Recently I have become fascinated by Alcatraz. Possibly the most famous prison to ever exist, Alcatraz is home to some of the most captivating stories. From prisoners, to daring escape attempts, life on "The Rock” has captured my interest. Alcatraz was thought to be the most inescapable prison. It was “America’s premier maximum-security” prison. Inhabited by only America’s most irredeemable criminals, Alcatraz housed over 1500 men during its 29 years of operation. Located just 1.5 miles off of the coast of San Francisco, Alcatraz operated from 1934 until its closure in 1963. |
Alcatraz Island was originally an army military prison, but in 1934 became a prison of the Federal Bureau after the security system was brought up to date. Due to its high security, cold waters, strong currents, and location of Alcatraz, the prison operators believed it to be inescapable But, as always, many inmates saw escaping Alcatraz as the greatest challenge to ever be presented to them. Over 29 years, 36 men (including 2 men who undertook the challenge twice) were involved in 14 escape attempts. Which, if you think about it is not a lot, making me think that many of the men who we imprisoned, accepted their fate as an inmate for life. 23 of these men were caught, 6 shot and killed during their attempt, and two men drowned after absconding. (Many believe that the swim from Alcatraz to San Francisco was impossible, but before the opening in 1934, a girl swam from shore to the island to prove it possible). In 1946, after the death of a correctional officer, two men were executed in a gas chamber at the California state prison, this was later referred to as the "Battle of Alcatraz".
Now the more observant of you may have noticed that I've only accounted for 33 runaways. That is because I have left the best, and most successful, for last. On June 11th, 1962, Frank Morris and brothers John and Clarence Anglin disappeared from their cells and were never seen again. A fourth man, Allen West, who was thought to be the mastermind behind the escape, was also involved, but was still in his cell the next morning. Their brilliant escape plan took several months to produce. It was elaborate, complex, and required the fabrication of lifelike decoys and a raft made out of rain coats. Frank Morris spent half a lifetime memorizing the layout of Alcatraz, before his arrival. He earned his trip to Alcatraz from his extensive resume of escapes and in January of 1960, arrived at the prison he had been studying his entire life. The Anglin brothers were almost as impressive as Morris, their intelligence and knowledge of the prison system made them excellent partners. Allen West, who lived out his sentence in the adjoining room, and knew the Algin brothers from past imprisonment, claims to be the mastermind behind the entire escape, but this may have to do with the fact that he never actually escaped and much of the following information can be sourced to him.
In December of 1961, after West allegedly found old saw blades in a utility corridor, their scheming began. They began to dig through the vent holes and then moved on to the vent at the top of the cell block. They also created dummy heads with plaster and real hair, this was the key to their plan. After several months, on June 11th, Morris finally deemed the top ventilator loose enough and declared that to be the night they had been waiting for. They each placed the decoys in their beds, so when guards came around for the nightly rounds, they would all be accounted for. They then proceeded to crawl through the holes they created and removed the ventilator grills. Unfortunately, Allen West was unable to remove his, and would have to be left behind. They made a 30-foot climb up the plumbing to the cell house roof, 100 feet across the rooftop, and then down 50 feet of piping to the ground. In an interview, West said that the next step in the plan was to use the raft they had created out of raincoats to make their way to a nearby island, then swim to another. After robbing a clothing store and stealing a car they would go in their separate directions. Regrettably, West was eventually able to remove his grill and ventured to their meeting spot, but they had already taken off with the raft. With that he was forced to return to his cell.
The most fascinating part of this story is that they were never seen after reaching the ground outside of the prison. No one ever recognizably saw them again. It is to be believed that they drowned somewhere off the coast of the island, after the cold water took effect on their bodies, but nothing is for certain. For decades after, the possibility of success was explored. The FBI opened an investigation and resolved that the inmates plan had in fact failed. The formal plan was to burglarize a clothing store, and then a car, but no such crimes were reported. Of course there is the possibility that they changed their plan. The most curious fact being that no bodies were ever found in the water, unlike the previous escape attempts.
