How Did Alcatraz Escape

Claire Hasenoehrl
Mrs. Hacker
Honors English 10
23 October 2014
The Escape from Alcatraz "The Rock" was thought to be unescapable. Nobody thought that surviving the swim from Alcatraz to mainland could be accomplished by the inmates. However, many escapes were planned and attempted. Most escapees were caught, but some remain unaccounted for. Morris and the Anglin brothers' escape from Alcatraz was a well-planned endeavor still surrounded by mystery today. Alcatraz was a maximum security federal prison. Prisoners were examined closely upon arrival to prevent the smuggling of anything that could possibly be used for escape (Bruce 4-5). Alcatraz followed a strict schedule. Lights went out at 9:30 every night, and wake up was at exactly 6:30
It was formulated beginning in December 1961 when one of the group members came across some old saw blades ("Escape from Alcatraz"). This man was Allen West. He later told John and Clarence Anglin and Frank Morris about this discovery. They then began plotting their escape. John Anglin obtained a sharpened spoon and started digging around the air vent in his cell. The other three soon did the same, hiding these holes with whatever they could (Esslinger). The noise was concealed by Frank Morris playing his accordion in the evening (McFadden). The inmates also made dummy heads to put in their beds so the guards would think they were sleeping. They used soap, which was packed over white cotton rags and painted with flesh tones. The dummies even had human hair stolen from Alcatraz's barbershop (Esslinger
They planned to steal a car and clothing ("Escape from Alcatraz"). Others believe that Clarence Anglin's girlfriend was going to meet them and take them to Mexico (McFadden). On the night of June 11, 1962, the escape happened ("Escape from Alcatraz"). It went as planned for the most part, except for one thing. Allen West did not make it out. He was unable to remove the air vent in his cell. Clarence Anglin tried to help, but the two men were unable to remove the ventilator, so West was left behind. Around 1:45 the next morning, he was able to get the ventilator off, but that time the three others were gone, so he went back to his cell (Esslinger 390). On the morning of June 12, 1962 at exactly 7:18 am, the prisoners were discovered missing. Prison guard Lawrence Bartlett nudged Morris' "head" (actually the dummy head), when it rolled onto the floor. The prison immediately went into lockdown and the FBI were called. Bloodhounds tracked the escapees' path to the water's edge, where the trail went dead (Esslinger