Alcatraz now. Alcatraz (prison): history. Jailbreak Alcatraz

If there is the most famous prison in the world, then it is undoubtedly Alcatraz, which is located on the island of the same name in the San Francisco Bay. Even 100 years ago, it terrified prisoners, because it contained the most notorious criminals and cruel murderers in isolation and strict discipline. And the remote island was perfect for this purpose.

The story of the discovery of the island and prison

Despite its proximity to the coast, the island was discovered only in 1775 by a Spaniard, who gave it this name, which means "gannet" in Spanish. However, up to the present day, ornithologists have not observed here either gannets or their relatives - pelicans. Therefore, it remains a mystery why the island got its name. But there is also another name for this place, which was popular in the underworld - Rock (The Rock) ... Getting on the "Rock" meant getting a sentence in Alcatraz prison.

There was no need for the island until 1848. But this year, gold was discovered in California, which brought a large number of ships here. There was a need for a lighthouse, which was installed on the island of Alcatraz in 1853. And after 3 years, a bell was added, which was used as an additional landmark in heavy fog.

All the same "gold rush" forced the local authorities to strengthen the gulf in order to protect it. And on the island began a large-scale construction of a fortress with a long-range weapon.

An isolated fortress on a detached island in the middle of icy water made it an excellent place to keep prisoners of war during the Civil War. And already in 1912, a full-fledged prison was opened on the island, which is gaining fame not only for its location, but also for the harsh disciplinary regime that reigned within its walls. At first, political prisoners stayed here, but very quickly the prison was filled with real criminals: cold-blooded murderers, swindlers and famous gangsters. And, it should be noted, the time of the Great Depression greatly contributed to the fact that crime in the city of San Francisco grew by leaps and bounds. Therefore, it should come as no surprise that Alcatraz's prison cells were filled to capacity by the most notorious criminals. In order to improve security in 1934, it was decided to reconstruct it. One of the best security experts was invited for this project Robert Burge (Robert Burge) who was supposed to build a prison from which it is impossible to escape. And, it should be noted, he almost succeeded.

Alcatraz feature

The favorable location of the prison, its isolation from the rest of the city, the special arrangement of all premises and special security measures in it made it almost the safest place in the city, given the number of criminals per square meter.

A number of adjustments have been made to enhance security. Observation towers were installed along the entire perimeter of the island, underground tunnels were filled with concrete, and the bars on all windows were replaced from wooden to metal. Tear gas cylinders are installed in public places where prisoners congregate, such as a canteen, which were activated remotely from a security post. By the special idea of ​​Burge, none of the 600 prison cells were adjacent to the wall - they were connected by partitions only to each other. This was done for the case that if the prisoner can pierce the wall with the aim of escape, then he will not be free, but in the next cell.

But the most severe obstacle was the icy water that surrounded the island. In the warm season, its temperature barely rises above 14 degrees Celsius. Therefore, to overcome the distance to the coast of 2.4 miles by swimming is beyond the power of anyone, since hypothermia will occur within 10 minutes of being in the water. And in order to prevent the prisoners from trying to temper themselves in a cold shower, only hot water was served in the prison.

Despite the atmosphere of severity reigning here, the criminals were left with room for self-development and personal hobbies. There were always a lot of books in the prison library, and once a week you could play some kind of musical instrument. Some prisoners even received the privilege of knitting or painting for good behavior.

To get into Alcatraz, you had to "excel" in another federal prison. By a court decision, prisoners were not sent here. In addition, there were no indulgences available in other prisons through bribing guards. All prisoners were equal, even if you are the world famous gangster Al Capone.

Block "D"

As in any other prison, particularly violent criminals who did not follow the prison laws were placed in Block "D", which caused cold terror to everyone else. Staying here was considered the capital punishment on the island. It numbered 42 cells, including punishment cells or, as they were also called, "pits". Staying in a "pit" meant a completely dark room, devoid of any light. The prisoner placed there did not have any personal belongings with him. And all he had to do was just sit in the pitch darkness, losing track of the days. As one of the prisoners told later, in order not to go crazy in the "pit" he had to toss up a coin, listen to where it fell, and rummage around the floor in the pitch darkness to find it. Only this occupation helped him not to go crazy. Some of the prisoners left the punishment cell as completely different people, and they did not always remain emotionally healthy. These cells were not supposed to have any bed and they had to sleep on bare concrete floors, so being here affected both health and mental well-being. The main task of these cells was to break the spirit of the prisoner and discourage him from resisting the laws of the prison.

