Famous prison in America. Alcatraz - the legendary prison of America ... (50 photos)

Spread across 22 acres of land, the infamous Alcatraz Island is filled with chilling stories and incredible legends. The rocky shore in San Francisco Bay has been a haven for seabirds for millennia, but has become famous for its slaves. Called "Devil's Island" by Native Americans, Alcatraz has long been associated with violence and the supernatural. There was a military fortress on the island, a prison with inhabitants who had committed "serious and inexcusable" crimes. Alcatraz survived years of abandonment in the company of ghosts, visited a movie set. To get a closer look at the rocky island, we will take a place on the ferry at pier 33 in San Francisco Bay.

About a mile and a quarter from the San Francisco coastline are the Alcatraz Rocks, which were the Bay's first line of defense during the Gold Rush. Defense troops and artillery in the 1850s were ready to repel the attack.

The first myth is probably about the ability of Fort Alcatraz to repel an attack. The artillery of the island did not have the ability to conduct direct aimed fire.

July, 1876, a mock battle was played. A barge loaded with explosives entered the bay, artillery preparing to destroy the imaginary aggressor with the fire of their guns.

Things didn't work out. The guns of Alcatraz did not reach their goal. Then a young officer, under the cover of a smoke screen, set fire to the ship of an imaginary enemy, preventing him from filling the bay with explosives, which ensured the safety of the peaceful life of the bay.

In the end, the cannons of Alcatraz were dismantled without firing a single shot at the enemy.

The most unfading glory covered Alcatraz prison.

In 1934, the island became the Alcatraz Federal Penitentiary, for the most - the most criminals. The island is washed by the cold water of San Francisco Bay, making escape from Alcatraz almost impossible, and this is the next myth.

They escaped from Alcatraz, but never returned. Did the escapees survive? No one knows, but there are plenty of theories, which gives abundant ground for all kinds of interpretations.

Against the background of myths, the statistics of Alcatraz are not impressive. His 366 cells were never fully occupied. An average of 260 prisoners were held, not a single woman among them. In its 29 years of service as a federal prison, no more than 1,600 convicts passed through Alcatraz.

Escape from Alcatraz

The most celebrated escape from Alcatraz by a trio of brave men who exploited all the weaknesses of the fortress took place in June 1962. After 29 years of existence, the prison fell into disrepair under the leadership of the drunkard Olin (Olin G), known as "Gypsy Blackwell". The lack of funding affected everything.

On the night of the escape, Frank Morris and his brothers John and Clarence Anglin managed to get out of their cells and climb onto the roof. From there to the shore of the island, where they used a makeshift raft made from improvised materials.

Where and how did they get life jackets, raft parts and even doll heads to deceive the guards when bypassing the cells?

Expanding the ventilation hole, they entered the corridor behind the cell. Then they were able, through the pipes, to climb to the top of block C. Further, through the ventilation duct, they got to the roof and, here it is, starry sky over your head!

Allen West, an accomplice of the fugitives, received permission from the guards to cover a huge area of ​​​​the roof with blankets, ostensibly to protect against dust and paint during repairs.

Thus, in the "most secure" prison "totally excluding the possibility of escape" worked a secret plan that deceived the guards of Alcatraz. All they had to do was look into the closet above block C to find floating objects, fasteners, glue, and even a makeshift periscope.

But that did not happen. And for months, with great care, the fugitives had the opportunity to build a raft.

Under the cover of other prisoners, an escape took place in 1962. The administration of the penal system managed to hide the incident from the public for a long time. The escape only became known in 1990, when classified FBI files were uncovered.

The intimidating image of Alcatraz, which was guarded by impassive guards, turned out to be a myth. At least in last years the existence of the prison. Whatever it was, legendary place serving sentences was closed a year after the escape of three friends.

The fugitives were actively searched for, combing the shores. Many cases are known when the distance from the island to the shores of the bay was overcome by swimming, but our heroes were probably carried away by the current for Pacific Ocean. All that was found later was the wreckage of the raft, oars and personal photographs.

No bodies were found, although the Norwegian ship reported a drowned man floating face down, similar in description and location to one of the escapees.

The FBI transferred the case to the US Department of Corrections on December 31, 1979, which cannot be closed until each of the fugitives is 100 years old, or they or their bodies are found. Term expires in 2026, 2030 and 2031.

Reports of people similar to the fugitives of Alcatraz come from all over the world, but have never been confirmed. Some claim that the three anti-heroes settled in South America. Skeptics insist they couldn't make it out of San Francisco Bay at night and died long ago. A minority believes that the fugitives managed to get lost and hide outside the prison.

Fugitive case manager Michael Dyke has half a dozen others on hand. Every year he pays attention to the escapees from Alcatraz in 1962. But after 52 years, very little or almost none of the observations, rumors, theories surfaced.

