In the icy cold waters of San Francisco Bay their floats the notorious Island of Alcatraz. It is no more part of pop culture for being just an island than it is for having a prison on it. No. Alcatraz was so notorious because it had some of the world’s most dangerous and violent criminals inside the walls of the prison. The prison had incredible security and was renowned for being inescapable, except when it was broken out of. In 1962 four men devised and perpetrated a brilliant almost fantastical escape, the only traces of their making it out are the mysterious gifts received by the families, personal belongs left on the shore, and that their bodies that were never found.
The masterminds behind one of the most notorious prison escapes are brothers John and Clarence Anglin, and Frank Morris. Those are the three that made the escape. There was also a fourth man who contributed to the planning but ran into problems and never made it out. The most crucial part to their escape was the preparation. According to (nbcnews.com) the four men spent six months digging around the air vents in their cells. They used stolen spoons too chip through the walls, and after months of mindless chipping away they broke through the half foot walls of masonry to fall into a small non traffic room. Once the wall was penetrated they would climb through an air vent to the roof. This is where the fourth man ran into problems. According
Bethune 2 to (historicmysteries) the fourth men’s air vent access was blocked and he had to abort. So to save himself from worst punishment he opened up about the escape. This is how law enforcement learned how the escape was planned out and executed.
After six long months June 11 was the night. They had to wait fo...
... middle of paper ...
...nvinced they are dead. The evidence that they did survive is just greater than the evidence that they did not survive. So the mystery still remains. The June 11, 1962 Alcatraz escape will go down in history as one of the most notorious unsolved prison escapes ever to hit the books.
Works Cited
Leff, Lisa. "Escape from Alcatraz: 50 Years Later, Mystery Remains." Msnbc.com. Nbc.com, Nov.-Dec. 2012. Web. 23 Jan. 2014. .
Macgowon, Doug. "The 1962 Alcatraz Escape." Historic Mysteries. Alcatrazhistory, 7 June 11. Web. 23 Jan. 2014. .
Nolte, Carl. "Alcatraz Escapees' Family Convinced Brothers Alive." SFGate. SFgate.com, n.d. Web. 20 Jan. 2014. .
In this essay, the author
- Explains that alcatraz is no more part of pop culture for being just an island than it is for having a prison on it.
- Explains that the masterminds behind one of the most notorious prison escapes are brothers john and clarence anglin, and frank morris. the most crucial part of their escape was the preparation.
- Narrates how the fourth man's air vent access was blocked and he had to abort to save himself from worst punishment.
- Describes some things that could indicate that the men are still alive and living today. whether the washed up on shore or were left there are unknown.
- Analyzes how bethune 3flowers were anonymous for years after their escape. the family has no idea what happened to frank morris the third man who escaped.
- Explains that the popular show mythbusters tested the escaped by making the raincoat raft to guide them across the same distance as the escapees.
- Opines that the june 11, 1962 alcatraz escape will go down in history as one of the most notorious unsolved prison escapes ever.
- Narrates the story of the 1962 alcatraz escape from msnbc.com.
Related
- explanatory
- opinionated
- analytical
- Alcatraz Island: A Brief Historyexplanatory essayAlcatraz was obtained by the federal bureau of prisons in 1934; the bureau decided to open a “maximum security-minimum privilege prison [for housing America’s most rebellious and uncontrollable inmates- not necessarily those who committed the rather most reprehensible/egregious crimes]…to show the law-abiding public that the Federal Government was serious about stopping the rampant crime of the…1930s” (Alcatraz Origins 2). The location of the island was surely an ideal one, for it was an extreme factor in the maximum security of Alcatraz prison – the island was surrounded by freezing waters and isolated miles from any other land.
In this essay, the author
- Explains that the u.s. army ran a mild institution with minimal security. many prisoners worked as gardeners and babysitters for the children of prison officers.
- Explains that the army deserted alcatraz in 1933. the federal bureau of prisons decided to open a maximum security-minimum privilege prison for america's rebellious and uncontrollable inmates.
