Alcatraz is a famous island located near San Francisco. Currently turned into a museum, and until 1963 it was a federal prison for especially dangerous criminals. It was believed that it was impossible to escape from the island, but over the entire history of the prison there have been such attempts, but all failed. The most famous in the history of Alcatraz, the escape took more than 50 years ago, Frank Morris and the Anglin brothers. Nothing is known for certain about their future fate.
Frank Morris Facts
Frank Morris, an American criminal, became famous after making the most successful jailbreak attempt on Alcatraz Island. Nothing is still known about the fate of Morris and his accomplices, so you can only guess about the success of the escape.
Morris was born on September 1, 1926 in Washington. As a 14-year-old, he had already broken the law and was sent to a juvenile colony. After receiving a first term of more than 6 years, he was conditionally released in April 1942, and after only a month he was again imprisoned. The next 20 years, Frank Morris either spent in prison or was wanted for escape and another crime. In January 1960 he was sent to serve his sentence in Alcatraz prison as a particularly dangerous criminal. At this point, he had 11 attempts to escape from places of detention.
Alcatraz Island History
Alcatraz appeared on the map of the United States in 1775. The location of the island in the depths of the bay, around which cold waves are constantly raging, decided the question of its use, and in 1861 a military prison was founded here. Despite rumors of iron discipline and strict detention in Alcatraz, the treatment of military prisoners was relatively lenient. They had the right to engage in economic activities, freely move around the prison territory, organize baseball competitions (for this purpose a real playing field was equipped). Prison conditions changed dramatically when it changed from a military to a federal one. All rooms were completely remodeled to completely eliminate the possibility of a riot or escape.
Frank Morris in Alcatraz
It was in this place in 1960 that Frank Morris was sent as a particularly distinguished criminal with a huge "track record." After serving two years in Alcatraz, Frank made another escape in his criminal biography - the only one to be successful. For a long time, Frank Morris and the Englin brothers were searched all over the world, but nothing is known about their future fate until now. There is an official version of the investigation, according to which the fugitives were unable to cross the bay. According to an unofficial version, the attempt was still successful, and all three managed to get to the shore. In favor of this version is the fact that Frank was a fairly smart and experienced criminal, so he could not help but think out every little thing and take into account the low temperature of the water and the strong current. The brothers, in turn, were distinguished by phenomenal endurance and were excellent swimmers.
Organization of the famous escape
During the reconstruction of Alcatraz, measures were taken to exclude any attempt to escape from the island. One of these measures was the concreting of all approaches to service tunnels. One of these concreted walls became a kind of freedom window for three desperate prisoners. Frank Morris, Clarence and John Anglins had been preparing for this escape for a long time: they made a home-made drill, with which for a long time they punched a hole in a concrete wall. On the night of the escape, when the hole in the wall was already large enough, they put dummies on their beds and left the cell. The criminals made their way through the service tunnel to the roof and went down to the bay. Here they were already waiting for a prepared raft, which they made from rubber raincoats. After that, none of the three were seen again.
Alcatraz Escape Investigation
The escape of Frank Morris from Alcatraz for many years has become one of the most discussed topics in certain circles. The case study was carried out by the most famous agents. No evidence of the death of the fugitives was found. As well as accurate evidence that the famous trinity managed to nevertheless cross the bay and hide. Family members of criminals have been monitored for a long time, but the facts of the appearance of neither Frank Morris nor the Englin brothers have been revealed to this day.
Escape History and Modernity
Now that the escape of Frank Morris and his accomplices has remained in the distant past, some new facts have appeared. Family members of the Anglin brothers claim that a few years after the escape, they received a Christmas card signed by the missing brothers John and Clarence. Their mother for many years received flowers from an unknown sender. Rumor has it that both John and Clarence were present at the mother's funeral, carefully making up and dressing in women's dresses. A reward of $ 1 million has been assigned for the capture of criminals, which is still not claimed.
Life after death"
In 1979, American director Don Siegel immortalized the famous story of the escape from the island of Alcatraz, making a film of the same name about Frank Morris and the Englin brothers. The main role in the film was played by Clint Eastwood. The film was an unprecedented success at the box office, collecting more than $ 40 million, which paid off the film’s budget 5 times.