Bottom line: No one knows what happened to the fugitives.

By the way, what about sharks? Ruthless cannibals filling the waters of the bay? Myth. Sand sharks predominate and do not prey on humans.

Bird lover.

Hundreds of bad guys have been to Alcatraz, including Al Capone, Machine Gun Georges, Kelly, and Robert Stroud, known as Alcatraz's bird lover.

The story of the "bird lover" gave rise to another type of myth about Alcatraz, according to which, the criminals who got here became kind and inquisitive. This idyllic tale hit theaters in 1962, starring Burt Lancaster as Robert Stroud.

Stroud compiled unique bird observations and studies that were published posthumously. The public also saw two more of his books, an autobiography and a description of the US prison system.

Stroud was as complex as bird talk. An impulsive killer and violent psychopath whose temper has only subsided with age. Entering the prison system as a 19-year-old, he never left, spending 42 of his 52 years behind bars in solitary confinement.

Being a "bird lover", Stroud spent all his research at Fort Leavenworth, and not at Alcatraz according to legend. Alcatraz is inhabited by countless birds, but here Stroud was not allowed to make observations.

The film also depicts Stroud as the man who stopped the armed riot. There was no such thing. The prisoners who got out of control and took possession of weapons were killed with weapons in their hands.

Ghosts of Alcatraz.

Given the number of souls that have passed through these stone vaults, the walls must have been soaked with despair and hatred. This allows the appearance of ghosts and stories about them. Numerous photographs of the rocks of Alcatraz did not capture a single lost soul.

According to one of the legends, since the time of the Civil War, a mustachioed soldier in an officer's tunic has been wandering along the banks of Alcatraz. The rest of the ghosts take on a wide variety of forms, appearing as shadows, mists, cold spots, little girls, a pink face, and even a yellow cat.

They are quite noisy, whining, crying and begging for help. They manipulate objects by jingling chains, shooting and even playing the harmonica.

Al Capone was heard playing the banjo, as he did earlier in the bathroom.

Invisible shadows follow you, sometimes touching, sometimes cold, causing a feeling of fear.

The greatest activity of ghosts in the three-story block D, known as the "correctional". Six isolated cells contained the instigators of the disorder. The greatest activity of ghosts is reported in cell 14D, the so-called "strip cell", where prisoners were thrown without clothes.

Cell 14D is located behind double doors, filled with darkness, dampness and anxiety. Probably the most undesirable place to spend time in the company of ghosts.

None of the stories sincerely told by guards, prisoners, visitors, parapsychologists have yet been confirmed. No feeling of fear can be assessed and recorded. No one can describe with confidence and detail their feelings when it comes to the paranormal. If the stories have no confirmation, then they are unconfirmed.

Are Alcatraz haunted? So far, there is no evidence, but there are a lot of exciting myths. The fact that Alcatraz has a frightening appearance, no one will doubt.

Alcatraz today.

There is much more to Alcatraz than mystery and fear. The nature of the island, the cultural occupation by the Native Americans from 1969 to 1971, and many bright personalities are associated with this place.

Today, Alcatraz is one of the stops on the way to the mysterious. The island is very popular with tourists and is in the department of the US Park Service. Instead of ghosts, you will be met at the pier by rosy-cheeked rangers who will introduce you to the attraction. Instead of taciturn guards and prisoners plotting to escape, the corridors of the fortress are filled with curious tourists. Where do you hear the clang of metal? This is the cash register of the gift shop, where you can buy from knick-knacks to prison uniforms with a number, is working with might and main. Even in the dull territory of the yard, a green lawn is now laid out, and the whole territory has been transformed thanks to landscape design.

Translation Vladimir Maksimenko 2013-2014

The history of Alcatraz Island dates back several hundred years. The first to discover small island, was the Spanish naval officer Juan Manuel de Ayala in 1775. He named the island "Isla de los Alcatrazes", meaning "Cormorant Island" because of the many seabirds living on the rocks. Due to the island's strategic position, it later became a military fort site in 1850. This not only protected the bay from hostile attacks, but also guided friendly ships with the help of a lighthouse. However, the island was not only strategically located from a purely military point of view. Since Alcatraz was surrounded by cold waters and dangerous currents, it was an ideal location for holding captives. This is where the story of Alcatraz prison began.

The island began to function as a small prison for the first time during the civil war. Later, towards the end of the 19th century, during the Spanish-American War, the number of prisoners increased dramatically. At the beginning of the 20th century, the fort was officially converted into the Alcatraz prison. The prison quickly became known for its harsh conditions and brutal discipline. The prisoners were divided into three classes, depending on the crimes they committed. Each class has different levels privileges, but they all had one common feature. Anyone breaking the rules would face severe disciplinary action. This could include a complex of hard labor, wearing a heavy chain around the ankles, and solitary lockdowns with a ration of bread and water.