- Explains the daily routine arranged for alcatraz inmates was designed to get them to follow prison rules. harsh punishments were given if a prisoner possessed bad behavior.
- Explains that alcatraz housed several famous convicts such as alvin karpis and alaskan murderer robert stroud.
- Explains that alcatraz island was home to the prison staff and their families, which was ensible since it would be complicated for guards to board an island ferry to go to and from work every day.
- Explains that alcatraz prison guards received extensive training in prison procedures and regulations, self defense, conflict resolution, legal requirements, marksmanship, rehabilitation, investigation techniques, bureau policies, and the history of law enforcement.
- Explains that alcatraz was not bad of a prison if inmates behaved well. there were privileges for those who earned it through hard work and good behavior.
- Explains that baseball was a popular talk among the inmates, while softball was played during recreation time. inmates formed their own teams, from amateur to league teams.
- Explains how alcatraz's one man per cell policy, good food, radio jacks in prison cells, and privileges appealed to convicts who asked to be moved there.
- Explains that some inmates were fine with spending their sentence on alcatraz, but others wanted to leave early and planned escapes.
- Analyzes how six inmates overpowered cell house officers to obtain the keys that they had. the keys were not able to open the front door to leave the prison, and no other prisoners would help them.
- Narrates how morris, the anglins, and west crafted a messily made water raft out of raincoats and each of them created an actual head from clay and real hair from the barber shop.
- Explains that the alcatraz federal penitentiary was three times more expensive to operate than any other federal prison.
- Explains that the federal government figured it would be more cost effective to build another maximum security prison somewhere else than to keep alcatraz prison open.
- Describes how alcatraz's prisoners were downsized and transferred to another institution. native american activists took over the island in 1969, citing an 1868 treaty.
- Explains that thousands of people came to alcatraz to support the native american occupation, including hippies, celebrities, school kids, vietnam war protesters, and others.
- Explains that the native american leadership couldn't control all of the people that were on the island. vandalism and fire destroyed alcatraz lighthouse, warden's home, and correctional officer social club.
- Explains that alcatraz island became part of the national park service unit in 1972. some repairs were made before the island opened to the public in fall of 1973.
1597 wordsRead More - Hauntings on the Island of the Alcatraz Prisonexplanatory essayThe Island of Alcatraz started construction in the 1850’s and in 1861 the first unlucky prisoners stepped onto the island. The island was now a fully functional high security prison. In 1868 the prison was designated for military convicts and soon the worst offenders were sentenced to life on the island. The island was surrounded by frigid waters and sharks in the bay helped prevent ideas of escape. Some escape plans were put into motion but none fully succeeded. Many convicts found that Alcatraz ended their career in crime, while some found that Alcatraz was the end of their lives. Although the prison was the most secure and safest place to keep these convicts, the prison was shut down in 1963, after over 100 years of service, due to high maintenance costs of bringing materials and sustaining human life on the island. Ever since the prison opened, unexplained occurrences have been reported and no explanation has ever been confirmed.
In this essay, the author
- Describes the hauntings on the island of alcatraz prison, about freezing cells, extra counts, and mysterious murders. the ghosts roam the abandoned cells and linger in empty halls waiting to be noticed.
- Explains that the island of alcatraz started construction in the 1850’s and in 1861 the first unlucky prisoners stepped onto it. in 1868 the prison was designated for military convicts.
- Explains that the most haunted area on alcatraz is the "d" cell block, or solitary, as it was often called.
- Explains that prisoners have claimed that they have been attacked by a man with glowing eyes in or near cell block d, the isolation chambers.
- Explains that lighthouses are scary without the eerie sounds and feelings, and that the ghostly figures of the dead prisoners generated the lighthouse and created those spooky sounds.
- Explains that many people believe that ghosts are the problem, but others think there is a simple explanation to all the claims of sightings.
- Opines that alcatraz's reputation represents a lasting reminder, that no man is above the law, and for some, it is an eternal payback for their crimes against humanity.
