Daring Escapes of Alcatraz
Alcatraz, “Once considered the prison of American prisons, the island of Alcatraz in San Francisco Bay has been an asset to the U.S. Army, the federal prison system, jailhouse folklore, and the historic evolution of the West Coast” (Mahaney). “In nineteen thirty four Alcatraz was converted into a Federal prison” (“Escapes”). Juan Manuel de Ayala, “He called the twenty two acre rocky island ‘La Isla de los Alcatraces’, meaning ‘Island of the Pelicans’” (Mahaney). “Alcatraz was reserved for military use under President Millard Fillmore in eighteen fifty” (Mahaney). Then “The old military prison was upgraded and installed with the latest ‘escape-proof’ safeguards” (“Escapes”). Although, “It was assumed the ‘treacherous …show more content…
“As a federal penitentiary and from a total of one thousand thirty three prisoners, thirty-four men attempted to escape in fourteen separate attempts, of those, twenty-three were caught, six were shot and killed, and five are missing and assumed dead by prison authorities to have drowned” (“Escapes”). Frank Morris and brothers Clarence and John Anglin are the only men to escape from Alcatraz Island in San Francisco who are unaccounted for” (“Did Alcatraz”). “ Federal officials state ‘Not a single inmate ever successfully escaped from within its wall’ …show more content…
“After climbing through the window they made their way down to the water's edge and disappeared into San Francisco Bay” (“Alcatraz”). “The San Francisco Bay area has one of the strongest tidal currents going under the Golden Gate Bridge” (Morelle). “‘In the worst-case scenario, where paddling was ineffective, the outgoing tide would have swept them out to the ocean and they would have died of hypothermia. For sure.’ Stated Dr. Hut” (Morelle). However,“The TV Show ‘MythBusters’ has tackled the escape, concluding that it’s possible the three men could have paddled to safety” (“Prisoners”). It is said that “Officially, no one ever succeeded in escaping from Alcatraz, although to this day there are five prisoners’ listed as ‘missing and presumed drowned’” (“Alcatraz”). “The authorities assumed they had drowned in San Francisco Bay, but they later appeared in Sutro Forest” (“Escapes”). “Half a century later, the search for clues about the fate of the men continues” (Cohen). “Dyke, a history buff who has been looking for the escapees since two thousand three, still gets tips about the case and said he pursues them all” (Cohen). “If the men were found alive, the U.S. Marshals Office, as recently as two thousand twelve said they would be punished” (“Did Alcatraz”). “Punishments for bad behavior included hard labor, wearing a twelve pound ball and chain, and lock-downs where prisoners were kept in solitary