Despite its harsh conditions, Alcatraz functioned like a prison with minimal security. Most of the prisoners were given fairly generous privileges. Some were given special assignments such as cleaning, cooking, and doing housework. Most were allowed to practice crafts. However, due to increasing operating costs, the US Army sold the prison to the Department of Justice in the early 1930s. At the same time, the Great Depression ushered in a new era of organized crime. Gangsters have come to town. This created a need for a new high security prison where escape would be absolutely impossible.

Alcatraz we know.

Federal agencies recognized Alcatraz's potential for maximum security, and it soon became a destination for the country's most dangerous criminals, the perfect solution for incarcerating anti-social elements. The island has become a visible symbol in San Francisco Bay, sending an unequivocal warning to criminals.

In 1934, the modernization of the prison began to meet all the new requirements. New upgraded security windows have been installed and the service tunnels closed to the public. They also installed special tear gas canisters in the ceiling of the Dining Room, which could be remotely activated from several observation posts. Guard towers were strategically built around the perimeter, and electromagnetic metal detectors were turned on in all sections. None of the 600 prisoner cages were adjacent to any perimeter wall, so even if a prisoner managed to escape, he would simply end up in an adjacent cell. Even if someone, despite everything, managed to escape prison, they would still be stuck on an island surrounded by frightening water with a deadly current.


The prison was closed in 1963. The reason was not only high costs, but also the fact that half a century of exposure to salt water destroyed buildings. By this time, Alcatraz had housed some of the world's most famous prisoners, including Al Capone and Bill Kelly. Now this place is a tourist destination. Why should you visit Alcatraz? The island is one of the few in the world where traces of the infamous criminals are still preserved.

Alcatraz is a prison from which it is impossible to escape. However, over the years, 14 escape attempts have been made, but official documents state that none of these attempts have ended in success. The vast majority of the fugitives were either caught or shot and killed. The largest event is known as the Battle of Alcatraz. During this escape, a group of prisoners gained access to weapons, and a shootout broke out between the prisoners and the guards.

The Great Escape from Alcatraz.

However, the three fugitives did successfully escape in one of the most intricate escape plans ever devised. Over a long period of time, they carved their way through their concrete chambers with spoons and other stolen tools. They continued through several ventilation shafts, leaving papier-mâché dummies in the cells to fool the guards. They managed to escape prison and ended up in San Francisco Bay with a small inflatable raft made from stolen raincoats. Items belonging to the prisoners, including plywood oars and parts of a raft, were later found on neighboring Island Angel. The official report regarding the escape says that the prisoners drowned in the cold waters of the bay, trying to reach the mainland, but this fact is doubted by many. The chamber from which they escaped and the manner in which they carried out their escape have been preserved in Alcatraz to this day, allowing visitors to understand and study how the great escape took place. This escape attempt is mentioned in an article on the most famous prison escapes.

Even after its closure, the island repeatedly became the center of attention. For example, when Alcatraz was occupied by the Indian Protestant movement. The Protestants were on the island for more than 19 months, demanding that their homeland be returned to them. When they left the island, several buildings were damaged by fire. Today traces of this capture can still be seen.



Today, Alcatraz Island is one of San Francisco's most popular attractions. Thousands of visitors come here every day to experience the breathtaking atmosphere of the former prison. The island is classified as a historical site and is managed by the Service national parks, as part of the Golden Gate National Recreation Area. Alcatraz is open to tourists, but it is important to book tours in advance as they are very popular and redeemable in advance.

In the United States, in the San Francisco Bay, there is a very controversial, but invariably curiosity island of Alcatraz. It was opened in 1775 and was first used for military purposes as a fort. It was here that the first lighthouse in the western United States was installed. However, this island soon became the most famous prison in America. Alcatraz, isolated from the rest of the world by the cold and stormy waters of the bay, as if its dark role was destined by nature itself.

A nice bonus only for our readers - a discount coupon when paying for tours on the site until March 31:

• AF500guruturizma - promo code for 500 rubles for tours from 40,000 rubles
• AFT1500guruturizma - promo code for tours to Thailand from 80,000 rubles

For tours from 30,000 rubles. The following discounts apply for children:

• Promo code for 1 000 ₽ "LT-TR-CH1000" for 1 child on the tour
• Promo code for 2 000 ₽ "LT-TR-CH2000" for 2 children on the tour
• Promo code for 3 000 ₽ "LT-TR-CH3000" for 3 children on the tour
• Promo code for 4 000 ₽ "LT-TR-CH4000" for 4 children on the tour

For tours from 40,000 rubles. without children:

• Promo code for 500 ₽ "LT-TR-V500" for 1 tourist on the tour
• Promo code for 1 000 ₽ "LT-TR-V1000" for 2 tourists on the tour
• Promo code for 1 500 ₽ "LT-TR-V1500" for 3 tourists on the tour

Initially, it was a military prison in which there were prisoners, deserters and those who committed crimes of varying severity. At that time, the bulk of the prisoners were young people aged 20-28 years. The conditions of detention were not particularly strict. By the end of the 1920s, it even had its own baseball field. But very harsh punishments were applied to violators of discipline.