Notable prisoners of Alcatraz

A special place in the history of the prison was occupied by criminals, whom the whole world heard about. The cream of the underworld also ended up behind bars in Alcatraz. Undoubtedly, the "star" of this prison was one of the most famous gangsters "Great" Al Capone, the head of the Chicago mafia, which operated in 1920-30.

Among the main charges attributed to Capone were murder, robbery, illegal sale of alcohol during the "Prohibition", gambling, pimping. And this is not a complete list of all the "sins" for which he could have been imprisoned. However, the state did not have any charges or witnesses on any of them, although everyone knew who was behind it all. Then the feds had to accuse the great mafiosi of tax evasion and put him in prison for 11 years. And if in other prisons Al Capone almost did not notice that he was behind bars: due to the bribed prison guards, he had his own cell equipped with everything necessary, servants, and he continued to rule his gangster empire from a distance, then when he got to "Rock", the situation has changed dramatically. He was made an ordinary ordinary prisoner who did everything on an equal basis with others. He even had to clean up with a mop, which earned him the nickname "the boss with the mop." Al Capone was always distinguished by his violent disposition and fearlessness, which frightened the rest of the people. During one of the examinations in the Alcatraz prison, it was discovered that the mafioso was sick with syphilis, which was the reason for his fearlessness. After serving 7 years in Alcatraz, he left there as a completely sick man who was no longer quoted in criminal circles. He died in his home of a heart attack, which is considered a rarity for bandits of this level.

Another Alcatraz legend was a gangster Kelly Machine Gun (Machine Gun Kelly). He got his nickname due to the fact that he never parted with a machine gun, especially during his many robberies. He was credited with bootlegging during the "dry law", theft of people, smuggling. For some time he was even considered the enemy of the country # 1. He was caught and, accused of all the crimes he had committed, sentenced to life in prison. Of this period, he spent 17 years at Alcatraz. After that, he was transferred to another prison due to poor health. He died in a prison cell of a heart attack.

Robert Stroud (Robert Stroud), better known as "Birdman of Alcatraz" was probably the most amazing prisoner on the island. He was a brutal murderer, for which he received a life sentence. He spent 17 years on Alcatraz, 6 of which he spent in Block D, for especially dangerous prisoners. However, despite his cruelty to people, he turned out to be very sensitive to birds, and, one day, after curing a dying sparrow, he gained fame as a bird lover. Canaries of other prisoners were brought to him, whom he trained for sale. After some time, the guards even allowed him to keep birds in his cell in cages that he made himself. During his prison stay, he wrote 2 books about canaries and their diseases. However, even the birds could not cure his brain of the psychosis he was diagnosed with, and he was considered a particularly dangerous criminal until his death.

Escape from Alcatraz

Despite all the ideas to build the most impregnable prison, there were about a dozen attempts to escape from it.

The most successful escape is considered to be by three prisoners. June 11, 1962... They dug between the chamber and the ventilation shaft. A homemade drill from a spoon with a stolen motor from a vacuum cleaner helped them gouge the hole. They drilled the wall only on the days when prisoners were allowed to play musical instruments so that no noise could be heard. They covered the damage in the wall with old newspapers. So that the escape was not revealed as long as possible, the prisoners prepared papier-mâché dolls in advance, which they put in their place in bed. The smallest details were thought out, such as, for example, the real hair on the mannequins, which were stolen in advance from the prison barbershop. The prisoners climbed through the drilled hole and climbed onto the roof. From there they descended to the ground through a drainpipe. With the help of stolen 50 rubberized raincoats, they built a raft and sailed away in an unknown direction. Until now, these three fugitives are on the wanted list and an amount of $ 1 million has been assigned for their capture.

This case of escape excited the public and greatly shaken the status of the impregnable "Wall". In addition, the city authorities realized the danger posed by the prison, which is located in the vicinity of a large city, even if there is a strait with icy water between them.

Officially, Alcatraz was closed to criminals a year after the successful escape - on March 21, 1963. Among the main reasons are the expensive maintenance of the prison, to which all goods had to be brought in by ferry. Now there is a prison museum on the island, which is open to tourists and is part of the Golden Gate National Recreation Area.

How to get there

You can only get to the island by ferry, which departs from pier 33 on the San Francisco waterfront. Transportation is carried out by the company Alcatraz cruises according to the exact schedule . Depending on what season you arrived in, the number of ferry flights during the day will change. We were in December, and due to the large flow of tourists, we were able to buy tickets for the excursion only the next day. Therefore, it is better to take care of the tickets and redeem them in advance at the pier or purchase them at official website.