- Describes the works cited about.com crime/punishment. n.p., n.d. web. 13 may 2014.
- Describes the ghost stories of alcatraz, and explains that they were published by ghost in my suitcase.
1067 wordsRead More - Incarceration and Private Prisons in the United Statesopinionated essayUnder the auspices of President John F. Kennedy, Attorney General Robert F. Kennedy ordered the permanent shut down of the infamous Alcatraz Federal Penitentiary on March 21, 1963. An island located approximately 2.5 kilometers off the coast of San Francisco, California; the federal prison was home to the most notorious criminals for over three decades. The island also revealed to the world the unsettling state of circumstance the United States Justice and prison system suffers under in modern times. Apart from the brutal management prisoners lived under, the prison had shed a dark light upon the inhumane environment in which prisoners dwelled under in prisons across this nation.
In this essay, the author
- Explains that president john f. kennedy ordered the permanent shut down of the infamous alcatraz federal penitentiary on march 21, 1963.
- Explains that the united states has the highest incarceration rate per capita in the world since 2002, with 39.4% of blacks, 20.6% of latinos and nearly 72,000 youth.
- Explains that the corrections corporation of america's 2010 annual report states that a substantial portion of its revenue is generated under facility management contracts that specify per diem payments based upon occupancy.
- Explains that the private prison industry in the u.s. has been a source of enormous profits, as the exponential growth of incarceration statistics and incomes are closely related.
- Explains the prison industrial complex, a term coined to explain the relationship between the expansion of the prison population and the weight of political and corporate influence of private prison businesses that benefit in providing government prison agencies the services they need.
- Opines that the war on drugs is an issue that deserves more attention than it does, as it heavily influences the theory of the prison industrial complex.
- Analyzes how privatization of the prison system adheres to corporate principles, where monetary gains are the sole motivation of its existence, and concerns over the environmental or human costs are overlooked.
- Explains that a study by adrian t. moore at the university of hawaii outlines the many benefits of for-profit private companies in corrections communities.
- Opines that the exploitation of legal and public supplies in incarceration of citizens for monetary gains in the united states is unfortunate and needs to be dealt with ethically.
1276 wordsRead More - Alcatraz: The Most Famous Prisons Of The American Prisonexplanatory essayIt was one of the toughest prisons of it time. There was nothing to do but stare at walls. It was mind dwindling. Nicknamed “The Rock,” Alcatraz was a place prisoners didn’t want to go. From the discovery of the island to the closing of the prison, Alcatraz has had a lot of action over the years. With a great warden that kept the place in check, “The Rock” stayed under control, even though Alcatraz held some of the worst criminals of its time. Has anyone escaped? Well, there were those three guys that went missing, but keep reading to find out about that. Alcatraz is one of the most famous prisons and can be visited by the public today.
In this essay, the author
- Explains that alcatraz was one of the toughest prisons of its time. the island was discovered and the prison was closed.
- Explains that alcatraz was named after juan manuel de ayala, a spanish explorer who discovered san francisco bay in 1775.
- Explains that alcatraz is a 22-acre island that is 1 14 miles from san francisco bay. the prison could hold 450 prisoners with cells 10 feet by 4.5 feet.
- Narrates how three famous criminals were transferred to alcatraz: al capone, george kelly, and robert stroud.
- Explains how james a. johnson was strict and would give no exception to the rules when he became the warden of alcatraz.
- Explains that shark-infested, choppy waters made it hard for the prisoners to escape. the three men, morris, allen west, clarence and john aglin, planned an escape from alcatraz.
- Opines that more people should learn about alcatraz, because it was an important part of our country's history.
1699 wordsRead More - Did Anyone Ever Escape Alcatraz?analytical essayThe famous Alcatraz Island is located in the San Francisco Bay one and a half miles offshore from San Francisco, California. One might say that the climate on Alcatraz is very unpredictable, but why? Some people would like to believe that it is because of all the spirits of prisoners hanging around but that is not the case here. One reported that, “cold, foggy mornings may give way to sunny afternoons, which in turn can shift quickly back to more fog and blustery winds.” It rarely reaches above seventy-five degrees Fahrenheit or lower than thirty-eight degrees Fahrenheit, it almost never snows on the island. Winters are wet and winds are expected in every season. (Alcatraz Cruises).