In 1934, during the reconstruction of the building, electricity was supplied to the cells, tunnels were walled up, and containers with tear gas were placed in crowded places. From that moment on, the prison became federal. Only the most dangerous criminals entered Alcatraz directly, while the rest were transferred from other prisons after they committed violations, failed attempts to escape or refused obedience.

Despite the many measures of influence, the prisoners considered the so-called silence policy to be one of the most painful punishments. Its essence was the prohibition of conversations and the pronunciation of any sounds for a very long time. They were also afraid of being placed in an isolation cell - a solitary cell without a full-fledged toilet, which was dark and cold.

Prison Breaks

However, even the obvious futility of attempts to escape did not stop the prisoners. Many have tried to get out of Alcatraz to freedom. Some of them were forced to turn back to escape the cold waters, others died from hypothermia. Several people went missing. Maybe it was they who became the lucky ones who were destined to accomplish the impossible?

The most famous of the prisoners who have never been found are the Anglin brothers and Frank Morris. They made the most ingenious escape in the history of the prison. The plan was thought out by them to the smallest detail, which ensured the success of the enterprise. In 1979, the film "Escape from Alcatraz" was made about this.

Notable prisoners

The prison gained wide popularity also thanks to its famous prisoners. Perhaps the most recognizable is Al Capone, an American gangster who began serving his sentence at Alcatraz in 1934. Within these walls, the greatest criminal spent 7 years. He came out already mortally ill and a man who had lost his criminal authority.

In 1963, due to the economic unprofitability of maintaining the prison, which requires very large financial costs, it was closed. By that time, there were only 27 slaves in it. Almost never cameras (and there are less than 600 of them) were not fully equipped. For 29 years, only about 1,600 men served their sentences there. There were no women in this prison.

How to get to the island

As a tourist site, the island has been operating since 1973 and is part of the recreation area called the Golden Gate. It arouses genuine interest among people all over the world with its unusual story. The prison was converted into a museum, where traces of the prisoners' stay have been preserved to this day.

You can get to the island by ferry from San Francisco, which departs from pier number 33. Since there are many people who want to visit Alcatraz, you need to take care of tickets in advance. The tour includes a visit to the interior of the prison - cells, an isolation ward, a meeting room for visitors, a dining room, a shower room. You can also look at stands where real photographs of prisoners and officers guarding them are posted, take a walk along the main corridor of the building, called Broadway. From the window you can see the territory reserved for the walks of prisoners.

Legends and ghosts

Americans call this place "Devil's Island" because of the many legends associated with it. Museum staff can tell hundreds incredible stories about various paranormal activity that allegedly take place within these walls. According to unconfirmed reports, you can meet the ghost of a mustachioed officer on the shore, and Al Capone playing the banjo in the prison building.

In itself, the position of the island already causes some excitement and awe - a piece of land torn off from the mainland is washed on all sides by stormy streams of water. It is located at a distance of 2.5 km from the nearest shore. But the area of ​​\u200b\u200bAlcatraz is quite small - about 9 hectares. Because of this isolation, many tourists are visited by disturbing thoughts. And the myths and superstitions associated with this place can even cause fear.

According to local stories, the camera number 14D is the most popular with ghosts. At one time, she was part of the correctional corps, where the instigators of unrest were thrown for correction. This is a gloomy, dark and damp room, the presence in which will tickle the nerves of even the most inveterate cynics.

Night excursions

Nowadays, the island has turned from a dull and inhospitable territory into a great area for walking thanks to the masters landscape design. Positive smiling people work here, and noisy tourists crowd in the corridors of the prison. All this does not allow us to forget that now it is just a museum. However, in order to maintain the image mystical place night excursions are organized for especially courageous visitors.

Despite many dark legends and a dubious reputation, Alcatraz is visited annually by about a million people from all over the world. This place has a special energy that evokes its own emotions in everyone. Many want to see this famous prison, feel its atmosphere, visit the premises where gangsters and other dangerous criminals roamed until recently. And the most impressionable, perhaps, will even be able to get acquainted with one of the mysterious ghosts.

In San Francisco Bay, off the coast of California, there is an island on which the most famous prison in the world, Alcatraz, was located. It is believed that this was a place of detention for criminals, equipped with the most serious security system, in addition, the restless waters of the bay served as additional insulation. Currently, the island itself and the territory of the prison have been turned into a museum, where any tourist can get by ferry.

