by Alex Womack
ALCATRAZ ISLAND MAXIMUM SECURITY by A L EX WOMACK
Extra Information
Alcatraz Reveals Its True Nature— A Prison
Gangsters Make Alcatraz Their Home
Escape Attempts
1 2 3 4
CHAPTER 1
ALCATRAZ ISLAND: MAXIMUM SECURITY
// Alcatraz Reveals Its True Nature—A Prison
5
1
Alcatraz Reveals Its True Nature— A Prison Early in the development of Alcatraz by
The United States Army continued to build
army engineers, it seemed almost inevitable
a larger prison compound, but by 1880 it was
that the island fortress would evolve into a
plain to see that the army was beginning to
military prison. Less than a decade after con-
change its priorities; the Post of Alcatraz was
struction began on the fortress, the army was
in reality now a military prison instead of a
temporarily housing military prisoners from
gaurded fortress.
the San Francisco Presidio for various minor
In 1907 the U.S. War Department decided to
offenses. It caused somewhat of a hardship to
build a permanent military prison. Construc-
lodge prisoners on the island as the Post of
tion began almost at once; however, it was not
Alcatraz was designed strictly as a fortress. A
completed until 1912. Some of the work was
small wooden building had to be constructed
completed by army prisoners themselves, and
for a minor prison compound. Army person-
some of them became the first to be housed in
nel were shifted from artillery duty to guard
the new facility.
the prisoners. This move left some of the gun posts undermanned. By the middle of the 1860s, the army stockade was bulging with more than 100 prisoners, which necessitated the construction of a much larger brick building to accommodate the rapidly growing prisoner population. Army records reflect that during the 18 70s the Post of Alcatraz had more than 400 military prisoners incaFcerated at the fortress.
Right: Construction of the cell house around 1908
7
Above: Warden Johnston showing Bay Area officials the prison
The Post of Alcatraz was about to enter its final phase. In 1915 the military prison officially became the military disciplinary barracks, an army rehabilitation center for training. It would continue in that capacity for the next 19 years. There were a number of support buildings constructed by the army during its tenure as a fortress and then as a military prison. Many of these buildings remained in use by the Federal Bureau of Prisons until “The Rock” closed in 1963. An example of army construction on the island is 64 Building, which is a three-story structure that overlooks the dock. The building was built in 1905 to house military guards and their families. The author had an uncle who served as a military guard during the 1920s and lived in this building. This same building also served as the author’s first residence after moving to Alcatraz in 1942 at age seven. The island and its variety of structures offer an impressive sight to tourists stepping off the daily tour boats.
Above: Special train arriving from Atlanta Federal Prison at Alcatraz with more than 50 inmates in 1934
ALCATRAZ ISLAND: MAXIMUM SECURITY
// Alcatraz Reveals Its True Nature—A Prison
9
CHAPTER 2
ALCATRAZ ISLAND: MAXIMUM SECURITY
// Gangsters Make Alcatraz Their Home
11
Alfonse “Scarface” Capone // AZ#85 Born: 1899 Died: 1947 Time served on Alcatraz Island: 5 years Charge: Income Tax Violations
Right: Al Capone’s FBI criminal “rap” sheet.
Gangsters Make Alcatraz Their Home Justice
Department
Builds
Ultramaxi-
isolated. Second, they wanted a nononsense
mum-Security Prison By the beginning of
warden; and third, they felt that they needed
the 1930s, the military prisoner population
correctional officers that had had experience
on Alcatraz was in a sharp decline. The De-
at other federal facilities. The Department of
partment of Justice, however, was having its
Justice turned the project over to its newly
problems as the gangster era was at its peak.
formed arm, the Bureau of Prisons. The final
Justice officials felt that convicting gangsters
decision was made. Alcatraz Island would be
and sending them to existing federal pris-
the ideal location. There was already a prison
ons did very little good. The reason for this
in operation, and with upgrading, it could be
was that the big-time gangsters, like Alfonse
virtually escape-proof. The only issue was that
“Scarface” Capone, lived just about as well in
local officials of the San Francisco Bay Area
prison as they did on the outside. It was decid-
were not happy with the prospect of having
ed, therefore, that a new type of prison would
some of this country’s most notorious gang-
be opened.
sters imprisoned practically on their doorstep.
2
The new prison would be America’s first ultramaximum-security penitentiary and would have to meet certain specifications. First, officials needed a place that was somewhat Below: Al Capone and his gang.
