For this voyage he
secured a rubber, water-tight bag with air chambers sufficient to
support about fifty pounds of provisions. It also contained a
compartment for fresh water. Into this bag he packed sufficient
provisions in a condensed form to last him ten days; also two dozen
signal lights with striker for same, some rockets, compass and a knife.
Besides this his baggage consisted of his suit, a strong double bladed
axe to be used for protection against sharks or sword fish. He
innocently boarded several vessels and confided his intentions to
the captains. They unanimously agreed that no attempt at suicide should
be made off their vessel, for such they termed his enterprise. The
newspapers at this time got hold of the plan and made it a subject of
fun. Tired at failure to get a captain to take him off shore, Paul
decided to adopt another plan. So on Saturday, October 11th, 1874, he
quietly walked up the gangplank of the National Line Steamship
Company's steamer The Queen. He carried his little store of baggage as
if it was the property of one of the passengers. He walked forward
and deposited his stuff; then mingled among the crowd. It was not his
intention to cross the ocean so he neglected the necessary form of
purchasing a ticket.
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