At first, a lighthouse was installed on the island, the need for which appeared in the middle 19th century, after the discovery of gold in California in 1848 and the subsequent gold rush that brought thousands of ships to the San Francisco Bay. The influx of gold miners and adventurers led to the need to protect the bay. In 1850, the construction of a fort began on Alcatraz Island to house long-range guns. Later, the fort was used to hold prisoners of war, first during civil war(since 1861), and then the Spanish American (since 1898). After the San Francisco earthquake in 1906, civilian prisoners were transferred to the prison on the island for their own safety.

During rampant crime during the Great Depression, the prison was reorganized as a federal prison under the Department of Justice. The reconstruction led to the replacement of gratings and rods from wooden to steel, the service tunnels were walled up, and electricity was supplied to the cells. The prison cafeteria, which was famous for fighting between squabbling inmates, was equipped with tear gas canisters that could be remotely controlled, all doors fitted with electrical sensors and locks. The prison itself was divided into four blocks with different severity of content. It is known that block "D" contained the most notorious criminals.

In 1963, the prison on Alcatraz was closed due to too expensive maintenance, since absolutely everything for its life had to be imported from the mainland. In addition, there was a need for a major renovation of the institution, according to estimates, this would require about five million dollars. For several years, the authorities have been thinking about future fate island and structures on it, and finally in 1973 it was decided to turn Alcatraz into a museum.

During the existence of the prison, fourteen escape attempts are known, in which 36 prisoners took part. Most of them were killed by the guards, some were captured alive. The only one who managed to sail away from the island in December 1962 was John Paul Scott. But he was captured almost immediately on the mainland at Fort Point.

The most famous story is escape from alcatraz prison American criminals Frank Morris and brothers John and Clarence Anglin in June 1962. They attempted to leave the island using an inflatable raft. The investigation conducted by the FBI did not give an exact answer - did the criminals manage to escape or did they die during their desperate act.

Frank Morris, Anglin and John William

Anglin brothers Alfred Clarence (born May 11, 1931) and John William (born May 2, 1930) were from Donalsonville, Georgia. Both contracted to work on the farms of the district as laborers. Together they started robbing banks in Georgia and were arrested in 1956. After being sentenced to 15 and 20 years in prison, they were sent to an Atlanta prison, where they first met Frank Morris and Allen West. Later there was Florida State Penitentiary and Leavenworth Federal Penitentiary. As incorrigible and repeated violators of the prison order, the brothers were sent to the Alcatraz prison. John arrived on October 21, 1960 as prisoner AZ1476, and Clarence on January 10, 1961 as prisoner AZ1485.

Frank Lee Morris was born in Washington, D.C. on September 1, 1926, and spent most of his childhood in orphanages. He committed his first crime at the age of 13, and as a teenager he was repeatedly arrested for numerous crimes, ranging from drug possession to participation in an armed robbery. Before being transferred to Alcatraz, Morris served a lengthy term in the Atlanta federal prison. Frank was placed in Alcatraz on January 3, 1960, where he became prisoner AZ1441.

Allen Clayton West was born March 25, 1929. He served time in an Atlanta prison for auto theft. For trying to escape, in 1957 he was sent to Alcatraz and became prisoner AZ1335.

A. West was the only one of the four conspirators who did not actually participate in the escape, as he could not get out of the cell in time. The rest, without waiting for West, took advantage of an inflatable life raft. Having lost the opportunity to leave the island, West was forced to return back to the cell. The next morning, the escape was discovered and Alain West became the "hero of the day." He even gave several interviews to newspapermen. There must have been a deal between him and the prison authorities, as he provided full information about the escape plan, and he was not charged with attempting to escape from Alcatraz. In February 1963, West was transferred to a federal prison on the mainland where he awaited the end of his prison term. Staying in prison did not do him any good and could not put him on the path of correction. Already in January 1969, A. West was again sentenced to prison on charges of theft and robbery and went to serve him in a Florida state prison, where he died of acute peritonitis on December 21, 1978, at the age of 49.

Details of the Alcatraz Prison Escape

The prisoners knew that there was an old service tunnel through the wall of their cell. For almost a year they were picking at the wall with some kind of tool made from an ordinary spoon, drowning out the noise of work with the help of loud music. When the hole was finally made, the conspirators made dummies of heads using toilet paper, soap and real hair that was cut off at home. These false heads were supposed to reassure the prison guards that there were prisoners in their beds during nightly checks.