13
Hurley’s father got his first glimpse of Ca-
This time it was on a one-to-one basis. My
pone in the recreation yard at Atlanta Fed-
father had escorted a transferred prisoner to
Sometime later Capone was transferred to
eral Prison in 1933. He had just delivered
the federal prison at Terminal Island in Cali-
the federal prison at Lewisburg where he com-
a prisoner on a transfer to Atlanta from
fornia and was to return to McNeil Island with
pleted his sentence and was released. He spent
McNeil Island Prison. The watch lieutenant
a prisoner who was to be transferred from the
some time on the east coast for treatment of
asked my father if he would like to tour the
Terminal Island facility. As court appearanc-
his disease, but by this time he was a very sick
prison before he returned to McNeil. While
es delayed the inmate’s departure to McNeil
man. Relatives took him to his estate in Miami,
looking down into the huge recreation yard
for a period of nearly a month, my father was
Florida, where he died on January 25,1947. Ca-
from a third-floor administration office, my
assigned on a temporary basis to the prison’s
pone first came to the attention of authorities
father noticed an inmate with four or five in-
infirmary.
in 1919 when he was only 20 years old. His first
mates walking near him, but not next to him.
Capone spent a lot of time at the infirmary
Many of that era would agree.
brush with the law was for disorderly conduct
When he commented about this, he was told
due to the advanced stages of syphilis taking
that the inmate was none other than Capone.
its toll on his general health. There were two
Capone rose through the ranks of the mob
The lieutenant handed my father a pair of bin-
X’s on his medical chart by this time which re-
very quickly until by the late twenties he had
oculars for a closer look at this most famous of
flected that Capone was in the second of three
most of Chicago’s criminal activities under his
all prisoners. My father later recalled that Ca-
stages of syphilis. Alcatraz Island: Maximum
thumb. For every person who swore that Ca-
pone was a man just under six feet tall with a
Security He was haying a rough time of it.
pone had ordered hundreds of hits (killings),
barrel chest and a stocky build. He must have
He was well aware of what fate held in store
there were even more people who thought of
weighed around 235 pounds. He commented
for him, but as my father recalled, he talked
him as some kind of modern day Robin Hood
that Capone strutted around the recreation
very little about his disease. He did, however,
who helped feed and clothe a multitude of wid-
yard as if he were royalty. Several years later
ramble on about the many good old Chicago
ows and orphans. It is a fact that he gave large
(1939), my father had another occasion where
days and always felt that people really got only
cash donations to a number of charities.
he encountered Capone.
what they wanted during prohibition-”booze.”
which was later dismissed.
In 1931 Capone was convicted of U.S. tax violations and was given a 10-year sentence. He began serving his sentence at Atlanta Federal Prison in May 1932. After two years of living almost as well in prison as he did when he controlled his Chicago mob, it was decided by officials at the Bureau of Prisons to transfer Capone out of the limelight. As the new ultramaximum-security federal prison at Alcatraz Island had just opened in the summer of 1934, some felt that here would be a perfect location toreduce, the high visibility Capone had enjoyed at Atlanta. So Capone, along with some other 50 prisoners, was put on a special train to this new escape-proof prison.
Above: Al “ Scarface� Capone enroute to Atlanta Prison after his conviction
ALCATRAZ ISLAND: MAXIMUM SECURITY
// Gangster Make Alcatraz Their Home
15
CHAPTER 3
ALCATRAZ ISLAND: MAXIMUM SECURITY
// Escape Attempts
17
3
Escape Attempts #1
April 27, 1936
#3
April 23, 1938
#13
June 11, 1962 (“Escape From Alcatraz”)
Bold prisoners bolt for freedom while trying
tows. Most prison officials felt that because
brave frigid water and officers’ bullets in es-
of these two facts, the waters of San Francisco
cape attempts. There have been fourteen ma-
Bay provided a deterrent equal to an extra 10
jor attempts involving 36 men. Even though
invisible correctional officers.
“The Rock” was publicized as an escapeproof prison, it neither stopped inmates from talking about or, in a few cases, attempting it.
18
Results of the Fourteen Escape Attempts:
There probably would have been more than
Shot and killed ............................................... 7
the 14 escape attempts, but for two reasons.
Shot and wounded ......................................... 2
First, there was the average cold temperature
Confirmed drowned .......................................1
of the waters in the San Francisco Bay of 53°F.