When you arrive on the island, you will receive an audio guide in the language you want and you can walk here as long as you want. You can return at any time, you just need to wait for the departing ferry, which runs on average once every 30 minutes.

Undoubtedly, visiting Alcatraz was one of the brightest impressions during our two-week trip to the USA.

Alcatraz was the first military prison to hold the most famous criminals like Al Capone. It is located on a large rock separating it from San Francisco by fast currents and predatory fish. No one has escaped from Alcatraz yet. For many years, the local population argued with the authorities regarding the island. The fact is that so much money was spent on the maintenance of criminals and guards, as if they lived not in a prison, but in an expensive hotel. In this regard, in 1963, Alcatraz was closed. Since 1969, the prison has been besieged by the Indians. The siege against the American occupation of indigenous lands lasted for three years. In our time, this confrontation reminds of itself with drawings on the coast and exhibits of the national museum. After such a rich history, Alcatraz prison has become one of the city's main attractions.

Alcatraz prison for tourists

Prison history

In 1775, a Spanish scientist mapped a small island named Isla de Las Alcatraces because of the large number of pelicans that inhabit it. He then could not even imagine that in a few hundred years, this place would become famous as the most terrible prison in America. Alcatraz may be known to you from the movie "Escape from Alcatraz".

In 1848, a gold mine was found in San Francisco. The real gold rush begins. In this regard, the number of residents is increasing dramatically. Seekers for the precious metal come from both land and ocean. Over time, the authorities realized that they needed to somehow protect the city. The choice fell on the island. It had a very advantageous strategic position: it was located a couple of kilometers from the city, and the surrounding territory was clearly visible from it. In 1854, defenses and cannons were erected on the island.

A defensive complex was formed together with two neighboring forts. In 1960, the first war criminal was brought to the island. From that moment on, the protective function of the island begins to weaken. It cannot be said that the guns never had to be used. But in the role of a prison, Alcatraz existed for 100 years. At the beginning of the 20th century, the fortification was demolished, retaining the basement, for the construction of a new prison. For two years the criminals have been building the prison. Its location near strong currents made the island difficult to access, so Alcatraz was soon used to keep prisoners. Every year there were more and more of them. In 1920, all buildings and buildings were completely filled with criminals.

Alcatraz became the first prison for the military, which was distinguished by severity and harsh punishments for all guilty ones. It could have been hard work or moving to a punishment cell without any conveniences. And this is the smallest thing that could have happened. Most of the prisoners were military at the age of 24. As a rule, they were imprisoned for desertion or other minor crimes. But not without murderers, rapists and thieves. The prison order had its own characteristics. The criminals were not allowed to be in the cell during the day. Persons of higher positions could walk freely throughout the entire territory of the prison.

Despite the harsh measures of pressure, the Alcatraz regime was not so harsh. Most of the inmates worked for families on the island. Some were even trusted to sit with children. There were cases that such a regime was used to escape. But no one succeeded. Having got out into the wild, the fugitives tried to swim across the sea, but the cold current did not allow them to do this. There was no choice and had to go back. True, then the fugitives immediately fell ill and died of hypothermia.

Over time, conditions in the prison began to improve. A baseball field was built by the prisoners. They were even allowed to wear special uniforms while playing. Boxing competitions were organized on Fridays. It was such an interesting sight that even civilians came to the prison to watch the fight.

In the 30s of the last century, the era of mafias and clans began. Whole families took over the districts, giving bribes to local authorities to turn a blind eye to the surrounding chaos. In this regard, the government decided to reopen the prison, making it federal. It was decided to reconstruct Alcatraz. For this, security expert Robert Burge was invited. He created a new, more modified building design. In 1934, Alcatraz got a new lease on life. Wooden rods were replaced with metal ones. All cells were supplied with electricity. The underground tunnels were destroyed in order to exclude any threat of escape. The canteens were equipped with tear gas cylinders in case of fights. The guard towers were moved to the best places for viewing. The number of prison cells was increased. Now there are about 600 of them. New penalties were introduced for the fugitives. Now the renovated prison needed new bosses. James Johnston was put in charge. He was known for his strict principles and humane attitude towards prisoners. He believed that criminals should be introduced to work in order to be respected. According to him, this was the only way to correct a person. The press and senior officials praised him for such a responsible attitude towards the prison and its inhabitants. During his work, practically all prisoners worked. As a reward for their hard work, their term was reduced. Prior to Alcatraz, Johnston worked at San Quentin Prison. There he developed programs to improve the life of prisoners. But, despite the good attitude towards the prisoners, he had a very tough character. If he was disobeyed, the punishment was the most severe. Johnston even attended the hanging at San Quentin on several occasions. So this man knew how to behave in Alcatraz.

