The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1911-04-20
Letter from Charlie Rentz.

D0dI fTl6uQ.- Q.-AlIcI IedUluS IuG
last two issues Of The Herald that
have reached me, have decided to
write you some of the news and hap
penings in the Orient and of the do
ings of the United States Asiatic
,, feet.
/ notice in The Herald of jan
uary 26th an article on Taal, the big
gest volcano in the Philippines, and
1 will first tell you something Of this
volcano. No doubt you have known
of the great recent eruption of this
mountain long before this reaches
you but then it is not like having it
told by one whom has seen it in &C
tion. During the last week of Janu-
ary last Taal had violent eruption,
in which over a thousand people
were killed and many times that
number made homeless. The volca-
no is situated on Taal Island in the
center of lake Taal in the midst Of
bit of tropical scenery. On account
of it being located in the center of
the lake is what made it impossible
for the inhabitants to escape and
made it so disastrous. Being only
80 miles from Manila we could see
it's eruption plainly and a party of
us went to the scene as soon after as
possible What we saw was tragic
and beyond description and will send
you pictures soon that were taken,
that you may show them to anyone
that may be interested in seeing
such.
We have a good fleet composed of
the Saratoga, formerly New York
(fagship) and the cruisers New
Orleans and Albany. At present we
are having our annual spring target
practice and hope to make some
good records before it is over which
will be about one month. Glad to
say that we have the banner ship of
the fleet in every respect. Of course
every man is a booster of his own
ship but the fact that the New Or
leans, called the "Queen of the seas, ="
is the best home in the Asiatic fleet,
is conceded by all.
We won the battle trophy last
fall, also recently won the champion
ship of not only the feet but Of the
Orient with our base ball team and
we are first in naval discipline.
Coming to the Philippines last fall
from Hong Kong, China, we had a
very interesting cruise around the
Islands and stay in Manila. The last
named place is very varied although
fast becoming Americanized. The
Philippine carnival which has just
closed in Manila was very good, the
exhibits from the different provinces
being great. This is an annual event
and is a big thing in the Philippines,
visitors coming here from China, ia
pan and most of the South Sea Is
lands. It was quite curiosity to
see the natives watching Mars in his
aeroplane as it was the first seen in
the Philippines and they went wild
over his flights.
On or about the first of April we
leave on another cruise for the
North, visiting all the principal ports
of China and Japan, and after a stay
of six months in the Islands we are
all anxious to get back to dear old
Shanghai which is the best city Of
the Orient and metropolis.
I read with great pleasure and in
terest of the advancements you are
making in Bamberg. Trust Bamberg
county will be lucky enough and sue
cessful in getting that part of Cole
ton which wants to come with us. /
say us as Bamberg will always be my
home and there can be no Bamberg
boy so far away as I who still loves
his old home as I do. I haven't a
shipmate who takes more pride in
showing his home paper and talking
of the good things there more than
the boy who will be back in his old
home sooner or later.
AS to my receiving The Herald, 1
have been real lucky, not having
missed a single copy since leaving
the United States over a year ago.
In fact I don't know what I would
do if I did miss one.
Remember me to any inquiring
friend and that The Herald and Bam-
berg is on the boom, is the wish Of,
Your sincere friend,
G. w. RENTZ, JR.
Cuocc ruoS Cn06