In this essay, the author
- Explains that alcatraz became known as "the rock" after the 1906 earthquake, where prisoners had to build a completely new prison. the three men performed perhaps the greatest escape in the history of prison escapes.
- Analyzes what prisoners ate at alcatraz in 1946: a vintage prison menu | open culture.
- Explains that alcatraz is one of the most haunted places in america and was home to some of america's most notorious criminals.
- Explains that alcatraz is a national park and tourist attraction. the prison tour takes you through the entire prison and shows you what the prisoners did in their time living there.
994 wordsRead More - Men Who Were Sent to Alcatrazexplanatory essayThe Men who went to Alcatraz were sent there for misbehavior at other penitentiaries. No man was sent directly to Alcatraz. They were sent there for misconduct at other prisons. The men usually had also tried to break out of their old prison. The inmate got to the prison by being chained together put in a train car and shipped out to San Francisco. Once there without leaving the car; the train car was but on a boat and delivered to Alcatraz. When they stepped out of the cars they were marched around the island and into the reformatory. If the men ever got violent they would be sent to the Treatment Unit, or have pri...
In this essay, the author
- Explains alcatraz facts and figures. ocean view publishing company.
- States that dr. johnson, troy, and the national park service, u.s. department of the interior. alcatraz island.
- Describes the national park service's alcatraz island history and culture.
- Explains alcatraz history's "rules and regulations". ocean view publishing company.
- Describes the u.s.p alcatraz cell house diagram, published by ocean view publishing company.
- Describes how alcatraz was first used as a military prison in 1850, then closed in 1934, and was used to house the criminals who provoked problems at other jails.
731 wordsRead More - Alcatraz Island: A Touristic Attractionanalytical essayOne reason Alcatraz is such a popular tourist attraction is because of the vicious and murderous criminals that spent time on the island. One of the most famous gangsters, Al “Scarface” Capone lived on the island for five years. Al Capone was convicted and found guilty of tax evasion. From selling illegal alcohol, gambling, and prostitution, Al Capone ran a multimillion dollar empire in the 1920s. He did not care if he got into trouble. This is not too surprising for a criminal. Another very famous criminal that spent time on Alcatraz was Robert Stroud. “The most famous prisoner was Alaskan murderer Robert ‘Birdman’ Stroud, who spent seventeen years on Alcatraz” (Alcatraz-Facts and History). R...
In this essay, the author
- Explains that alcatraz island opened as a prison on october twelfth, 1933. it held some of the most dangerous prisoners, without any known successful escape attempts.
- Explains that alcatraz is a popular tourist attraction because of the vicious and murderous criminals that spent time on the island.
- Explains that alcatraz was famous because of its frequent escape attempts. six prisoners overpowered officers and got firearms, but did not get the keys required to leave the prison.
- Analyzes how the harshness of alcatraz is exaggerated in movies and is not what it really is in reality.
- Explains that tourists have always been attracted to alcatraz island. they are intrigued by the interesting criminals and how they live.
836 wordsRead More - The History of Alcatrazanalytical essayThe official day of opening of Alcatraz was in December of 1859 and it had two purposes, one of fortification and another of a prison. The prison was there for military members that committed various crimes. The prison had about 15 - 50 prisoners there, but they were not all military, some were local citizens and politicians who committed crimes of varying degrees. The idea of having a prison on an is...
In this essay, the author
- Explains that alcatraz is a drowned mountain peak made up of mostly rock and dirt. the island's name came from spanish explorer, lt. manuel de ayala, and ship pilot, jose de canizarer.
- Explains that president millard filmore agreed to make alcatraz official government property on november 6, 1850. it would be turned into a fortification to protect the city from hostile vessels.
