The Legendary Escape from Alcatraz
For a long time, Alcatraz was seen as a prison impossible to break out of. It was a tough, rocky island jail where escaping seemed not just hard, but completely impossible. But on a cold June night in 1962, three prisoners seemed to do the impossible. They vanished into the freezing San Francisco Bay, creating a mystery that still interests and puzzles people today.
The escape by Frank Morris and the brothers John and Clarence Anglin is still one of history’s bravest and most debated prison breaks. It shows how clever people can be and why we’re always drawn to unsolved mysteries.
About Alcatraz Prison
Alcatraz Prison, often called “The Rock,” was built to hold America’s worst criminals. It was in San Francisco Bay, surrounded by dangerous currents, cold water, and unpredictable tides. Most people believed no prisoner could survive an escape attempt, let alone reach the shore.
From 1934, when it opened, to 1963, when it closed:
- 36 prisoners tried to escape
- 23 were caught
- 6 were shot and killed
- 2 drowned
- 5 were listed as “missing and believed dead”
The disappearance of Morris and the Anglin brothers started a strong legend, which put a shadow on the prison’s perfect record.
The Mastermind: Frank Morris
Frank Morris, a very smart and cunning bank robber who had tried to escape before, was seen as the mastermind behind this bold plan. With the Anglin brothers, who were also skilled bank robbers, he carefully planned their escape over many months. Their chosen method was both very smart and incredibly brave: using the prison’s old air vent system.
For about six months, these three men showed great patience and cleverness. They slowly chipped away at the concrete around the air vents in their cells using:
- Spoons secretly taken from the dining hall and sharpened into simple chisels
- A vacuum cleaner motor used to power a drill
The constant noise from the prison radio and accordion practice covered up their secret digging.
Secret Workshop and Dummy Heads
Their bold plan was more than just breaking out of their cells. They set up a secret workshop above their cell block, which they reached through a service hallway. Here, they carefully made many important items.
In this hidden place, they built realistic dummy heads out of papier-mâché using:
- Soap
- Toilet paper
- Paint
- Real hair from the prison barbershop
These detailed fake heads, with painted faces, were placed on their beds to fool guards during night checks, giving the escapees valuable hours to get away.
The Escape Night: June 11, 1962
Hidden by the dark night, and with their fake heads on their beds, Morris and the Anglin brothers quietly moved through the air ducts they had made bigger. The ducts were small and dark, showing how strong and determined they were.
They then:
- Climbed a tall 30-foot pipe to reach the roof
- Carefully climbed down the outside pipes of the prison
This was dangerous and needed great bravery and a good understanding of the prison’s structure.
Crossing the San Francisco Bay
The most dangerous part of their escape was crossing San Francisco Bay. They had to build a simple raft and life vests using:
- 50 raincoats, either stolen or secretly gotten from other prisoners
This amazing cleverness, turning normal prison items into important survival gear, shows their great planning and teamwork.
The Discovery and Manhunt
The alarm didn’t go off until the next morning. Prison guards found out when Morris’s fake head fell off his bed, revealing their simple trick. A huge search started, involving:
- The FBI
- The Coast Guard
- Local police
Despite thorough searches, the bodies of the escaped prisoners were never found. Officials said the men had died in the dangerous waters, but their presumed deaths only added to the mystery.
Theories and Speculation
Because no bodies were found, people started to wonder if the men had actually survived. Over the years, many theories emerged. Some included:
- Sightings of the escapees
- Relatives receiving strange postcards and messages
These continued to feed the idea of a “successful escape.”
The 2013 Letter
The mystery resurfaced in 2013 when San Francisco police found a handwritten letter, supposedly from John Anglin:
“My name is John Anglin. I escape [sic] from Alcatraz in June 1962 with my brother Clarence and Frank Morris. I’m 83 years old and in bad shape. I have cancer. Yes, we all made it that night but barely!”
He asked for medical help and promised to reveal his location in return for not being sent back to prison.
Experts examined the handwriting, but results were inconclusive. The FBI acknowledged receiving the letter but maintained that the men most likely drowned.
Legacy of the Escape
The Alcatraz escape remains fascinating, not just because it was so bold, but because it makes us think about whether any place can be truly secure. It represents:
- The human desire to be free
- The allure of unsolved mysteries
Whether the men lived or died, their story lives on as a symbol of defiance and ingenuity. They challenged the legend of “The Rock” and left behind a mystery that still captures imaginations around the world.
Reference:
- The True Crime File – Kim Daly