Presumed drowned ....................................... 5
Secondly, the current in and out of the Golden
Executed in gas chamber .............................. 2
Gate could run as fast as nine miles per hour,
Recaptured injured not by gunfire ............... 2
sometimes accompanied by deadly under-
Recaptured not injured ............................... 17
Attempt #1
April 27, 1936 Joseph Bowers // AZ#210
Joseph Bowers is credited with the first escape
fence. The officer shouted several times for
attempt from “The Rock” He was a quiet man
Bowers to stop climbing; however his shout-
and always kept to himself. It was generally
ing was in vain. Bowers climbed over the top
believed by most other inmates that Bowers
of the fence and started down the other side.
was insane and should necer have been sent to
The officer fired a couple warning shots over
Alcatraz. He was a powerful man; however, he
Bowers; head. As this failed to halt him, Chan-
seemed to be far below average I.Q. .
dler fired at his legs. Unfortunately, the shot
Bowers had been sentenced to 25 years for
went high, catching Bowers in the right side
robbing a grocery store/post office, which
of the chest causing him to lose his grip on
made the crime a federal offense. Luck was
the fence. Bowers fell to his death on the rocks
bad all the way for Bowers that day as the hold-
more than 50 feet below.
up had netted less than $20.
This escape attempt from “The Rock” was
After being sent to Alcatraz, Bowers was
just a preview of the 13 that were to follow.
assigned to burning trash at the incinerator
These escape attempts would result in the vio-
located on the west side of the island. The
lent deaths of many officers and inmates alike
incinerator was surrounded by a 12-foot-high
over the next 27 years.
cyclone fence topped with barbed wire. The incinerator was within view of the officer in the road tower. Just before 11 a.m. on April 27, 1936, the road tower officer, Chandler, was surprised to see Bowers climbing to the top of the cyclone
KEY Bowers climbs a cyclone fense Officer Chandler fires warning shots. Gets shot, loses grip, and falls to his death.
ALCATRAZ ISLAND: MAXIMUM SECURITY
// Escape Attempts
21
Attempt #3
April 23, 1938 Thomas Limmerick // AZ#263 James “Tex” Lucas // AZ#224 Rufus “Whitey” Franklin // AZ#335
The third attempted escape from “The Rock”
tower sits flush on top of the industry build-
empty, he unslung his rifle and fired at Frank-
was characterized by a violent act that all too
ing’s roof. On this day it was manned by Of-
lin just as he threw the hammer at the tower
clearly reminded prison officials of the type
ficer Harold Stites, who was later killed in the
in a last attempt to break the window, which
of hard-core prisoners incarcerated on this
prison riot of 1946. The three would-be escap-
by now was starting to splinter. Stites fired
island. Rufus Franklin and James Lucas were
ees cut the barbed wire and climbed onto the
the rifle, striking Franklin a second time. This
both serving 30-year sentences for bank rob-
catwalk which led to the industry tower. They
ended the assault as inmate Lucas hid next to
bery, while Thomas Limmerick was doing
began to creep along the catwalk to a point
the tower catwalk when Stites began firing.
life for kidnapping and bank robbery. About
where it ran around the tower. They split up
Other officers arrived and took charge of the
two in the afternoon the three men, who were
and began attacking the tower with the ham-
scene. Officer Cline and inmates Limmerick
assigned to the furniture shop, armed them-
mer and pieces of metal just as Officer Stites
and Franklin were taken to the prison hospital.
selves with pieces of metal and a hammer.
saw them. Much to their dismay, they realized
Officer Cline and inmate Limmerick both died
When Officer Royal C. Cline, who was as-
that the tower glass was shatterproof. Officer
of their Alcatraz Island: Maximum Security
signed to that area, entered the room, he was
Stites, having knowledge that the glass was
wounds the next day. Franklin recoered from
jumped and struck on the head with the ham-
shatterproof but not bulletproof, pulled his
his injuries, and together with Lucas, was tried
mer, crushing his skull. The three inmates
.45-caliber automatic and fired through the
on murder charges. Each of them was given a
then broke out a shop window and climbed
glass, striking Limmerick in the head. Frank-
full life sentence.
to the roof of the building. They encountered
lin again attacked the glass with the hammer.
some barbed wire which sealed off a catwalk
Stites fired again, this time striking Franklin
that ran around the roof of the building. One
in the arm. As Stites’ .45-caliber gun was now
Thomas Limmerick
James “Tex” Lucas
Rufus “Whitey” Franklin
KEY Officer Royal Cline is killed with a hammer. The men escape to the catwalks. Lucas and Franklin are caught and tried.