After joining the position of Johnston, the rules for keeping prisoners changed. Now each of them had their own separate cell. A system of privileges was created for receiving food, medical assistance, clothing, etc. If the prisoner behaved well, he could even be allowed to communicate with prison guests and visit the library. At the slightest disobedience, all privileges were immediately taken away. In the prison, reading of newspapers and other media was prohibited, and letters were corrected. Alcatraz Prison was not the place where the courts were sentenced. Those who distinguished themselves were sent here. It was impossible to go to prison at will. The exception was Al Capone. He was an amazing person. The police chased him for three long years, and got caught for ordinary tax evasion. For a long time he was in prison in the city of Atlanta. Having bribed the guards and bosses, he acquired another gang and at the same time led his mafia while sitting in prison. After his deed was revealed, and the criminal was transferred to Alcatraz. He came out into the wild already hunched over an old man.

Another famous criminal was Robert Stroud, who had the nickname "birder". In fact, he did not raise animals and spent almost his entire life in a completely different prison. In 1909 he went to a Washington prison for a robbery. Having once killed a cellmate, he was transferred to a Kansas prison. In 1916, he kills a prison warden, and Stroud is sentenced to death. But at the tearful request of the prisoner's mother, the death penalty is replaced by life imprisonment, and the criminal is sent to Alcatraz. Here he began to study birds and even created several informative books. He spent almost twenty years in prison.

In 1962, Alcatraz ceases to function. According to one version, this happened due to the too expensive maintenance of prisoners. The prison also required $ 4 million in renovation.

Jailbreak Alcatraz

Yet one prisoner was lucky and escaped. He got to the shore so exhausted that he immediately lost consciousness. In the morning he was found by a small child with his parents. They thought the man was trying to drown himself in the bay and called the police. The prisoner was immediately recognized and sent back.

In the entire 29 years of the existence of the federal prison of Alcatraz, not a single escape was made. True, until now, five prisoners are listed as missing, most likely, they drowned.

The escape plan took months to prepare, carefully thought out, and perfect. An ordinary evening on June 11, 1962. Everything seemed ordinary. However, it was different for the three inmates. Frank Morris, John and Clarence Anglin decide on the impossible - to escape from the most secure prison in the United States of America. This fortified prison rises in San Francisco Bay, two kilometers from the West American metropolis. She instilled fear in even the toughest of criminals. Those who violated public order ended up in jail, who violated the rules of the prison ended up in Alcatraz. Her nickname is "The Rock". Here sat the king of the underworld, Al Capone. This is the most famous prison in the world. Let's take a look inside?

Today, more than 50 years later, all the details of the legendary escape are known. The main question remained open: were the three prisoners really able to get to land that night? However, let's talk about everything in order.

In the 60s, the Alcatraz prison is considered the last refuge in the criminal world. This maximum security prison was created to collect all the "rotten eggs" in one basket. Frank Lee Morris (prisoner AZ 1441) and his two accomplices John and Clarence Anglin are professional criminals and true escapees. From the very first days of their stay in the "Skala" they began to look for options and think over an unthinkable escape plan.

The main obstacle to freedom was, of course, the icy water in the San Francisco Bay. The situation was aggravated by a strong current. The distance from the island to the Californian metropolis is one and a half miles (2.4 kilometers).

In addition, it was necessary to get out of the main building of the prison, unnoticed to overcome the fence with barbed wire. But first I had to get out of the cells.

At first glance, the task was insurmountable. Inside, there were three prisoners per warden, four times the number in a regular regular prison at the time. Constant round-the-clock rounds made the task extremely difficult. It is impossible to dig, and to get out through the bars is also impossible. However, Frank Morris (with a high IQ) and his accomplices found a way out.

Finding that the concrete walls of the main building of the old building were no longer as strong, they decided to make their way through a 13 x 24 cm ventilation grill. To hide the traces of night work, they made models of the grates, which they attached to the wall. In addition, stacks of magazines, an accordion and other large things were used.

To prevent the escape from being noticed until the morning, the prisoners created stuffed animals out of papier-mâché. Hair was taken out of the barbershop, paints could be obtained for painting.

Behind the rear wall of the chambers, there is a technical duct-mine, where pipes go.

On it on the night of escape, the prisoners climbed to the upper floor of the building. There, through a ventilation hatch, which was opened with a homemade drill, they hit the roof.

We went down the drainpipes.

