At the close of his Berlin engagement, Paul determined to make a voyage down the Rhine.

With that intention he started for Basle, Switzerland.
Several correspondents of French, German and English papers desired to accompany him on his trip.

As the river is very rough and swift between Basle and Strassburg, they decided to join him at Strassburg when he arrived there.

In October, 1875, he started on his first long river voyage, four hundred miles, to Cologne.
At five o'clock in the morning he stepped into the rapid Rhine, with nothing but his bugle and paddle.

His first run was to Strassburg, seventy miles below.