Heads made by criminals

And on the night of June 11, 1962, the fugitives put their plan into action. Through a hole in the wall, they enter the non-working maintenance tunnel, then climb up the ventilation shaft to reach the roof. After descending from the roof and over the prison fence, the trio assembles a raft of rubberized raincoats given to prisoners in a set of prison clothes, connecting them together with contact adhesive. They inflate a raft at the northeastern tip of the island and launch it at about ten o'clock in the evening. They managed not to attract the attention of the outer guards, and now everything depended on their luck - whether they would be able to cross the bay on such a dubious raft.

The hole in the cell through which the criminals fled

The next morning, it was discovered that the trio had escaped. A cunning plan to leave false heads in their beds gave the fugitives a head start of about eight hours. The guards searched Alcatraz and Angel Islands extensively, but to no avail.

Later, off the coast of Angel Island, the remains of a raft, an oar, and a plastic bag containing some of the personal belongings of one of the Anglin brothers were found. An investigation was conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, which suggested that if the prisoners reached the ground, they would certainly have to somehow provide themselves with civilian clothes and means of transport. But there have been no reports of car theft or clothing theft in the surrounding areas. Were also taken into account and extremely low temperature water during this time period and the direction of the tides of the ocean at this time of day. The investigation lasted seventeen years, and finally, on December 31, 1979, the case was closed. The FBI concluded that the prisoners most likely drowned in the waters of the bay trying to reach the mainland.

The territory of the island was used as a protective fort, later as a military prison, and then as a super-secure prison for especially dangerous criminals and those who attempted to escape from previous places of detention. Currently, the prison has been disbanded, the island has been turned into a museum, where the ferry goes from San Francisco from Pier 33.

History of the island

Discovery of the island and its name

lighthouse history

The discovery of gold in California in 1848 brought thousands of ships into San Francisco Bay, thus creating an urgent need for a lighthouse. The first lighthouse was installed and launched on Alcatraz in the summer of 1853. In 1856, a bell was installed on the lighthouse, which was used in the fog.

An interesting element of the military order was the prohibition of staying in cells during the day, except in special cases of forced confinement. High-ranking military prisoners could freely move around the prison, with the exception of the guard rooms located at a higher level.

Despite the harsh disciplinary measures applied to criminals, the prison regime was not strict. Many of the prisoners did housework for families living on the island, and a select few were sometimes trusted to look after the children. Some took advantage of the vulnerability of the prison guard organization to escape. Despite their best efforts, most of the fugitives did not manage to reach the shore and had to turn back to be rescued from the icy water. Those who did not return died of hypothermia.

Over the decades, the rules of the prison have become even softer. In the late 1920s, prisoners were allowed to build a baseball field and even wear their own baseball uniform. The army command organized boxing competitions between prisoners, held on Friday evenings. The fights were very popular, with civilians from San Francisco often coming to Alcatraz just to watch them.

Due to the high maintenance costs associated with the location, the Department of Defense decided to close this famous prison in 1934 and she was transferred to the maintenance of the Ministry of Justice.

federal prison

Central passage in Alcatraz

Prison life began with getting up at 6:30, the prisoners were given 25 minutes to clean the cell, after which each prisoner had to go to the cell bars for roll call. If everyone was in place at 6:55, the individual rows of cells would open one by one and the prisoners would move to the prison canteen. They were given 20 minutes to eat, then they were lined up to distribute prison work. The monotonous cycle of the prison routine was inexorable, and it did not change for many years. The main corridor of the prison block was called "Broadway" by the prisoners, and the cells on the second tier along this passage were the most desirable in the prison. Other cells were located below, were cold, and staff and prisoners often passed by them.

IN early years At Alcatraz, Warden Johnston maintained a "silence policy" where prisoners were forced to refrain from making any sound for long periods of time, which many prisoners considered the most unbearable punishment. There were many complaints demanding its abolition. There were rumors that several inmates went crazy because of this rule. The silence policy was later abolished, and this is one of the few rule changes on Alcatraz.

In the east wing there were single isolation cells. They didn't even have a full-fledged toilet: just a hole, the drain of which was controlled by a guard. They were placed in the isolation ward without outerwear and on a meager ration. The door of the cell had a closable narrow slit for the transfer of food, which was always closed, leaving the prisoner in complete darkness. Usually they were placed in an isolation room for 1-2 days. It was cold in the cell, and the mattress was only given out at night. It was considered the most severe punishment for serious infractions and bad behavior, and this punishment was feared by all the prisoners.

Closing the prison

Memorial plaque

Escapes from Alcatraz

View of Alcatraz from a helicopter

In the 29 years of operation of the prison, there were supposedly no successful escapes, but since the five prisoners who tried to escape could not be found (neither alive nor dead), this cannot be said for sure. A total of thirty-four prisoners organized 14 escape attempts, two tried to escape twice; seven were shot dead, two drowned, five went missing, the rest were captured and returned back to jail. Two prisoners tried to swim away from the island, but were caught: one in 1945, the other in 1962. The most desperate escape attempt, called the "Battle of Alcatraz", was made in 1946. In it, three prisoners, two guards, were killed, and two prisoners were later executed for participating in the riot.