For several months, the future fugitives worked on life jackets and an inflatable raft. They made them from rain jackets and glue. They managed to get all the tools and materials thanks to contacts with prisoners in the kitchen, in workshops, etc.

Everything went perfectly and according to plan. Apart from the fact that initially four were going to escape, but one of the prisoners (Euler West) could not get out of the cell in time. Frank Morris, John and Clarence Anglin, once at the shore, inflated the raft with a converted accordion and sailed away.

No one has ever seen them again, they are considered missing. It was not possible to catch or find the bodies. Today, after half a century, they continue to look for them. In 1997, the FBI transferred the case to the YUES Marshals. They are in the United States looking for escaped criminals and return to prisons more than 100 thousand people annually.

Did the prisoners manage to swim across the San Francisco Bay? Found one paddle, two life jackets and a rubber bag with photographs, where's the raft? No bodies were found. If they managed to get to the ground, why didn't professional criminals take up the old business? These and many other questions are still open.

Less than 12 months after this (successful) escape case, the federal prison was closed.

There were other attempts to escape, but they were all unsuccessful and ended in failure.

A few words about everyday life in prison.

The main principle in working with prisoners was de-personalization. Everyone became equal, whether it was a bank robber, a murderer, the brightest representative of organized crime in the United States, Al Capone, or the famous American gangster George Kelly Barnes ("Kelly Machine Gun", English "Machine Gun"). This was not a penal colony. The main thing was not resocialization, but mental disruption.

Occasionally, the noise of the big city and the stunning views of San Francisco reached the island even more pressured the prisoners. Everyone dreamed of an escape. There have been cases of riots and hostage-taking by prison guards.

You could shave once a week, cut your hair once a month.

In the dining room, they usually gave the same thing, namely pasta.

In the gift shop, you can now buy mugs that are similar in shape and type to the original.

There were rooms where prisoners worked.

There was a library.

You could play a musical instrument one day a week.

Paint.

Even knit (men's prison).

The prisoners played chess / checkers. They placed half of the field in their cell and, talking with their neighbors in the cell, made moves.

With distant cameras it was possible to talk through the "toilet" connection. When the water was drained from both negotiators, the pipe was free for some time.

Those who violated the order were expected to take a number of special measures. The mere mention of "Block D" struck terror and fear in the prisoners.

Long-term detention cells were located there. You could walk once a week.

And also the so-called "holes". Like punishment cells - a prison in a prison.

There was practically no light in the "holes", there was no heating. The prisoners were kept there for a long time. In order not to go crazy, one of the prisoners (according to his stories) tore off a button, tossed it up, made several turns and in the dark, blindly began to look for it on the floor with his hands. And so over and over again, until he washed his hands and could not feel them. In one of the 6 special cells there was no light at all and prisoners were placed there only in their underwear.

There were also ultra-long-term isolation chambers. Prisoners (serial killers, etc.) spent years in such solitary confinement and had no "outlet to the world."

Meeting room rules.

In the premises of the guards and the administration of the prison.

More photos from the hulls:

More photos of the island:

In a nutshell, what was on the island before the maximum security prison, built in 1933. Initially, there was a lighthouse on the island. During the gold rush in the mid-nineteenth century, the San Francisco Bay was overrun with ships. The need arose to protect the bay, so a fort was built here with more than a hundred guns.

Later, a military prison was established on the island.

The Federal High Security Prison was closed in 1963. In the late 60s, the island was occupied by the Indians, according to the law on the possibility of their free resettlement.

Later they were all dispersed.

Since 1971 Alcatraz is a museum complex, it was opened for tourists.

Alcatraz has appeared frequently and appears in films. The most famous prisoners at various times were Clint Eastwood (Escape from Alcatraz, 1979) and Sean Connery (The Rock, 1996).

Here is such an interesting place.

Alcatraz is a famous island located in the Bay of San Francisco, California. Translated from Spanish, Alcatraz means "pelican". The island also has another name - The Rock, which it received thanks to the 1996 film of the same name by Michael Bay.

Alcatraz is one of the top tourist attractions in this port city. Perhaps this place is so attractive due to its interesting, but rather dark history. Alcatraz is never empty. Travelers from all over the world come to the island to see firsthand the place, "sung" in many films, television programs, literature and even music.

The history of the island

The first to enter the San Francisco Bay was a Spaniard named Juan Manuel de Ayala. It happened in 1775, and then he and his team drew up a map of the bay. One of the three islands, which today is called Yerba Buena, was named La Isla de los Alcatraces. It may have meant "Pelican Island", but this is just a guess. The fact is that birds of this species were not found nearby at all.