ALCATRAZ ISLAND: MAXIMUM SECURITY
// Escape Attempts
23
Attempt #13
June 11, 1962 (“Escape From Alcatraz”) Frank Morris // AZ#1441 Clarence Anglin // AZ#1485 John Anglin // AZ#1476 Allen West // AZ#133 (Unsuccessful)
The so-called “Escape from Alcotroz” was
West could not help but notice how the in-
on idea originally hatched by Allen West.
side of the prison structure was deteriorating.
He was one of the few inmotes to hove served
He observed crocks in the walls, floors, and
time on “The Rock” twice. His first incarcera-
even within the cells themselves. 1 At night
tion on the island was from 1954 till 1956. His
he began checking his own cell and found that
second time was from 1958 tin 1963 when the
it was fairly easy to chip away small pieces of
prison closed. West was in his early thirties
cement around the heating vent at the rear of
the second time around and was on a 10-yeor
his cell.2 By this time an escape was becoming
stretch for several interstate transportation
a real possibility for West and he almost be-
convictions. In 1961 he was released from iso-
came obsessed with looking for avenues out
lation in D Block after serving several months,
of the aging prison. West decided that it was
along with other prisoners, for cutting their
time to bring in some of the other inmates to
heel tendons in a protest over mental abuse
begin planning for on escape. He contacted
by prison authorities. West’s wounds were of
John and Clarence Anglin, two brothers with
a minor nature, and he hod no lasting effects
whom West hod served time at a Florida pris-
from the incident. When he was returned to
on several years before. Both Anglin brothers
the main prison population, West was as-
hod been transferred from Atlanta Penitentia-
signed to general maintenance duties inside
ry to Alcotroz after several escape attempts.
the main cell house. Day after day as he was
The brothers were serving long terms for the
sweeping, scrubbing, and pointing,
crime of bonk robbery.
Frank Morris
Clarence Anglin
John Anglin
KEY Chiseling a hole with prison-made chisels. Allen West’s vent gets jammed. A get-away raft is made of rain jackets.
ALCATRAZ ISLAND: MAXIMUM SECURITY
// Escape Attempts
25
Attempt #13
Presumed DEAD.
Frank Morris, who was another fairly recent
were involved in supplying materials for the
arrival at Alcatroz, had served time with the
attempted escape. After completing two of
Anglins at Atlanta for a number of crimes,
the dummy heads and having completed two
including bonk robbery. He was the fourth
holes through the heat vents which led to the
man brought into the escape scheme. Each of
utility corridor, the escape plan was ready to
the four inmates checked the rear of his-cell.
enter its second phose.
They all discovered that the cement around the
West, whose general maintenance job was
vents chipped away fairly easily. The men now
the perfect cover, convinced officials that the
hod a way to get out of their cells. The escape
top of C Block tier needed to be scraped and
plan was put into operation in December 1961.
pointed. He even got officials to hove a number
Each was given his assignment. First, they
of blankets strung around the top of the tier so
began chipping at the cement around the heat
chips would not fall onto the cell house floor.
vents with filed-down spoons, metal scraps,
Morris and John Anglin could now put the
and any other tools they could devise. They
dummy heads in their bunks as soon as the
covered their work from prison officers by
lights were turned out at 9:30 p.m. Then they
making fake vents surrounded by cardboard
removed the fake vents and crawled into the
that looked like the cement adjacent to the
utility corridor. They would then replace the
vent grills. Papiermache heads were also
vents, climb the three stories to the top of B
mode out of chips of cement, cordboard, toilet
Block tier, and fashion the items needed for
paper, and hair from the barber shop. It has
their escape. Their efforts were masked by the
been estimated that from 10 to 20 inmates
blankets strung around the tier.
ALCATRAZ ISLAND: MAXIMUM SECURITY
// Escape Attempts
27
CHAPTER 4
ALCATRAZ ISLAND: MAXIMUM SECURITY
// Extra Information
29
Left: Dining hall in the ‘30s and ‘40s. Right: Dining hall in the ‘50s.
