by Caroline Underhill

1. Photo from http://people.exeter.ac.uk/nkjdatta/photos/abroad/usa/
BY CAROLINE UNDERHILL
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2. HISTORY OF ALCATRAZ
HISTORY
Alcatraz Prison was opened for civil war prisoners in 1861. It was later used for
dangerous and high risk prisoners in January 1934. It housed some well known
criminals such as Al Capone. There have been various attempts to escape from
Alcatraz, but there were none that succeeded.
Alcatraz was eventually closed in March 1963; it held only 312 prisoners – when I did
a survey asking people to guess of how many prisoners were held at Alcatraz, most
people thought it was much higher.
First known person to reach the island was Juan Manuel de Ayala in 1775.
Alcatraz translated is, “The Island of Pelicans”. Modern Spanish it translates to
“Gannet”.
ATTEMPTED ESCAPES
NOTABLE ESCAPE ATTEMPT
On June 11, 1962, Frank Morris, John Anglin
and Clarence Anglin were able to use an escape
plan, which involved chiseling away the
concrete walls with simple tools such as a
metal spoon and a home-made electric drill
made from a stolen vacuum cleaner. They
disguised the noise of the drill by playing
accordion music. They hid their escape
activities behind a false wall which fooled the
guards.
They eventually escaped through a fan vent. The three prisoners made a make-shift
raft from stolen raincoats to attempt to cross the water. They gave themselves extra
time to escape by leaving papier-mâché dummies in their cells. The prisoners may
have entered San Francisco Bay at 10pm, but the official report states they drowned.
Mythbusters who investigated the event however, concluded such an escape was
plausible.
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3. ESCAPE FROM ALCATRAZ (THE FILM)
In 1979 the film “Escape from Alcatraz” was made, as the title says, it was based on
the escape as explained above, well known actors such as Clint Eastwood played
Frank Morris one of the escapees.
WHEN ALCATRAZ WAS USED AS A PRISON
Alcatraz Island was first used for the purpose of building a lighthouse on. The
lighthouse is still a working lighthouse.
By 1850 the first military prisoners were held there. By 1861 Civil War prisoners were
kept there, Alcatraz Island chosen because of the cold conditions and the icy cold
waters would make it hard for escapes. Then in 1867 a purpose built prison was built
to hold long term military prisoners. Due to the Spanish – American war the
population was greatly increased from 26 to 450 prisoners.
The San Francisco Earthquake in 1906 meant that civilian prisoners were held on
the island for safety. A massive new concrete cell block was then built in 1909, this
was finished in 1912. In 1933 Alcatraz was taken over by the Federal Bureau of
Prisons, which was transferred by the United States Department of Justice. It was
used for the worse and hardened criminals of that era. This was to stop the high
crime rate of the 1920’s and 1930’s.
SOME FAMOUS PRISONERS WHO WERE HELD THERE
The prison housed prisoners that had been transferred from other prisons, usually
due to their behavior; it was also built with high risk prisoners in mind, because of
where it was located.
These prisoners were famous because of their crimes.
• The Birdman of Alcatraz , Robert Stroud, spent 17 years at the prison, 6 of
them were in segregation. He was not allowed birds in his cell although it has
been claimed otherwise.
• Al Capone, it is said he used to pay off the guards and still run his rackets in
prison. Also known as Big Al he served 4 and a half years there. He was
moved to a Correctional Institute he was moved due to an illness known as
tertiary syphilis.
• George “Machine Gun” Kelly wasn’t a very much liked prisoner because he
Kelly,
boasted of robberies he didn’t commit although the Governor classed him as
a model prisoner.
• Alvin “Creepy Karpis” Karpowicz he was one of the longest serving prisoners
Karpowicz,
in Alcatraz, serving 26 years. His were some of the worse crimes committed by
any other prisoner serving a prison sentence at Alcatraz. Often getting into
fights with other prisoners he wasn’t classed as a model prisoner. He never
tried to escape surprisingly.
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4. • James “Whitey” Bulger, he only served 3 years for bank robbery. While there
he got close to Clarence Carnes AKA Choctaw Kid.
• Ellsworth Raymond “Bumpy” Johnson Godfather of Harlem and African-
Johnson,
American gangster, he was one of the prisoners included in the famous
escape. Serving sentences for racketeering and bootlegging as well as other
gang crimes.
• Mickey Cohen he was part of the Mafia and served a 15year sentence for
Cohen,
these crimes. 2 years into his sentence he was hit with a lead pipe, by another
prisoner which left him paralyzed.