Escapes from Alcatraz: MythBusters

Little known escape attempts

Escape by Frank Morris and the Anglin Brothers

John Anglin

Frank Morris

The most famous escape attempt was by Frank Morris. Frank Morris) and brothers John (Eng. John Anglin) and Clarence Anglin (eng. Clarence Anglin). The three escaped from their cells on June 11, 1962, devising one of the most elaborate escape plans ever.

Behind the cells in the prison building was an unprotected service tunnel about one meter wide. Frank Morris and the Anglin brothers took turns digging chunks out of the water-damaged concrete to get to the service tunnel. They used a homemade drill for this purpose, made from a metal spoon soldered with silver from a dime to a motor stolen from a vacuum cleaner and a simple sharpened spoon. The noise from the makeshift drill was masked by music playing for an hour. With the hole in the wall ready, the trio constructed papier-mâché dolls in their beds, so that their absence would not be detected ahead of time by the guards.

When everything was ready, the fugitives crawled through the hole and blocked it from the inside with bricks. Further, unbending the bars protecting the grate fan, they climbed onto the roof and descended to the water through the drainpipe. There, on a raft made in advance of rubber raincoats and inflated with a concertina (a small harmonica), they set sail from the shore at 10 pm.

However, most likely, the fugitives did not swim to the shore, having disappeared somewhere in the cold waters of the bay. Officially, they are considered missing. By Not official version, they could reach the shore and hide. The official FBI investigation was assisted by another prisoner, Allen West, who also prepared the escape, but did not go to the end with his accomplices.

However, it is impossible to conclude that they drowned. Still, for Morris, this end seems too simple. He was not a fool, spent most of his life in prison and made 11 escape attempts, not counting this one, besides, he had an IQ of 133 points. He was a master of escape and knew exactly the dangers of the bay. And he had months to watch the current from the exercise yard and plan the route. The escape itself was very cleverly planned, and they clearly paid enough attention to the main obstacle to freedom.

In favor of the version that at least one of the fugitives managed to reach the shore is that the Anglin brothers were from swampy Florida, where the forest is flooded by the sea during high tides, they knew how to build rafts, manage with the current, and were good swimmers.

The fact that no bodies were found suggests that the prisoners reached the mainland. However, specifically on the night of the escape around the same time, a man named Seymour Webb threw himself off the Golden Gate Bridge and his body was never found.

The following facts speak in favor of the official version. The water temperature in the bay was about 10 degrees, after about 20 minutes the cold began to act on the body. The temperature of the water in the showers of Alcatraz was moderately hot so that the bodies of the prisoners would not get used to cold water. In addition, two days later, a waterproof bag was found near Angel Island, which contained a phone book, money, and family photographs that belonged to one of the Anglin brothers. In addition, a homemade life jacket was found with visible teeth marks at the valve, which made it possible to think that the clamp was not airtight, and it was more difficult for the swimmer to stay on the surface of the water. July 7, 1962 Norwegian cargo Ship The SS Norefjell was leaving Pier 38 when the ship spotted a body floating twenty miles northwest of the Golden Gate Bridge. The man was wearing blue denim pants that looked like a prisoner's uniform. According to the FBI, there were no other persons missing or drowned at this time who would have been dressed in similar clothes.

A little-known fact is that there could have been more fugitives. June Stevens. June Stephens) was initiated into the plan as early as December 1961. He occupied a cell on the third tier above the cells of Morris and the Anglin brothers. A post-escape search of the entire prison also found holes around the ventilation grill in Robert Williams's cell. Robert L. Williams). Williams, who is serving a life sentence for the murder, denied involvement in the escape, Stevens admitted that he also planned the escape, but Morris asked him to abandon it, firstly, because a piece of concrete falling from a height could cause suspicion, and secondly, it is very difficult to get out into the corridor at such a height. Although Stevens is not believed to have taken part in the preparations for the escape in the last five months, he nevertheless described in some detail how the prisoners planned and carried out the escape. In addition, he stated that Williams played an important role in preparing the escape, he and Morris were close friends and worked together in a glove-making workshop. Stevens was later sent to isolation for an attempted escape. He died in November 1995. Williams died in May 2006.

