Alcatraz Island, a name synonymous with inescapable imprisonment and daring escape attempts, looms large in the public imagination. For nearly thirty years, from 1934 to 1963, the Alcatraz Federal Penitentiary housed some of America’s most notorious criminals. Tales of life on “The Rock” and the numerous bids for freedom have become legendary, fueled by Hollywood and popular culture. But despite its fearsome reputation and the countless stories of attempted breakouts, Alcatraz was not ultimately defeated by cunning inmates. The question then arises: if it was so secure, why was Alcatraz closed? The answer lies not in successful escapes, but in a complex interplay of factors that made maintaining Alcatraz as a maximum-security prison impractical and ultimately unnecessary.
The narrative surrounding Alcatraz is heavily influenced by the dramatic escape attempts detailed in its history. While these attempts reinforce the image of Alcatraz as a place from which prisoners desperately sought to flee, they also highlight the extreme measures taken to prevent such escapes. Examining these attempts provides a crucial backdrop for understanding the operational realities and eventual closure of the prison. Let’s delve into some notable escape attempts that punctuate Alcatraz’s history, drawing from official records:
1936 – Headstrong
Joe Bowers’ desperate act in 1936, climbing the fence and being shot for refusing to return, tragically illustrates the futility of unauthorized departures from Alcatraz. This early incident underscores the strict security and lethal force employed to maintain order.
1937 – Storm is Brewing
The disappearance of Theodore Cole and Ralph Roe in 1937 during a storm remains one of Alcatraz’s enduring mysteries. While officially listed as missing and presumed dead, their attempt through a window in the mat shop highlights the inmates’ persistent efforts to exploit any perceived weakness in the prison’s structure, even in the face of treacherous conditions in San Francisco Bay.
1938 – Workshop attack
The violent attack on Officer Royal Cline in 1938 by James Limerick, Jimmy Lucas, and Rufus Franklin, resulting in Cline’s death, demonstrates the dangerous lengths to which some inmates were willing to go. This incident, occurring within the model industries building, revealed the potential for violence even within the supposedly controlled environment of Alcatraz.
1939 – The failed five
Arthur “Doc” Barker and his group’s attempt in 1939, escaping from isolation but being caught at the shoreline, illustrates that even meticulously planned escapes were often thwarted by the island’s geography and vigilant correctional officers. Barker’s death during this attempt further underscores the high stakes of attempting to flee Alcatraz.
1941 – Using the force & Cold as ice
The hostage situation orchestrated by Joe Cretzer and others in 1941, and John Bayless’s quick surrender to the frigid bay waters in the same year, showcase the varied and often desperate nature of escape attempts. These incidents, though unsuccessful, contributed to Alcatraz’s reputation as a place where inmates were constantly testing the limits of confinement.
1943 – Spidermen & Missing Sock
The 1943 “Spidermen” attempt, involving hostages and a swim, and Huron “Ted” Walters’s capture before even reaching the water, continue to illustrate the range of escape strategies and the ever-present surveillance on Alcatraz. Boarman’s presumed drowning and Hamilton’s eventual recapture emphasize the harsh realities of attempting to escape.
1945 – Uncle Sam
John Giles’s ingenious “Uncle Sam” escape in 1945, utilizing a stolen army uniform, is a testament to inmate resourcefulness. However, his capture on Angel Island, mistakenly believing it to be San Francisco, reveals that even clever plans could be undone by unforeseen circumstances and the surrounding environment.
1946 – Battle of Alcatraz
The “Battle of Alcatraz” in 1946, one of the most violent episodes in the prison’s history, demonstrates the extreme consequences of a large-scale escape attempt. The deaths of officers and inmates, and the involvement of the US Marines, highlight the immense resources and force that would be brought to bear to quell any serious uprising or escape.
1956 – Docked & 1958 – Backstroke
Floyd Wilson’s quick surrender in 1956 and Aaron Burgett’s body being found in the bay after his 1958 attempt further underscore the near impossibility of successful escape and the lethal conditions of the surrounding waters.
1962 – Hollywood & A dish best served cold
The infamous 1962 escape by Frank Morris and the Anglin brothers, immortalized in film, remains the most debated and perhaps the closest Alcatraz came to a successful breakout. Despite the elaborate plan, their fate remains officially undetermined, listed as missing and presumed drowned. John Paul Scott’s near-successful swim in the same year, ending with hypothermia near the Golden Gate Bridge, further illustrates the extreme physical challenges of escaping Alcatraz.
While these escape attempts are compelling narratives, the real reasons for Alcatraz’s closure are less dramatic but more pragmatic. The primary factor was cost. Alcatraz was significantly more expensive to operate than other federal prisons. Its location on an island necessitated ferrying all supplies, including food, water, and fuel, at considerable expense. Furthermore, the saltwater environment caused rapid deterioration of the facilities, requiring constant and costly maintenance. By the 1950s, the General Accounting Office began to scrutinize the escalating costs of keeping Alcatraz open.
Another significant reason for closure was the deteriorating infrastructure. Years of harsh weather and saltwater exposure had taken a toll on the buildings. The prison required major repairs estimated to cost millions of dollars, a sum deemed unjustifiable when newer, more cost-effective prisons were being built on the mainland.
Finally, a shift in penal philosophy played a role. By the 1960s, there was a growing movement away from purely punitive prisons like Alcatraz towards rehabilitation and reform-focused institutions. The extreme isolation and harsh conditions of Alcatraz were increasingly seen as counterproductive to these evolving goals.
In conclusion, while the thrilling escape attempts contribute to the Alcatraz legend, they were not the reason for its closure. Alcatraz closed because it was simply too expensive to maintain, the facilities were crumbling, and its punitive approach was falling out of favor. “The Rock” was not conquered by inmates, but by economic realities and changing perspectives on incarceration. The mystery of “why Alcatraz closed” is therefore not one of dramatic escapes, but of practical considerations that ultimately led to the end of an era for America’s most infamous prison.