Later, in 1828, the English geographer Frederick Beachy made a mistake, transferring the names of the islands from the Spanish maps. Thus, the name Island Alcatrazes was given to the neighboring island. Subsequently, by the decision of the topographic service of the US Coast Guard, the name was shortened to what we know today - Alcatraz.

The "Gold Rush" caused a number of changes in the island. For example, in 1853 a lighthouse was installed on Alcatraz, and three years later - a bell, which was used in the fog. Then the need arose to protect the bay. For this, in 1850, construction began on a fort with more than 110 long-range guns.

Prisons in Alcatraz

Due to its location, the island was in a real natural isolation. The icy water, the middle of the bay and strong sea currents were the reasons that pushed the US Army to look at Alcatraz from a new perspective. This place was ideal for keeping prisoners of war, and from 1861 to 1898 their number increased to 450 people.

In 1934, the Ministry of Defense decided to close the prison - too much money was spent on its maintenance.

However, this was not the end of the history of prisons on the island. The Great Depression spawned a new wave of crime, and the government decided to reopen Alcatraz, this time as a federal prison. Now dangerous criminals are housed here. Later, reconstruction was carried out, and the prison turned into an absolutely impregnable place with containers for tear gas in the dining room and other means for "taming" the prisoners.

Interestingly, the courts were not sentenced to serving time in Alcatraz. The walls of the world-famous prison were prisoners who managed to especially "distinguish themselves" in their former place. So the myth that Alcatraz was filled entirely with the most dangerous criminals is not entirely true - those who showed willfulness and disobedience also visited here. Of course, well-known and dangerous criminals also managed to visit Alcatraz - which is just the name of Al Capone or Machine Gun Kelly.

Alcatraz today

Nowadays, the prison has long been disbanded, and the whole island is a museum. You can get there by ferry from pier number 33 in San Francisco.

Tours to Alcatraz

Departure time: 8:45, 9:10, 9:30, 10:00, 10:30, 11:00, 11:30, 12:00, 12:30, 13:05, 13:35.

Tour price: for adults - $ 46.35; for children - $ 31.50.

Night tour: 3:50, 4:45.

Price: for adults - $ 53.50; for children - $ 35.05.

Do not miss the chance to see the famous Alcatraz with your own eyes, and therefore, if you are in San Francisco, visit this famous island. In this city you can see a lot of interesting things, you should definitely visit the beloved by many Pier 39, once the home of fur seals.

One of the most famous prisons in the world is the American prison Alcatraz ( Alcatraz), also known as the Rock (from English - Rock), which is located on a small island of the same name in the Bay of San Francisco. The prison has been closed for several decades, but thanks to numerous stories and rumors, people will think about the prison first of all, and not about the island itself, when they hear the word “Alcatraz” for a long time!

The prison gained its fame not at all because of the numerous films filmed here, but because of the prisoners who served time in their cells. Alcatraz held some of the most violent criminals in the United States! The island got its name in 1775, when the Spaniard Juan Manuel Ayala ( Juan manuel de ayala). There are three islands in the bay, and the Spaniard gave one of them the name Alcatraces. The meaning of this word is still hotly debated, but most agree that it translates as “pelican” or “strange bird”.

The island was originally used as a military fortress, which was later transformed into a federal correctional institution.

Alcatraz was famous for the fact that it was impossible to escape from it. The reason for this, at first glance, a controversial statement is that the prison is located in the center of the bay near the city of San Francisco and can only be reached by water.

However, water is not the only obstacle in the path of a possible fugitive.

The fact is that the water temperature of the bay is not high, and the currents are very strong, so that even an excellent swimmer will not be able to overcome
the distance is just over two kilometers from the island to San Francisco.

Alcatraz was also the first long-term military prison. In the 1800s, civil and Spanish-American prisoners
Wars were the first prisoners to arrive on the island. Later, due to the isolated location and
the insurmountable cold waters of the bay, authorities saw Alcatraz as an ideal place to hold dangerous prisoners.

In the beginning, Alcatraz or Alcazar was just another federal correctional institution, but over time the prison became famous after such criminals as George "Machine Gun" Kelly, Robert Franklin Stroud were serving their sentences. , Alvin Karpis, Henry Young and Al Capone. Criminals who could not be held by other correctional institutions were also located here. The average number of inmates held at Alcatraz was approximately 260, with 1,545 inmates in the prison over its 29 years of operation. During this time, there were attempts to escape, but there is not a single official record of the success of at least one of them. Several prisoners have disappeared, but they are all found to have drowned in the waters of the bay.

