ALCATRAZ – by Jane Bouterse AN ISLAND CALLED HOME

ou know about it. The legends began Pelican / Mockingbird / Raven / is usually defined as meaning “pelican” or in 1850 and have only grown, so Nightingale “strange bird.” Ywhether by word of mouth, printed page, internet screen, mass media or Your discoveries will be many and The , before it became personal visit—you know about that 12 surprising. You will be even more amazed at home to a , was used as what? acre, “mystery-cloaked” rock in the middle of how “close to home” this legendary location Bay—ALCATRAZ. But how happens to be to some Texarkana residents. Airport / Military site / Holiday resort / much do you really know? Just for fun, grab To understand completely requires starting National park a pen or pencil, circle your answers to the at the beginning—1775. That was the year questions , then read to learn the accuracy Spanish explorer Juan Manual de Ayala What was the prison’s nickname? of your choices: first sailed into what became known as San Francisco Bay. Ayala and company mapped The Bridge / The Brick / The Rock / The The name of the prison comes from a the bay and named one of its three islands Stone Spanish word Alcatraces. What does the Alcatraces, which has become Anglicized word mean? to Alcatraz. Although the exact meaning of According to the internet’s “A Brief the word remains controversial, Alcatraz History of Alcatraz,” in 1850 when

Rubble that remained after Indian occupation.

34 ALT Magazine For over 80 years, 1850 until was booming, a presidential order set the 1933, the U. S. Army utilized the Alcatraz having the best food in the prison system. island aside for possible use as a United prison until the island was transferred to (Is there any environment in which the States military reservation which could the U. S Department of Justice for use grapevine cannot grow?) The island’s most protect the Bay as well as its shores. The by the Federal Bureau of . “The famous prisoner was Robert Stroud, the U. S. Army had plans for positioning 100 Federal Government had decided to open so-called “Bird Man of Alcatraz.” Actually, in cannons on Alcatraz to make it the most a maximum-security, minimum-privilege Alcatraz Stroud never came in contact with heavily fortified military site on the West penitentiary to deal with the most incorrigible birds nor was he the grandfatherly figure Coast. Together with its sister islands, Fort inmates in Federal prisons.” Eventually the portrayed by in the movie, Point and Lime Point, these three formed a prison was nicknamed “America’s Devil’s Bird Man of Alcatraz. Stroud was transferred “triangle of defense” to protect the entrance Island,” but it never actually lived up to its from Leavenworth to Alcatraz because of the bay. Alcatraz also became the site of name. The average population of the prison of his violent behavior. During his time at the first operational lighthouse on the West was, at any given time, about 260-275 (the Leavenworth he wrote two books about Coast of the United States. prison never once reached its capacity canaries and their diseases, but his studies Although none of the cannons of 336). Requests from prisoners to be were discontinued when it was discovered were ever fired, Alcatraz was never without transferred to Alcatraz were frequent, as he hid contraband in his birds’ cages and a military presence, as military prisoners living conditions—one man to an eight-by- used his “scientific” tools to construct a began to be delivered to the island by the six-foot cell for 12 hours a day, for example, still for “home brew.” He spent 17 years at late 1850s. For over 100 years, the island were better than other federal prisons. In Alcatraz (most in segregation or the prison fortifications and location proved an ideal addition, Alcatraz had the reputation of hospital) and died in a prison hospital in prison. In 1909 the Army tore Springfield, Missouri. down the Citadel (the prison), Daily life in this “prison’s leaving its basement to serve as prison” was highly structured the foundation for a new prison and monotonous. Although which prisoners constructed some of the convicts were well- between 1909 and1911. The known—, George new prison was designated “Machine Gun” Kelly, Alvin the “Pacific Branch, U. S. Karpis (the first Public Enemy Disciplinary Barracks for the #1)—most were unknowns U. S. Army. It was the prison whose refusal to comply with the building that later became rules and regulations of prison known as ‘The Rock.’” life needed changing. Others were considered violent and Alcatraz had a capacity for dangerous or escape risks. “At how many prisoners? Alcatraz, a prisoner had four 336 / 143 / 566 / 1033 rights: food, clothing, shelter, and medical care.” Privileges, Only prisoners sentenced such as corresponding with or to serve in Alcatraz were receiving visitors, exploring the incarcerated there, and they prison library or participating were freed only after they had in recreational activities like served their full sentences. painting or music, had to be True / False earned. Five years was the average time spent in Alcatraz Robert Stroud was the convict before a more co-operative portrayed by Burt Lancaster in convict could be transferred to the movie another prison within the Federal

Mayor of Alcatraz / Swimmer of Pat Craven, left, with brother Mike Alcatraz / Bird Man of Alcatraz / Craven, spent their childhood on Hero of Alcatraz Alcatraz.

