The scene at this time within the barge Iron Mountain, which had been towed close to the shore, was one of wild confusion. The plan of a secret landing had been frustrated, and there was nothing for it now but a hand-to-hand conflict against terrible odds. The cases of rifles were broken open and these weapons and revolvers were hastily distributed among the men. About fifty men were armed with clubs. Captain John W. Cooper, of the New York and Philadelphia division, Captain Charles Norton, of the Chicago division, and Captain Heinde, who had general charge of the expedition, supervised these arrangements. When all were in readiness for battle, a gang-plank was shoved out and the three captains stepped forward, with Heinde in the van. Twenty of the rank and file appeared behind them on the bow of the boat. At this offensive move, the Homestead men, most of whom were armed, shouted a fierce warning. "Go back," they cried, "go back, or we'll not answer for your lives." There were blue uniforms among the group on the bow of the Iron Mountain, and these told their own story to the excited people on the shore. For a moment the Pinkerton men stood at bay. The scene before them was one to appal the bravest. On the beach several hundred men and women--for mothers, wives and sisters had joined in the mad rush to the landing-place--some of them half dressed, some carrying loaded guns, some with stones or clubs in their hands; in the distance hundreds more rushing to the defense; in the background a huge embankment intercepting the passage to the mills; behind them the river and the chance of saving themselves by flight. Retreat, however, would have been ruinous to the prestige of the Pinkerton agency besides resulting probably in throwing upon the agency the entire cost of the fruitless expedition, for Mr. Frick would hardly be willing to pay for services not even fairly begun. So the warning of the workmen was disregarded, and, with a word of command to his men, Captain Heinde pressed forward. Suddenly a shot was fired--whether from the barges or from the shore has always been a mystery. Captain Cooper turned instantly towards the barges and in a loud voice gave the order: "Fire!" A score of Winchester rifles were discharged into the crowd on the bank with deadly effect. Several of the workmen were seen to fall. The first blood had been shed and now the one thought of the men of Homestead was _vengeance_, merciless and complete, on the strangers who had come to shoot them down.