• Arthur R “Doc” Barker the son of Ma Barker, a member of the Barker-Karpis
Barker,
gang. Served a sentence for kidnap. Barker along with Henri Young and Rufus
McCain attempted to escape Barker was shot and killed by guards.
• Rafael Cancel Miranda, was imprisoned for offences surrounding the attack
Miranda,
on the U.S Capitol Building by the Puerto Rican National Party.
DAILY LIFE INSIDE ALCATRAZ
Daily life in Alcatraz was apparently not as many other prisons, considering it was
supposed to be a federal prison for high risk prisoners.
The day would start at 0700 hours, when the cellhouse bell would be rang. Prisoners
would then be expected to get dressed, clean their cells and stand quietly, facing
forward.
By 07.30 inmates would be taken to breakfast. There were no restrictions on how
much they could eat.
At 07.50 breakfast would finish where there would be a headcount as well as
checking all cutleries was returned, so this was also counted. Prisoners who went to
work were taken to the Recreation Yard to be given their daily task and details of
work. Prisoners who did not have work would be taken back to their cells.
At 10.00 hours there would be an eight minute break once again there would be a
headcount.
Then again at 11.35 hours the industries were signaled to end work, there would be
another headcount and prisoners taken back to their cells through a metal detector,
also known as a “Snitch Box”.
Lunch began at 12.00 hours ending at 12.20. Cutleries would be counted and
prisoners taken back to their cells for a short period.
By 13.20 another count of prisoners would be carried out; then back to work.
There was another break and headcount through the day and work would finish at
16.00 hours with more headcounts etc.
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5. By 17.30 the prison would be shut down till the next morning when all would be
repeated.
Prisoners were allowed visits once a month. During the visit, prisoners and visitors
would talk through an intercom system, which was monitored by wardens.
Prisoners were only allowed the basic essentials, food, water, clothing, medical and
dental care. Privileges were given but taken back just as quickly for some of the
slightest reasons.
CELLS
The typical cell was 5 foot by 9 foot on B and C block, which had a toilet, running
water and a cot type bed. Some prisoners could put their arms out and reach each
side of the cell.
In D block which was for segregation, the cells were slightly bigger. D block housed
prisoners who were segregated from the rest of the prison and would be kept in their
cells for twenty four hours a day. Inmates on D wing were only taken out once a week
to the recreation yard. This was done one inmate at a time.
The prisoners were also segregated by race; black prisoners were kept in the upper
cell blocks, while white, Latino and Asian prisoners were kept on the lower cell
blocks.
NUMBERS OF PRISONERS
At the most the prison held 312 and the lowest was 222. There were 1,576 prisoners
who went through the gates of Alcatraz in all its time as a Federal Prison. On average
there were 260 prisoners held at any one time. Although the size of the prison would
hold more if necessary.
THIS TABLE SHOWS THE RESULT OF A CLASS SURVEY
PRISONERS HELD AT ALCATRAZ-PEOPLE'S GUESSES
more rthan 500
301-500
151-300
90-150
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9
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6. WHEN AND WHY ALCARTAZ CLOSED
Eventually closing in March 1963, the prison was far more expensive to run costing
$10 per day per prisoner compared to $3 per prisoner per day in other prisons; it was
classed as too expensive to run. Another factor was the pollution it was causing
where sewerage was being let out into the San Francisco Bay. The concrete building
was also affected by the salt water coming from the sea causing damage to the
prison.
CONCLUSION
After the prison closed the prisoners left there were transferred to another purpose
built prison. The Island and Alcatraz prison attracts thousand of sightseer’s everyday.
Alcatraz still stands as it was left in 1963, people visiting often leave saying “If these
walls could talk”.
Although several attempts were made to escape from Alcatraz it is said that none
were successful.
In the 2000 census there was nobody said to be living on the island. Alcatraz was
nicknamed “The Rock”. This is probably because of its designated area where it was
Built.
Photos from a collection with permission from Mair Havard
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7. Photos shown previously of outside Alcatraz Prison, Administration Department,
Upper and Lower Cells layout and the cells as they still are to this day which once
housed some of Americas most well known notorious criminals.
SOURCES
www.wisegeek.com
www.alcatrazhistory.com
Photo from http://people.exeter.ac.uk/nkjdatta/photos/abroad/usa/
Photos from a collection with permission from Mair Havard
www.alcatrazhistory.com/rs1.htm
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alcatraz_Island#Federal_prison
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