Stuttgart
Requesting information on volcanic eruptions — Or signs of activity such as earthquake or clouds of smoke of some volcano — Though Rizal is lives far from any Philippine volcanoes, still closer to them than Knuttle is — Seeking eagerly Rizal’s collaboration
* * *
Stuttgart, 16 July 1894
Dr. JOSÉ RIZAL
Dapitan
Sir,
Please accept my sincere thanks for your kind reply of 5 June to my letter of 24 April.
I believe as you say that you have not made a special study of geology and I know also that at this moment you are quite far from the active volcanoes of Mindanao and even more from those volcanoes in other islands of the Philippines. Nevertheless, Sir, you are much nearer to them than I am. That means to say that you have certainly an opportunity to receive frequently certain news if some volcano begins to erupt or give signs of activity either through some earthquake to which it can be attributed or through that emission of clouds of smoke, etc, etc. You understand that it is exceedingly rare for newspapers to give such information and you understand enough geology to know how important that is to one gathering data for a future history of volcanoes.
That is the reason, Sir, why I request you – convinced now of your good will by your kind letter – to please furnish me with such information from time to time if it will be convenient to you, and I shall be very grateful to you in the name of science and in my own.
My report on the activity of volcanoes for the year 1893 will soon be out in German in an Austrian mineralogical and petrographic journal.
Please be kind enough to let me know if you read German and if you wish [me] to send you a copy of my work which I shall do with genuine pleasure.
In reiterating my thanks for your kind reply, I remain, Sir,
Your respectful servant,
S. KNUTTLE
Kernerstrasse, No. 12
02-821 [Blumentritt V.2]