Showers used by inmates. Al Capone’s Cell

www.alt-mag.com 35 Prison System. perhaps only if an errant baseball would be the other, for the families. On the following tossed back to the concrete playing field . Sunday, the two would swap. Dependents, including children, of Older dependents understood the necessity Perhaps the greatest difference guards and support personnel lived on of their limitations, but toddlers often for any of the civilian population was the the prison grounds. required creative explanations. For example, isolation of Alcatraz. A grocery store made one troubled mother (according to an August staples available while a post office also Life for the prisoners was 6, 1954, Collier’s magazine story) explained provided a means of contact. The postmark intentionally predictable and routine, but to her three-year old puzzled by the carefully for Alcatraz was a pelican. Everything such was not always the case for the prison guarded men behind the wire that “’the bad had to be “imported” or “exported,” as personnel and their families who also lived men didn’t eat their vegetables.’” Alcatraz was solid rock with only patches on the island. In 1953 Harrison and Louise “After hearing the explanation, her of green. (No riding the horse-pulled lawn Craven transferred with their two younger three-year-old daughter walked over to a mower driven by prisoners as The Cravens sons, Pat and Mike, into a third floor had done at Leavenworth.) School age apartment of one of the dependent housing children attended either public or private buildings on the island. Harrison Craven school on the mainland. Each school was a Lieutenant Federal Correctional day they boarded either the Warden Officer, and he was moving his family Johnston or Warden McDowell, the prison’s from Leavenworth, Kansas, to Alcatraz. 64-foot cabin cruisers which usually They arrived before their furniture, so Pat made some 14 round trips a day. School Bergen, their dad’s boss, provided them children disembarked at the dock, “… camping gear to survive the transition then walked almost a half-mile to the bus made more palatable by the terrific stop—unescorted,” Pat explains almost in views from their new home. One window disbelief. “The older kids took care of the overlooked the playground while the younger ones, and we were never afraid.” other provided a panoramic view of San Mike observes, “I wouldn’t do that now.” Francisco Bay. The fog horn right outside The first school the Cravens their bedroom window did prove a bit attended was Winfield Scott public annoying, however. elementary school in the marina area. “We Officers and their families had the opportunity to be a minority,” both occupied the south tip of the island agree, “since Italians, Chinese and Asian below the crown of buildings housing the kids comprised the largest portions of the prisoners. The four acre residential section school’s population.“ was separated from the prison heights “Do you ever remember the big by 300 feet of distance “and a barrier of ships coming in?” Mike asks his brother. steel towers, concrete walls, wire fences They join in remembering the arrival of and armed men.” Otherwise, both Craven the U.S. Navy vessels. “When the fleet brothers, Pat, 5 years old at the time of the would come in, we would be dismissed move, and his brother Mike, who was one, from school to watch the ships.” In spite agree that life on Alcatraz was pretty normal grizzled trusty and sadly inquired: ‘Aren’t of their age differences at the time, both for the 60 families and 69 children who you sorry you didn’t eat your carrots?’” remember with nostalgic smiles the lights of called the island “home.” Of course, they According to Pat and Mike Craven, San Francisco, easily visible at night from were never allowed outside of the fenced- even contact with a trusty was random. the playground and “going on the boat and in play area, the former concrete military Otherwise, their lives were a “normal” these catching the spray, if you’re lucky.” One parade ground; they never had toys which two understood. Medical services were thing’s for sure,” Pat remembers, “your resembled any kind of weapon (a pointed available through prison doctors; a 2 lane parents always knew when you had to stay finger and a “Bang! Bang!” had to get the job bowling alley provided plenty of recreation after school. ‘He didn’t get off the boat,’ was done), and they seldom spoke to prisoners-- (and even a job if you wanted to be a pin- clearly a conviction.” Children were also setter). Pat briefly contracted for a paper required to observe a curfew: 9 p.m. on route on the Island. The Officers’ Club weekdays and 11 p.m. on Saturdays and fountain, usually manned by off-duty guards, Sundays. made plenty of sweet treats available, and The Boys’ dad, Harrison Craven, movies were shown every week in the maintained a 1949 DeSoto convertible in rec. hall above the bowling alley. Dance a garage on the mainland for his family’s lessons were available for any children who use. “That’s what you had to do,” Mike wanted them; The Nutcracker was even explains. Pat adds, “There was only one part of the annual Christmas celebrations. vehicle on the island, and there were only “It may not have been Broadway quality,” a couple of turns, but it had to back up 2 or Pat laughs, “but we had fun.” Baseball was 3 times to make a turn.” Every golf game the major sport, since the only playground (Harrison’s favorite sport) or shopping trip; was concrete. “Gravel rash was a common weekend outing or family adventure (like problem,” Pat notes. “The concrete had a climb to the top of Mt. Tamalpais and a dips in it, too, so we always had to have look-down on San Francisco Bay) began brooms handy so we could sweep the water and ended in a boat whose ignition keys off the playing field.” For a younger Mike, were hoisted to and from the boat to a bullet the concrete provided the perfect place for proof guard tower. Otherwise, Pat and Mike tricycle riding. Fishing from either the beach grew up as brothers do. Mike, the younger, or boats proved a major form of recreation was subjected to the homemade darts of for adults as well as children. his older brother while Pat endured the Church services for the Alcatraz exploring of his younger brother—like the families were held in the large assembly time he got his fingers caught in the pull-up hall above the residents’ apartments. The ring under the window box. All in all, the 5 prison’s chaplain and priest alternated years of their residency on Alcatraz were conducting the services each Sunday. One interesting, and, for the most part, without would conduct a service for the convicts; incident…but there were some exceptions…

