Alcatraz

Decided to look at history of today and saw this at the top of the first page.  For those who don’t know, Alcatraz was an island maximum security prison used from 1934-1963.  It’s near San Francisco and surrounded by cold water with strong currents.  It was called ‘The Rock’ and considered inescapable.  Although, 3 prisoners used plaster heads in their cots and got out through holes in the wall, but nobody is sure if they made it or drowned in the water.  The fate of John Anglin, Clarence Anglin, and Frank Morris is considered an Alcatraz mystery.  Currently, the place is a museum.

So, who were some of the famous inmates?

• Arthur R. Barker for conspiracy to kidnap.  He tried to escape and was shot by the guards.
• Al Capone who had been continuing to run his empire from previous jails.
• Alvin Karpis who was a ‘Public Enemy #1’ and in jail for 10 murders and 6 kidnappings.
• Machine Gun Kelly for robberies and murders.
• Harvey Bailey who was one of the biggest bank robbers of the 1920’s.
• Robert Stroud a.k.a. the Birdman of Alcatraz who wrote ornithology books.

Those who weren’t killed by guards trying to escape, killed by other inmates, or died for other reasons would be sent to other institutions after some time.  This is because inmates were sent to Alcatraz if they were misbehaving and causing too much trouble for less structured prisons.  For example, Al Capone was given special treatment and still involved in criminal activity while in jail.  So, he was sent to Alcatraz where he couldn’t do that any more and was treated like every other prisoner.  This place seems to have been designed to get the inmates to adhere to a strict system and almost rehabilitate them.  Some to the point where they could leave jail.

Here are some odd facts:

1. Alcatraz being a harsh, merciless place was a myth.  The strict schedule and segregation meant everyone got their own cell.  This reduced violence.
2. Inmates could have hot showers.  Supposedly this also meant that their bodies would be more susceptible to the cold water if they tried to swim away.
3. Good food was provided as three meals a day.  Similar to the showers, this may have been done under the theory that lazy, fat inmates won’t be able to escape.
4. In the 1930’s, prisoners couldn’t talk to each other outside of meals and recreation periods.  Doing so resulted in whatever military punishment is and revoking of being able to speak.
5. Softball was a popular sport for the inmates.
6. Many inmates worked on the island for 5-12 cents an hour.
7. Al Capone played banjo in the prison band?
8. The saltwater from the ocean caused a lot of corrosion on the structures, which was expensive to repair.
9. Due to the one man per cell, food, library, jobs, and showers, some inmates requested to be sent to Alcatraz.
10. Even though Alcatraz had death row inmates, it did not hold executions.  Those inmates were sent to San Quentin State Penitentiary when it was time.
11. Robert Stroud, Birdman of Alcatraz, was not allowed to keep birds in his cell.  He did that in Leavenworth before he was transferred.