- Explains that alcatraz had two purposes, one of fortification and another of a prison. the prison had about 15 - 50 prisoners, but they were not all military.
- Explains that alcatraz's role would change as the civil war ended, but the population would grow enormously because of the spanish-american war. the united states was looking for a maximum-security prison.
- Explains that james a. johnston was the first warden at alcatraz, and his views on the criminals were that they were to be punished for what they did and not rehabilitated.
- Analyzes how alcatraz changed from just plain old military criminals to some of the most dangerous men in u.s. history.
- Explains that there have been many escape attempts made and few have lived to try a second time. the most famous escape was in 1962 by frank lee morris, john william anglin, and brother clarance
- Explains that the salt water made escaping easier because of the wear and tear that it was doing to the prison. in 1965, 5 indian activists claimed the island of alcatraz and demanded it be handed over to them.
948 wordsRead More - Notorious Outlaw, Machine Gun Kellyexplanatory essay...hole”. Other than the harsh conditions warden had on us a times life wasn’t bad at Alcatraz. Kelly’s cellmate said he would get depressed when he got mail from his family and that he regretted all the crimes he committed to get himself locked up here. I didn’t believe him till I got a job in the mail room. I constantly saw letters from Kelly sent to Urschel begging him to plead his case, I never saw a reply to Kelly’s letters.
In this essay, the author
- Describes how the 1920's were the era of prohibition outlawing alcohol and gangsters like al capone and machine gun kelly.
- Describes how they and the boys joked about how kelly's wife kathryn was the brains behind all of their schemes to rob and bootleg.
- Narrates how james connor accompanied kelly when he plotted to raid the wealthy man's home and kidnap him for ransom money.
- Describes how they split the ransom money and went their separate ways except for kelly and his wife. they spent most of their time in chicago under different identities living a rich lifestyle while it lasted.
- Narrates how kelly and his accomplices were transferred to alcatraz, where they were the first group of prisoners there.
- Narrates how they spent seventeen years at alcatraz with kelly. they were respected by the inmates, but the warden didn't treat them well.
- Explains that kelly was transferred back to leavenworth in 1951 leaving them the keys to his big cigarette business. kelly died of a heart attack sometime in 1954. all the gangs and crimes we committed over the years were because of the outlawing of alcohol
993 wordsRead More - The Stanford Prison Experimentanalytical essayOn August 14, 1971, the twelve men that were given the role as “prisoner” were arrested without warning and taken to the police station on charges of burglary and armed robbery in front of their family and friends. There they were processed, fingerprinted and photographed, by the police. Then were blindfolded as they were transferred to the mock prison that was built in one of the basement of a campus building. They were deloused, had their heads shaven, and given their uniform and ID number and then placed in a cell as they would in a real prison setting. The other twelve men were the “guards”, those men were given a guard’s uniform, sunglasses, and a baton. Their orders only being to do what they thought was necessary to keep order in the prison but not to use any kind of violence. Even though the first day was uneventful you could see within hours both groups began to settle into their roles very quickly. It wasn’t until the second day there was a situation when the prisoner started a rebellion, which made the guards further adopt their role and began using more mental
In this essay, the author
- Describes how a stanford university psychologist named philip zimbardo performed an experiment called the stanford prison experiment in 1971.
- Analyzes how philip zimbardo posts an ad in the newspaper looking for young college students to volunteer and be paid fifteen dollars per hour to participate in psychological study on prison life. twenty-four were accepted and randomly assigned into two groups.
- Explains that the experiment was shut down on august 20, 1971, only after five days instead of two weeks because the "prisoners" and "guards" were withdrawing severely from reality.
- Analyzes how zimbardo didn't realize how involved he would get into the experiment as the prison warden. the independent variable was the randomly assigned roles, and the dependent variable the behavior and reactions of the volunteers under their role.
- Opines that philip zimbardo wouldn't have been able to get consent to do such a study because it fails to follow the ethics code of the american psychological association.
804 wordsRead More