36 ALT Magazine How many men, in total, tried to escape from the prison? 56 / 16 / 96 / 36

Some men among the prison’s population were impatient. During the 29 years Alcatraz was a Federal Prison, the 1 1/2 miles from the island to the shore; the unpredictable currents in the Bay’s frigid waters, and maybe the rumors of man-eating sharks discouraged escape attempts. In addition, Alcatraz convicts had only sit-ups and push-ups for conditioning and no control over their diets. There were, however, 14 escape attempts involving 36 men (two of whom attempted twice). “Of these, 23 were caught, 6 were shot and The Atlanta Middle School Seventh Grade Volleyball killed during their escape, and 2 drowned. Team competed in the Daingerfeld Tournament on Two of the men who were caught were September 18th. later executed in the gas chamber at the California State Prison at San Quentin for their role in the death of a correctional officer The first game of the tournament was the Lady during the famous May 2-4, 1946, ‘Battle Rabbs vs. Chapel Hill. Chapel Hill took the lead, of Alcatraz’ escape attempt.” Officially, 19 points to 9. Jaci Cullins stepped up to serve. there was never a successful escape from She made 16 service points in a row to shut down Alcatraz, although 3 convicts remain listed Chapel Hill and help the Rbbs win the first set 25-19. as “missing and presumed drowned.” Of those 14 attempts, 2 deserve In the second set, the Lady Rabbs dominated the special mention in connection with the game. The final score was 25-0, making Jaci Cullins Cravens. the first volleyball player ever to serve an entire On September 29, 1958: While game at Atlanta Middle School. working on the garbage detail, Aaron Burgett and Clyde Johnson overpowered a It was a sweet victory for the Lady Rabbs , and also correctional officer and attempted to swim for Jaci Cullins, who had 41 service points in a row! from the island. Johnson was caught in the water, but Burgett disappeared. An intensive search turned up nothing. Burgett’s body was found floating in the Bay two weeks later. Pat was old enough at the time to remember the search of the island for Burgett. The departure dock had a space big enough for a man to hide during low tide. “I remember officers shooting tear gas under the dock” during their search. Burgett’s body was found off the island’s beach, and Pat saw the body being removed from the water- - both vivid impressions. On June 11, 1962: Made famous by Clint Eastwood in the movie Escape from Alcatraz, Frank Morris and brothers John and Clarence Anglin vanished from their cells and were never seen again. A fourth man, Allen West, believed by some people to have been the mastermind, was also involved; however, he was still in his cell the next morning when the escape was discovered. The elaborate plot involved homemade drills to enlarge vent holes, false walls and realistic soap and paper dummy heads (complete with human hair from the prison barbershop). The prison itself played a vital role in their escape, as it was turned into a tool by the escapees who used circuitous passages, pipes, prison-issue raincoats to make life-vests and a pontoon- type raft to assist in their swim. A sealed watertight container, later recovered, held personal photos and papers belonging to the Anglins who obviously anticipated their freedom. Years later, when Pat returned for a visit to the prison, he was stunned by the smallness of the holes through which