However, soon the first prisoners appeared on the island. These were not notorious criminals at all, but ordinary soldiers who violated any decree. The more prisoners became on Alcatraz, the fewer guns became in the fortress. It will take several more years before the fortress finally loses its original significance and turns into one of the most famous prisons on earth!

Already in 1909, the fortress was demolished, and a prison was built in its place. Construction took place over two years, and the main workforce was inmates from the Pacific Division of the US Army Disciplinary Barracks. It is this structure that will later receive the name "Rock".

The prison on the island of Alcatraz was supposed to be a real dungeon for the most notorious criminals with minimal rights for prisoners. Thus, the US government wanted to show the public that it was doing everything possible to combat the crime that swept the country in the 1920s and 1930s.

In total, Alcatraz prison was designed for 336 people, but it usually held much fewer inmates. Many believe that Alcatraz is one of the darkest and most brutal prisons on Earth, but this is not entirely true. Despite the fact that it was positioned as a maximum security prison, the cells here were solitary and quite comfortable. Many inmates from other prisons even wrote applications for transfer to Alcatraz!

Some of the most famous Alcatraz inmates are Al Capone, Arthur Doc Barker and George "Machine Gun" Kelly, but the vast majority of local criminals were far from notorious thugs and murderers.

Only those prisoners who were prone to escape were usually imprisoned on the island. The fact is that it was almost impossible to escape from here. Of course, there were many attempts, and many prisoners even managed to get out of the prison itself, but leaving the island was an impossible task. Strong currents and icy water killed many fugitives who decided to swim to the mainland! In total, while Alcatraz was used as a federal prison, there were 14 escape attempts, involving a total of 36 people. None of them managed to leave the island alive ...

On March 21, 1962, the prison on Alcatraz Island is officially closed. It is believed to have been closed due to the significant costs of maintaining prisoners, as well as the need for costly restoration work. Several years passed, and in 1973 the legendary prison became available to the general public. Today Alcatraz is visited by tens of thousands of tourists every year.

Prison "Alcatraz" consisted of 336 cells for serving sentences, divided into two large blocks "B" and "C", 36 isolated cells, 6 single cells in a separate block "D". Two cells at the end of block "C" were used as security rest rooms. Most of the inmates at Alcazar are those who have been found to be particularly violent and dangerous, those who may have attempted to escape, and those who are likely to refuse to follow the rules of conduct and procedures in another federal correctional institution.

Alcatraz inmates could earn privileges, which consisted of work, family visits, access to the prison library, recreation - painting and music. The prisoners had only four basic rights - food, clothing, shelter and medical care.

Alcatraz did not have the equipment to carry out the death penalty, so those sentenced to death were sent to the San Quentin City Prison for execution in a gas chamber.

Despite strict rules and strict standards for inveterate criminals, Alcatraz mostly operated in minimum security mode. The types of work carried out by prisoners varied depending on the prisoner himself, the type of work and the degree of responsibility. Many worked as servants: preparing food, cleaning, doing household chores for families living on the island. Alcatraz's security officers lived on the island with their families in a separate building and, in fact, were partly prisoners of Alcatraz. In many cases, individual prisoners were trusted to take care of even the children of the prison staff. Alcatraz was also home to several Chinese families who were employed as servants.

It is officially believed that there were no successful attempts to escape from the Rock, however, so far, five prisoners from Alcatraz are listed as "absent, presumably drowned".

* April 27, 1936 - Joe Bowers, who was tasked with burning trash that day, suddenly began climbing a fence. The guard warned him, but Joe ignored him and was shot in the back. He died of his wounds in the hospital.

* December 16, 1937 - Theodore Cole and Ralph Roy, who worked in the store, decided to escape through the iron bars on the window. They managed to get out of the window, after which they ran to the water and disappeared into the San Francisco Bay. Despite the fact that it was on this day that a storm broke out, many believed that the fugitives had managed to get to land. But officially they were considered dead.

* May 23, 1938 - James Limerick, Jimmy Lucas and Rafas Franklin, working in a woodwork shop, attacked an unarmed guard and killed him with a hammer to the head. The trio then climbed onto the roof and tried to disarm the officer guarding the tower's roof, but he opened fire. Limerick died of his injuries, and the surviving couple received life sentences.

* January 13, 1939 - Arthur Doc Barker, Dale Stamphill, William Martin, Henry Young, and Rafas McCain fled from the isolation ward to the prison cell. They sawed down the bars, climbed out of the building through the window, and headed for the water's edge. The guard found the fugitives already on the western coast of the island. Martin, Young and McCain surrendered, and Barker and Stamphill, who refused to obey the order, were injured. Barker died a few days later.

