Daring Prison Escapes | Fleeing the Rock | 2

Alcatraz Federal Penitentiary, often referred to as "The Rock," has a notorious reputation for being an escape-proof maximum-security prison that once confined some of America's most infamous criminals.

Alcatraz: An Escape-Proof Maximum-Security Island Prison

Alcatraz Housed Notorious Criminals, Including Al Capone, and Was Known For Harsh Conditions

Originally established as a military fort, Alcatraz was converted to hold military inmates before the Department of Justice purchased it in the 1930s. The island was chosen due to its isolation in the San Francisco Bay, surrounded by frigid waters and strong currents, which contributed to its reputation as inescapable. After its acquisition by the Department of Justice, Alcatraz underwent significant upgrades to strengthen its security. The prison incorporated the modern technologies of that era, including thick concrete walls, steel doors immune to hacksawing, and a plethora of defensive features such as tear gas dispensers and constant armed guard surveillance. The perimeter was secured with heavy barbed wire, and sewer entrances were barred to prevent any escape attempts.

Inmates at Alcatraz were under close watch, with guards counting them every 30 minutes. The prison's code of conduct was strict, and even minimal offenses could result in solitary confinement. In the 1930s and 1940s, Alcatraz housed some of the most notorious figures in crimina ...

Escapee History: Frank Lee Morris, Louisiana State Penitentiary

Frank Lee Morris was an inmate with a history of mischief and escape that began in childhood. Born in Washington, D.C. and placed in a foster home at an early age due to his mother's erratic behavior, Morris exhibited cleverness and charm but was prone to stealing. By 13, he served time in a juvenile detention center and continued a pattern of escaping from facilities.

Convicted for crimes like armed robbery and narcotics possession, Morris was serving time in the Louisiana State Penitentiary and managed to escape, only to be recaptured by the FBI months later. This led to his transfer to Alcatraz Federal Penitentiary. While in Alcatraz from January 1960, Morris studied the prison's security in-depth, seeking exploitable weaknesses. Learning about an unused air shaft from a fellow inmate, Morris contemplated using it as an escape route.

Clever Morris Studied Prison Security For Weaknesses

Morris’s observational and analytical skills were key in him identifying a potential escape route via an empty air shaft he learned about from another inmate, leading him to look for ways to reach it behind his cell's cement walls.

Anglin Brothers, John and Clarence, Were Seasoned Bank Robbers and Ideal Accomplices For Morris's Plan due to Their History Of Escaping Prisons

The Anglin brothers, Clarence and John, shared a criminal record with Morris for bank robbery and had previously been incarcerated alongside him in ...

The tale of Frank Morris, Clarence and John Anglin, and their fellow conspirators unfolds as they meticulously planned and executed one of history’s most famous prison escapes from Alcatraz Federal Penitentiary.

Morris, Anglin Brothers, and Inmate's Intricate Escape Planning

The inmates’ success in escaping from Alcatraz hinged on a complex series of steps. The planning began approximately six months prior to the escape with Morris learning from an inmate of a potential escape route through a ventilator shaft above cell block B. Morris involved Allen West and the Anglin brothers in the escape venture.

Inmates Ingeniously Escaped Using Modified Tools and Workshop Materials

To execute their plan, the inmates had to widen the vent in their cells using improvised tools. Frank Lee Morris, who was the mastermind behind the escape, used a file from a nail clipper welded to a spoon's handle to scrape away at his cell’s wall near the air vent. To avoid raising suspicion, they scattered the debris from their digging along their work detail pathways.

They also stole materials from their work assignments, such as over 50 raincoats, which they stitched together using steam pipes to create a makeshift raft, and glue from the workshop to craft life vests and waterproof bags for their belongings. They even modified a fan motor attached to a drill bit stolen from the broom workshop to make a makeshift drill and sawed through metal rivets on the roof of their cell block. These modified tools were stored secretly on the roof.

Teamwork and Detail Key to Inmates' Escape Plan

Teamwork was vital, and the plan demanded collaboration and detailed execution. Inmates worked in pairs, engaging in tasks like enlarging the cell vents or keeping watch. They created dummies with real human hair and painted them for realism to deceive the guards, covering their escape holes with homemade cardboard painted to match the walls.

On the night of the escape, while other conspirators squee ...

The infamous escape from Alcatraz in 1962 remains one of history's most tantalizing unsolved mysteries. Despite intensive investigation, the fate of the inmates who daringly broke out that night is still shrouded in ambiguity.

Escape Night Plan: West's Problem Forced Morris and Anglins to Proceed Without Him

An unforeseen problem on the night of the escape led to a significant deviation from the inmates' original plan. On the night of the escape, one of the inmates, presumed to be Allen West, realized that he had inadvertently sealed his escape hole with cement powder. The laborious effort to reopen it risked the entire operation. Morris and the Anglin brothers faced a hard choice—and the immutable deadline of Lights Out.

West struggled to reopen the hole in his cell and was told by Morris that if he was not ready by the time the lights went out, they would have to leave without him. This conversation captures the tension of the moment and the critical nature of timing for their plan. In the end, Morris and the Anglin brothers decided to go on without West when he could not escape in time. West attempted to follow the others but eventually surrendered and returned to his cell, fearing that the noise he was causing—amplified by the disturbance among the seagulls—would draw the attention of the guards.

Alcatraz Escape: Morris and Anglin Brothers Still Fugitives Despite FBI Declaring Them Dead

Although the escape was initially successful, and the inmates managed to elude capture, the authorities eventually discovered items belonging to the escapees, such as a homemade oar and a waterproof bag containing personal effects. West later cooperated with authorities and shared the details of their carefully orchestrated plan, but no definitive trace of the escapees themselves was found. The lack of solid evidence to confirm their survival led to speculation about their ...