In 2011, 49 years after the escape, a documentary was filmed: "Disappeared from Alcatraz", in which documents were checked about all the clues about the escape, it was written in them that the raft of the fugitives was found, the place of discovery was Angel Island. But among the evidence found in the bay and on Angel Island, he was not, and why no one has ever seen these documents. There was also a claim that the car was stolen, just the owner of the stolen blue Chevy filed a complaint with the city of Stockpton. And the conclusion is that on 06/11/62, prisoners Frank Morris and John and Clarence Anglin put their fake heads on pillows, climbed out through the vent into the corridor, there they climbed through the pipes to the roof of block B, with a raft, oars, a homemade harmonica pump and homemade vests they went up to the roof, went down the drainpipe to the shore. They inflated the raft and sailed 3 km to Angel Island, then they enter the Uchast (eng. "Marrin cauntry") and steal a car at dawn. By the time the guard has found their fake heads, they are already on their way to freedom. The result was a successful escape, the impregnable fortress in the San Francisco Bay fell under the mind and ingenuity of the three fugitives. And now it is not the FBI that is looking for them, but the service of the US Department of Justice ("U.S. Marshal").

Battle of Alcatraz

Left to right: Bernard Coy, Marvin Hubbard, Joseph Kretzer

Left to right: Clarence Karnes, Sam Shockley, Miran Thompson

The "Battle of Alcatraz" was the name given to an unsuccessful escape attempt that took place between May 4, 1946 and resulted in the death of two guards (one later died of severe wounds) and three prisoners, while 14 guards and one prisoner were injured.

Alcatraz in culture

• Movie "Alcatraz Island" Alcatraz Island ) (1937), starring John Litel (Eng. John Litel ).
• Film "King of Alcatraz" King of Alcatraz ) (1938), starring Lloyd Nolan (Eng. Lloyd Nolan ).
• Film "Seven Miles from Alcatraz" Seven Miles from Alcatraz ) (1942), starring James Craig (Eng. James Craig ).
• Movie "Train to Alcatraz" Train to Alcatraz) (1948), starring Don Red ("Red") Barry (Eng. Don "Red" Barry ).
• The Bird Lover of Alcatraz movie Birdman of Alcatraz) (1962), starring Burt Lancaster (Eng. Burt Lancaster).
• Movie "Escape from Alcatraz" Escape from Alcatraz) (1979), starring Clint Eastwood (Eng. Clint Eastwood).
• Film "Massacre at the Rock" Slaughterhouse Rock ) (1988), starring Nicholas Celozzi (Eng. Nicholas Celozzi); On the territory of the former prison of Alcatraz, a demonic evil lurks, which the leading heroes are trying to resist.
• Movie "Murder in the First Degree" Murder in the First) (1995), starring Kevin Bacon (Eng. Kevin Bacon); the main character of the picture makes an unsuccessful attempt to escape from Alcatraz.
• Film "The Rock" The Rock) (1996), starring Sean Connery (Eng. Sean Connery) and Nicolas Cage (eng. Nicholas Cage); a group of military men led by an American special forces general land on Alcatraz Island, take hostages and, threatening with rockets with deadly gas, begin to blackmail the US government.
• Film "Neither Alive nor Dead" Half Past Dead ) (2002), starring Steven Seagal (Eng. Steven Seagal); according to the plot, the prison is reopened after a long break.
• Movie "X-Men: The Last Stand" X-Men: The Last Stand) (2006), starring Hugh Jackman (Eng. Hugh Jackman); Alcatraz, instead of a prison, becomes a hospital in which mutants are treated for their abilities, and the final battle unfolds there.
• Film "The Curse of Alcatraz Prison" Curse of Alcatraz) (2007), starring Phil Austin (Eng. Phil Austin); a group of scientists who have arrived on Alcatraz are exposed to a demonic curse hovering over the island.
• In the movie "Prison Train" Prison Train ; 1938; Starring Fred Keating Fred Keating) one of the leading characters, the gangster Frankie, is transported by train to San Francisco to be put behind bars in Alcatraz; Dramatic events unfold along the way.
• In the movie The Alcatraz Experiment Experiment Alcatraz; 1950; Starring John Howard John Howard ) five prisoners from Alcatraz are transferred to a military hospital, where they are tested on an experimental method of treating blood diseases.
• In the movie Point Shot point blank; 1967; Starring Lee Marvin Lee Marvin); another Russified title of the film is “Point-point”) the plot of the plot takes place on the territory of the former Alcatraz prison; an evening view of the island and Alcatraz prison serves as a backdrop during the end credits; this tape is also notable for the fact that the episodes related to Alcatraz were actually filmed on its territory - for the first time after the closure of the prison in 1963.
• In the movie "Guardian of the Law" (Eng. The Enforcer; 1976; starring Clint Eastwood) a gang of criminals holds the kidnapped mayor of San Francisco in the former Alcatraz prison; the film's climax and denouement take place on the same island.
• In "The Terror on Alcatraz" Terror on Alcatraz; 1987; Starring Aldo Ray Aldo Ray ) the only prisoner of Alcatraz who managed to escape many years later returns to the territory of the former prison to pick up the once hidden key to the safe; the implementation of this plan is hindered by random bystanders.
• In film "