in Lebanon, Wis., and at the age of 20 was a captain. In his lifelong service he sailed only two tugs - the old Welcome and the Conrad Starke. Only One Survivor The story of the crib disaster of 1893 is associated with Capt. Gnewuch. Fifteen men were digging a tunnel at the crib standing in the lake off North Point pumping station. Caught in a storm, the men took refuge in a shaft. By morning the air pumps had stopped working and the men started to suffocate. Some climbed to daylight and were swept away by the storm. Capt. Gnewuch towed out Capt. Ingar Olsen and a life saving crew in a launch. They were able to save one man. In March, 1920, the tug commanded by Capt. Gnewuch was part of a flotilla which was frozen in ice for two days as it came from Grand Haven. His last big job came when he pulled a boat off the rocks near Fox Point shortly before his retirement. He was a familiar part of the picture of Milwaukee in the 54 years he piloted tugboats up and down the Milwaukee and Menominee rivers. TEN CHILDREN SURVIVE Capt. Gnewuch was a member of the Licensed Tugmen's Protective association and served as secretary of the local. He was a member of St. Mary's church on N. Broadway and affiliated with the Catholic Order of Foresters and the Catholic Knights of Wisconsin. Surviving are ten children, Flora, Mrs. S. C. Peters, Mrs. Hilbert An- dres, Mrs. Margaret Laidig and Mrs. Ray Kaiser, all of Milwaukee; Theo- dore F., division passenger agent of the North Shore railroad; George J. and Paul J. of Milwaukee; Brother Leon, C.S.C. of the Congregation of the Holy Cross, Albany, N.Y., and Charles W. Gnewuch who operates a tugboat out of Green Bay. Capt. Gnewuch's wife died in 1938. Funeral services will be held at 9:15 a.m. Friday at the Wendler chapel, W. Capitol dr. and N. 21st st., and at 10 a.m. at St. Mary's church. Burial will be in Calvary cemetery.