On March 21st, 1963, after one final failed attempt of escaping, in December of 1962, Alcatraz closed its doors. Their reasoning for closure was high expenses and the need for repairs, but it is also believed that the possibility of a successful escape had devastated the prison’s "inescapable" status, taking away the prison’s intimidation.
All in all, everyone may have their own opinions related to the ending of "The Great Escape of Alcatraz", if you ask me, and in reading this, I would assume you are, I like to believe that they made it. Their bodies were never found, and just because they didn't follow through with their original plan, doesn't mean they weren't successful. The FBI may not agree because they have no proof of their success, but, they also have no proof that they failed. So, what do you think? Is the absence of proof for failure, proof of success?
Now the more observant of you may have noticed that I've only accounted for 33 runaways. That is because I have left the best, and most successful, for last. On June 11th, 1962, Frank Morris and brothers John and Clarence Anglin disappeared from their cells and were never seen again. A fourth man, Allen West, who was thought to be the mastermind behind the escape, was also involved, but was still in his cell the next morning. Their brilliant escape plan took several months to produce. It was elaborate, complex, and required the fabrication of lifelike decoys and a raft made out of rain coats. Frank Morris spent half a lifetime memorizing the layout of Alcatraz, before his arrival. He earned his trip to Alcatraz from his extensive resume of escapes and in January of 1960, arrived at the prison he had been studying his entire life. The Anglin brothers were almost as impressive as Morris, their intelligence and knowledge of the prison system made them excellent partners. Allen West, who lived out his sentence in the adjoining room, and knew the Algin brothers from past imprisonment, claims to be the mastermind behind the entire escape, but this may have to do with the fact that he never actually escaped and much of the following information can be sourced to him.
In December of 1961, after West allegedly found old saw blades in a utility corridor, their scheming began. They began to dig through the vent holes and then moved on to the vent at the top of the cell block. They also created dummy heads with plaster and real hair, this was the key to their plan. After several months, on June 11th, Morris finally deemed the top ventilator loose enough and declared that to be the night they had been waiting for. They each placed the decoys in their beds, so when guards came around for the nightly rounds, they would all be accounted for. They then proceeded to crawl through the holes they created and removed the ventilator grills. Unfortunately, Allen West was unable to remove his, and would have to be left behind. They made a 30-foot climb up the plumbing to the cell house roof, 100 feet across the rooftop, and then down 50 feet of piping to the ground. In an interview, West said that the next step in the plan was to use the raft they had created out of raincoats to make their way to a nearby island, then swim to another. After robbing a clothing store and stealing a car they would go in their separate directions. Regrettably, West was eventually able to remove his grill and ventured to their meeting spot, but they had already taken off with the raft. With that he was forced to return to his cell.
The most fascinating part of this story is that they were never seen after reaching the ground outside of the prison. No one ever recognizably saw them again. It is to be believed that they drowned somewhere off the coast of the island, after the cold water took effect on their bodies, but nothing is for certain. For decades after, the possibility of success was explored. The FBI opened an investigation and resolved that the inmates plan had in fact failed. The formal plan was to burglarize a clothing store, and then a car, but no such crimes were reported. Of course there is the possibility that they changed their plan. The most curious fact being that no bodies were ever found in the water, unlike the previous escape attempts.
On March 21st, 1963, after one final failed attempt of escaping, in December of 1962, Alcatraz closed its doors. Their reasoning for closure was high expenses and the need for repairs, but it is also believed that the possibility of a successful escape had devastated the prison’s "inescapable" status, taking away the prison’s intimidation.
All in all, everyone may have their own opinions related to the ending of "The Great Escape of Alcatraz", if you ask me, and in reading this, I would assume you are, I like to believe that they made it. Their bodies were never found, and just because they didn't follow through with their original plan, doesn't mean they weren't successful. The FBI may not agree because they have no proof of their success, but, they also have no proof that they failed. So, what do you think? Is the absence of proof for failure, proof of success?