LEGENDS OF AMERICA

A Travel Site for the Nostalgic & Historic Minded

 

  

  Search

 

 

Legends Home

Site Map

What's New!!

 

Recommend this site

 

 

 

American History

Ghost Towns

Ghostly Legends

Historic People

Native Americans

The Old West

Photo Galleries

Roadside Attractions

Rocky Mtn Store

Route 66

Travel Destinations

Treasure Tales

Legends Blog

Free E-Newsletter

 

Facebook Fanpage

 

Twittering

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Legends of America's Exclusive Custom Products

 

 

Contact Us

 

 

Please report broken

links, missing pictures, or

other problems online by

clicking HERE or send us

 an email.  Thanks!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Alcatraz - Page 3

 

 Legends of America's Exclusive Custom Products

 

<< Previous  1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9  Next >>

 

Lower Prison at Alcatrz

:Lower prison at Alcatraz. Photo courtesy Mennonite Library

and Archives, Bethel College, North Newton, Kansas

 

 

During the Spanish-American War of 1898, thousands of troops passed through San Francisco on their way to or returning from the Philippines. Upon their return, many of the soldiers brought back tropical contagious diseases and San Francisco's hospitals filled. Many of these soldiers returned as prisoners and Alcatraz's hospital was also packed with men who had contracted diseases, a number of which died of their illnesses. During this time, four prisoners tried to paddle their way to the mainland on a butter vat, only to be returned to the island along the strong currents.

 

By the turn of the century, the prison’s population had swelled to more than 400 and another prison complex was hastily built on the parade ground.

 

Called the Upper Prison, it consisted of three wooden cell houses with two tiers each, surrounded by a stockade fence. Over the next several years, additional support buildings were added to the Upper Prison and the Lower Prison was converted into workshops for prison labor.

 

Both the Upper and Lower Prisons were firetraps, and in 1902, an oil lantern fire almost destroyed the Lower Prison. In 1906, when the earthquake hit San Francisco, burning much of the city, officials evacuated 176 city prisoners to Alcatraz for nine days. Recognizing the fire hazards of Alcatraz, new concrete barracks were soon built by prison labor.

Alcatraz Military Prison (1907-1934)

As the ships of the U.S. military became more and more powerful, the defensive purposes of Alcatraz became obsolete. In 1907, Alcatraz was re-designated as the "Pacific Branch, U.S. Military Prison” and prison guards replaced infantry soldiers.

 

New projects soon began to accommodate the many military prisoners and during World War I, the prison housed German prisoners of war. The upper citadel was torn down and a huge cell house was built over the citadel basement and moat. The new cell house, completed in 1912, was the largest reinforced concrete building in the world at the time, containing four cellblocks with a total of 600 cells, each with a toilet and electricity.

 

In 1915, the island was re-named the "Pacific Branch, U.S. Disciplinary Barracks" and a new emphasis was put on education and rehabilitation. Those convicted men with less serious offences soon began to attend military training, remedial education, and vocational training. The plan was so successful, that many of the soldiers were restored to active duty after their sentences were served. Prisoners with more serious offences were not give these opportunities and were dishonorably discharged from the Army after having served their terms.

 

 

 

As a disciplinary barracks, Alcatraz was a minimum security prison and most prisoners were locked in their cells only at night. During the day, they spent their time in classes or work activities. Throughout these years, several inmates tried to escape the island by boarding boats heading to the mainland, swimming, or clinging to wooden objects. Driftwood was used for escape attempts in 1912, 1916, 1927 and a ladder was used during an escape attempt in 1929. Most of those who attempted escape through the water never made it to shore. Of those who tried, some were rescued and returned to the island, but others drowned.

 

Alcatraz, California

Alcatraz buildings today, July, 2009, Kathy Weiser

The most successful escape was on November 28, 1918 when four prisoners managed to escape with rafts. The authorities assumed they had drowned in San Francisco Bay, but they later appeared in Sutro Forest. Only one of them was recaptured.

 

As a Military Prison, there were at least 80 men who attempted to escape in 29 separate attempts. Of those, 62 were captured and returned to the prison, one may have drowned and the fate of 17 others were unknown. 

 

By 1933, the army decided that the island was too expensive to operate. Its location was the biggest problem, with the high costs of importing water, food and supplies.

At this time, the gangster era was in full swing, brought on by the desperate need of the great depression, combined with Prohibition. The nation’s cities were witnessing terrible violence as shoot-outs and public slayings became frequent when mobster’s took control. The ill-equipped law enforcement agencies were often bought off by the gangsters or cowered before the better-armed gangs of nattily dressed men. Simultaneously, the existing prisons were experiencing a number of escapes, rioting and gang-related murders.

Alcatraz was the ideal solution to the problem and J. Edgar Hoover jumped on the opportunity to create a "super-prison” that would instill fear in the minds of would-be criminals, offered no means of escape, and a place where inmates could be safely controlled. Negotiations soon began and Alcatraz was transferred to the Bureau of Prisons in October 1933.

By the early part of 1934, eighty years of U.S. Army occupation ended. With the exception of 32 hard case prisoners, who were to remain on the island and incarcerated in the "new” prison when it was completed, the others were transferred to Fort Leavenworth, Kansas and Fort Jay, New Jersey.


 

Continued Next Page

 

<< Previous  1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9  Next >>

From the Rocky Mountain General Store

We've been including great bumper sticker quotes in our newsletters since the beginning and many of you ask, why don't we sell them. Now we do!  Made of durable vinyl and measuring a generous 10" x 3" these stickers are made for adding style to any surface. Printed using UV resistant inks means no fading in the sun or bleeding in the rain.

   http://www.cafepress.com/legendsamerica/3772687  

 

                                                              Copyright © 2003-2010, www.Legends of America.com