* May 21, 1941 - Joe Cretzer, Sam Shockley, Arnold Kyle and Lloyd Backdall took several guards under their supervision as hostages. But the guards managed to convince the prisoners to surrender. It is significant that one of these guards later became the third commandant of Alcatraz.

* September 15, 1941 - John Bayles tried to escape while cleaning the trash. But the icy water in the San Francisco Bay forced him to return to shore. Later, when he was taken to federal court in San Francisco, he tried to escape from there. But again, to no avail.

* April 14, 1943 - James Borman, Harold Brest, Floyd Hamilton and Fred Hunter took two guards hostage in an area where prisoners were working. They got out through the window and jumped into the water. But one of the guards managed to signal an emergency to his colleagues, and the officers, who set off on the trail of the fugitives, overtook them only at the moment when they were already sailing away from the island. Some of the guards rushed into the water, someone opened fire. As a result, Hunter and Brest were detained, Bormann was wounded and he drowned. And Hamilton was declared drowned. Although, in fact, he hid for two days in a small gorge, and then returned to the territory where the prisoners worked. There he was captured by the guards.

* August 7, 1943 - Charon Ted Walters disappeared from the laundry, but was caught on the shore of the bay.

* July 31, 1945 - one of the most thoughtful escape attempts. John Giles often worked in the prison laundry, which also washed the army uniforms that were sent to the island for this purpose. One day he stole a full set of uniforms, changed his clothes and calmly got out of prison and went to dinner with the military. Unfortunately for him, the military was dining on Angel Island that day, not in San Francisco as Giles had suggested. In addition, his disappearance from prison was immediately noticed. Therefore, as soon as he was on Angel Island, he was arrested and sent back to Alcatraz.

* May 2-4, 1946 - This day is known as the "Battle of Alcatraz". Six inmates disarmed the guards and seized a bunch of keys from the prison block. But their plan began to fail when the inmates discovered they did not have the key to the door leading to the recreation yard. Soon, the prison administration suspected something was wrong. But instead of surrendering, the prisoners resisted. As a result, four of them returned to their cells, but first opened fire on the guards taken hostage. One officer died of his wounds, a second officer was killed while trying to regain control of the prison block. About 18 guards were injured. American sailors were immediately called in to help, and on May 4, the riot ended in the killing of three prisoners. The two "rebels" were subsequently sentenced to death and ended their days in the gas chamber in 1948. A 19-year-old riot participant received a life sentence.

* July 23, 1956 - Floyd Wilson disappeared from work at the dock. For several hours he hid among the rocks, but when he was discovered, he gave up.

* September 29, 1958 - While cleaning up trash, Aaor Bargett and Clyde Johnson disarmed a prison officer and attempted to sail away. Johnson was caught in the water, but Bargett disappeared. Intensive searches have yielded no results. Bargett's body was found in San Francisco Bay two weeks later.

* June 11, 1962 - This is the most famous escape attempt thanks to Clint Eastwood and the movie Escape from Alcatraz (1979). Frank Morris and brothers John and Clarence Anglin were able to disappear from their cells and were never seen again. The fourth person, Allen West, was also involved in preparing the escape, but for unknown reasons remained in the cell the next morning when the escape was discovered. The investigation revealed that the fugitives prepared not only fake bricks to cover holes made in the wall, but also realistic dolls in beds, stuffed with human hair to hide the absence of prisoners during the night rounds. The trinity exited through a ventilation pipe adjacent to their cells. The fugitives climbed the chimney to the roof of the prison block (they had previously unbent the iron bars in the ventilation). At the northern end of the building, they climbed down a drainpipe, and thus reached the water. As a boat, they used prison jackets and a pre-made raft. As a result of a thorough search in the cells of the fugitives, tools were found with the help of which the prisoners hammered the walls, and in the bay they found one life jacket converted from a prison jacket, oars, as well as carefully wrapped photographs and letters belonging to the Anglin brothers. A few weeks later, the body of a man was found in the water, dressed in a blue suit that looked like a prison uniform, but the condition of the body did not allow identification. Morris and the Anglin brothers are officially listed as missing and presumed drowned.

On March 21, 1963, the prison on Alcatraz was closed. According to the official version, this was done due to the excessive costs of keeping the prisoners on the island. The prison required repairs worth about $ 3-5 million. In addition, the maintenance of the prisoners on the island was too expensive compared to the mainland prison, since everything had to be regularly imported from the mainland.

Currently, the prison has been disbanded, the island has been turned into a museum, where there is a ferry from San Francisco from pier number 33.