Extra Information
4
This chapter focuses on extra information from a layout of the prison as well as a few ways prisoners get crafty in attempt escape. The life of a prisoner can be really intriguing because most of us will never experience living life behind bars. A little taste of witty planning awaits in this chapter. Alcatraz is the prison of no hope where even the best dash for freedom can send you to a quick cold death in the ocean. Knowing a bit more about the situations that prisoners faced here we can come to a hearty conclusion. These stories are shared time and again to demonstrate what guts these rebellious prisoners had as well as the hardship they went through that built their motivation to escape. Even the best escape story from Alcatraz had a indefinate conclusion which would make anyone beg questions of if it was really possible to escape “The Rock?�
ALCATRAZ ISLAND: MAXIMUM SECURITY
// Extra Information
31
P R I SO N LAYO U T (NOT TO SCALE)
Main Cell House Prison Yard Kitchen Dining Room Six Dark Cells Library Administration Warden’s Office West Road Tower West Gun Gallery East Gun Gallery Utility Corridor (where three inmates were killed) Hospital (above kitchen and dining room) Door that leads to Prison Yard from Cell House Armory Two hostage cells, ‘46 Riot
Sunset Blvd.
“D” Block Seedy Street
“C” Block
“C” Block
Cut
“C” Block
Off
“B” Block
Broadway
“B” Block “B” Block
Times Square
“C” Block
“B” Block Michigon Blvd.
“A” Block
ALCATRAZ ISLAND: MAXIMUM SECURITY
// Extra Information
33
FAK E G U N S Troy Benner, 49, planned to break out of a detention center in Lafourche Parish, Louisiana, and was assisted by Treiston Pierron, 32, with an object “hand-crafted to appear to be a handgun,” but “composed of soap, toilet paper and other materials” – most of which are available to inmates. The inmates also intended to use a handcuff key, which officers discovered in one of the cells before it could be used. They later discovered the fake gun, which helped officers foil the alleged escape plot. The inmates obtained the key from a correction officer who had unknowingly had dropped it, according to a statement from the Lafourche Parish Sheriff’s Office.
- Troy Benner
ALCATRAZ ISLAND: MAXIMUM SECURITY
// Extra Information
35
FA KE HEA DS Inmates Clarence Anglin, John Anglin and Frank Morris tucked papier-mâchÊ heads resembling their own likenesses into their beds, broke out of the main prison building via an unused utility corridor, and departed Alcatraz Island aboard an improvised inflatable raft to an uncertain fate.
ALCATRAZ ISLAND: MAXIMUM SECURITY
// Extra Information
37
Epilogue
Hurley was walking through the cell house
Cretzer, stood there some 43 years earlier
on a very busy tourist weekend. As he passed
while he emptied two full clips of automatic
through “Times Square” (north end of cell
gunfire at point blank range into the bodies of
house) and entered “Seedy Street,” cor-
seven of nine correctional officer hostages in
ridor just west of the west side of C Block,
a rampage of carnage seldom, if ever, seen in a
he stopped for a moment to observe a man
federal prison. A moment later the man’s wife
standing in front of him. He was shouting for
joined him, and they were laughing as they
his wife to keep walking up the corridor so he
walked from the area. Just for a few moments
could film her passing by the cells. As I looked
he stood there staring into cells 402 and 403
to this man’s left, I realized that he was stand-
and whispered a silent prayer. Then Hurley
ing in front of cell 402. Another man, Joseph
rejoined the world of the present.
Tribute Never to be forgotten In memory of those fallen officers who made the supreme sacrifice: Royal Cline—Killed during an escape attempt, May 23, 1938 Harold Stites—Killed during the Alcatraz riot, May 2-4, 1946 William Miller—Killed during the Alcatraz riot, May 2-4, 1946 Some will always answer the call
Most men live between heaven and hell — when you are doing time on The Rock, you are in hell.” - Alvin Karpis, 1962
ALCATRAZ ISLAND: MAXIMUM SECURITY
// Epilogue
39
ALCATRAZ I S L A N D MAXIMUM SECURITY This is Alexander Womack’s book about
mysteries and myths that are still associated
Amarica’s most famous prison—Alcatraz. In
with this island called “The Rock.”
A Spellbinding narrative, along with more than 50 photographs, makes this
Donald J. Hurley’s first book, Alcatraz Island
From the wardens who ran the prison to the
Memories, he tells a story of growing up in
officers and the inmates who served time on
open that door marked “Alcatraz”
the shadow of this prison when his father was
both sides of the bars, and from profiles of the
and take a good look inside.
serving there as a correctional officer.
island’s most infamous prisoners (Including
Alcatraz Island: Maximum Security gives
so 14 desperate escape attempts, Maximum
another view of the prison. Here the author
Security tells these stories and much, much
takes the reader on a unique and complete
more through special features such as mapped
journey through Alcatraz that will unravel the
out escape routes and first hand accounts.
book a must for anyone who wants to