The Great Escape: The True Story Of Three Alcatraz Inmates
Alcatraz Island, located in San Francisco Bay, was a federal prison from 1934 to 1963. It housed some of the most notorious criminals in American history, including Al Capone and George "Machine Gun" Kelly. Despite its reputation as an impenetrable fortress, three inmates managed to escape from Alcatraz on the night of June 11, 1962. The story of their escape and the subsequent manhunt is one of the most fascinating and enduring mysteries in American history.
The Escape Plan
Frank Morris, John Anglin, and Clarence Anglin were all serving sentences at Alcatraz when they hatched their escape plan. Morris, who had a genius-level IQ, had been in and out of prisons for most of his life and was known for his ability to escape. He recruited the Anglin brothers, who were also experienced escape artists, to help him with the plan.
Their plan involved creating dummy heads out of soap, toilet paper, and hair clippings to fool the guards into thinking they were still in their cells. They also constructed a raft out of raincoats and used spoons to dig through the walls of their cells. They worked on their escape for months, carefully hiding their progress from the guards.
The Escape
On the night of June 11, 1962, Morris, John Anglin, and Clarence Anglin put their plan into action. They climbed through the holes they had dug in their cell walls and made their way to the roof of the prison. From there, they descended to the ground using a makeshift rope they had made out of sheets.
The three men then inflated their raincoat raft and launched it into the chilly waters of San Francisco Bay. They were never seen or heard from again.
The Manhunt
Despite an extensive manhunt involving hundreds of law enforcement officers, the three escapees were never found. The FBI declared the case closed in 1979, assuming that the men had drowned in the bay. However, over the years, there have been numerous sightings and alleged evidence of their survival.
One of the most compelling pieces of evidence is a letter that was sent to the San Francisco Police Department in 2013. The author claimed to be John Anglin, one of the escapees, and said that he and his brother had survived and were living in Brazil. The letter was never authenticated, but it added fuel to the ongoing speculation about the fate of the Alcatraz escapees.
The Legacy
The story of the Alcatraz escape has captivated the public for decades. It has inspired books, movies, and TV shows, and has become a cultural touchstone for the idea of the "perfect" prison break. The mystery surrounding the fate of the escapees continues to intrigue people to this day.
While the escape itself was a remarkable feat of ingenuity and determination, it also highlighted the flaws in the American prison system at the time. Alcatraz was supposed to be an escape-proof facility, but the fact that three men were able to dig their way out and disappear without a trace suggests that there were serious shortcomings in the prison's security measures.
Conclusion
The Alcatraz escape is a story that will continue to fascinate and intrigue people for generations to come. The fact that three men were able to escape from one of the most secure prisons in America and disappear without a trace is a testament to their ingenuity and determination. While we may never know what happened to Frank Morris, John Anglin, and Clarence Anglin, their story serves as a reminder of the enduring human desire for freedom.