In this article, I will discuss the former maximum-security prison, Alcatraz prison. Alcatraz prison is located on an island in San Fransico Bay, off the coast of California. Alcatraz was visualized as a Naval Defense Fortification. In 1900, it already held a collection of prisoners, some American people, and some people from other places that had different cultural beliefs. In 1907, the island was designated the Pacific Branch of the United States Military Prison, and the building that we see now was built four years after that. In 1933, the U.S. Army transferred control of the prison to the civilian Department of Justice, and from 1934 to 1963, Alcatraz served as a federal prison for some of the most dangerous convicts in the American penitentiary
…show more content…
Escape attempts were rare, and the ones that happened all became very famous. An example is the escape of John and Clarence Anglin and Frank Morris. Frank Morris arrived at Alcatraz in January 1960 after convictions for bank robbery, burglary, and other crimes and repeated attempts to escape various prisons. Later that year, a convict by the name of John Anglin was sent to Alcatraz, followed by his brother Clarence in early 1961. All three knew each other from previous stints in prison. Assigned to adjoining cells, they began hatching a plan to escape. Morris, known for his intelligence, took the lead in the planning. When the day came, June 12, 1962, the routine early morning bed check was like any other, but three convicts were not in their cells: John Anglin, his brother Clarence, and Frank Morris. In their beds were cleverly built dummy heads made of plaster, flesh-tone paint, and real human hair that fooled the night guards. After noticing this, the prison went into lockdown, and an intensive search began. In the end, none were found, but lots of evidence was left behind. Some things found are a packet of letters sealed in rubber and related to the men, pieces of wood from a paddle, and bits of rubber inner tube. A homemade life vest was also washed up on Cronkhite Beach, but extensive searches did not turn up any other items in the area. That was the …show more content…
They were aided by inmate Allen West, who didn't make it out of his cell in time and began providing information. Here's what the investigators learned: More than 50 raincoats that they stole or gathered were turned into a 6x14 foot rubber raft. They carefully stitched it together and vulcanized it with the hot steam pipes in the prison. The group got the idea in the previous December when one of them found some old saw blades. Behind the cells is an unguarded utility corridor. They made their way down this corridor and climbed to the roof of their cell block inside the building, where they set up a secret workshop and built tools to escape. Even after almost 62 years, the case is still a mystery. Nobody knows if they survived or if they drowned in the fierce waters of the ocean, and unless someone finds their bodies, nobody ever will. I think the three criminals did make it to land and hide their identities. The first reason is that the sailing was only 1.25 miles, which is still a lot, but short if using a boat. Secondly, they are already out of the building, so nothing can stop them other than the current, so they must have thought something out before the escape. Thirdly, the guards had no clue where they were, and when they found the first clue, it was too late. Lastly, in 2019, a note was given to the FBI
Escape attempts were rare, and the ones that happened all became very famous. An example is the escape of John and Clarence Anglin and Frank Morris. Frank Morris arrived at Alcatraz in January 1960 after convictions for bank robbery, burglary, and other crimes and repeated attempts to escape various prisons. Later that year, a convict by the name of John Anglin was sent to Alcatraz, followed by his brother Clarence in early 1961. All three knew each other from previous stints in prison. Assigned to adjoining cells, they began hatching a plan to escape. Morris, known for his intelligence, took the lead in the planning. When the day came, June 12, 1962, the routine early morning bed check was like any other, but three convicts were not in their cells: John Anglin, his brother Clarence, and Frank Morris. In their beds were cleverly built dummy heads made of plaster, flesh-tone paint, and real human hair that fooled the night guards. After noticing this, the prison went into lockdown, and an intensive search began. In the end, none were found, but lots of evidence was left behind. Some things found are a packet of letters sealed in rubber and related to the men, pieces of wood from a paddle, and bits of rubber inner tube. A homemade life vest was also washed up on Cronkhite Beach, but extensive searches did not turn up any other items in the area. That was the …show more content…
They were aided by inmate Allen West, who didn't make it out of his cell in time and began providing information. Here's what the investigators learned: More than 50 raincoats that they stole or gathered were turned into a 6x14 foot rubber raft. They carefully stitched it together and vulcanized it with the hot steam pipes in the prison. The group got the idea in the previous December when one of them found some old saw blades. Behind the cells is an unguarded utility corridor. They made their way down this corridor and climbed to the roof of their cell block inside the building, where they set up a secret workshop and built tools to escape. Even after almost 62 years, the case is still a mystery. Nobody knows if they survived or if they drowned in the fierce waters of the ocean, and unless someone finds their bodies, nobody ever will. I think the three criminals did make it to land and hide their identities. The first reason is that the sailing was only 1.25 miles, which is still a lot, but short if using a boat. Secondly, they are already out of the building, so nothing can stop them other than the current, so they must have thought something out before the escape. Thirdly, the guards had no clue where they were, and when they found the first clue, it was too late. Lastly, in 2019, a note was given to the FBI