Just then a single shot rang out, followed by about ten minutes of intense gunfire. Most of it came from the vigilantes on the dock, but some fire came from the "Verona", although the majority of the passengers were unarmed. Whether the first shot came from boat or dock was never determined. Passengers aboard the "Verona" rushed to the opposite side of the ship, nearly capsizing the vessel. The ship's rail broke as a result and a number of passengers were ejected into the water, some drowned as a result but how many is not known, or whether persons who'd been shot also went overboard. Over 175 bullets pierced the pilot house alone, and the captain of the "Verona", Chance Wiman, was only able to avoid being shot by ducking behind the ship's safe.