www.alt-mag.com 37 the prisoners had crawled. Only one body, Anglins. Mike remembers he described them Geological Survey / U. S. Department of too badly deteriorated to be identified, but as “painstakingly” accurate. Justice dressed in what appeared to be prison blue, Although the Craven Family had was ever found. Today the 3 remain listed been transferred to Texarkana’s FCI by the Congress reacted in 1972 as “missing and presumed dead”, but U.S. time of this escape, their close-knit contact by creating the Golden Gate National Marshals continue to pursue any leads with their friends among Alcatraz FCI Recreation Area, and Alcatraz was included which may come their way. personnel kept them involved as well as their as part of the new National Park Service According to a September 21-22, dad’s talking to them. unit. Today, over one million visitors a year 2009, two-part series on NPR, “The U.S. from all over the world visit the island. Pat Marshals Service is still actively pursuing For how many years did the Federal Craven and his wife Connie have visited the case on the chance that the three men Bureau of Prisons operate Alcatraz? the island three times. Pat admits his first pulled off one of the most daring prison 19 / 39 / 29 / 59 visit was a real shocker, because of the escapes in U. S. history.” Their file remains destruction. When he explained to one of active, and no one knows that better than The prison closed down because it the guards his connection to the island, U. S. Marshal Michael Dyke, who is still was too the guard immediately asked about his looking for the men, a quarter century after old / expensive / isolated / dangerous memories. “I remember,” he observed, “that their escape because, Dyke says, “no one the door knobs were much higher.” For the can prove they’re dead.” Alcatraz was growing older, and first time, he was taken to parts of the prison Mike remembers his father’s talking the thirteenth escape attempt appeared to he had never seen before, like a cell block about the escape—a memory made even be successful. “On March 21, 1963, USP in which the cell doors open and close at more vivid by his wife Caroline and her Alcatraz closed after 29 years of operation.” the same time. “The gears are amazing.” parents. During the 60s FBI Director J. This decision had been made long before At one point in his visit to the cell block, the Edgar Hoover wanted the Central U.S. to be the three disappeared, however. The repair tour guard explained that the children of the represented in the FBI. Caroline’s parents and maintenance of the infrastructure was prison guards had been allowed to visit in had just graduated from the University of estimated at $3-5 million, while the average this area. Pat laughed as he also declared Arkansas and went to work for Hoover in daily cost of maintaining a prisoner was “No way that was going to happen.” Mike the FBI lab. Caroline’s dad was the FBI $10.10 compared to $3 in other Federal and Caroline will be making their first visit employee who received for lab analysis prisons. Its advantage—isolation—was also this year. the heads constructed by Morris and the its curse. Everything, including water, had For the Craven Brothers, growing to be brought in, and everything up in the prison environment was simply from laundry to garbage had to be where they lived because of their dad’s transported to the mainland. The job. Perhaps they knew more about what Federal Government determined it he did than most children know about their was more cost-effective to build a dad’s job, but they could be surprised, new prison; Alcatraz was just too too. By listening to their dad as they grew expensive to maintain. older, they learned to appreciate the danger of their environment. Their learning What ethnic group sometimes astonished them, like the time claimed the island as their own they discovered the most dangerous time and occupied it for 18 months in the Alcatraz prison day was at meal time. (1969-1971)? “They fed all the prisoners at the same time. African-Americans / A Lieutenant and two guards were on the Chinese / Hispanics / Native floor of the hall, but they were unarmed,” Americans Pat explains. “Gas canisters were near the ceiling, though, in case something happened, After its closing Alcatraz and outside the dining hall there was a was virtually abandoned while machine gun turret armed with, probably, “what to do” with it was a point of Thompsons. At the end of each meal, every contention. In 1969 the “Indians piece of tableware had to be accounted for of All Tribes” occupied the island before anyone could leave.” The Brothers as Indian Land while using this watched their dad faithfully exercise to act of civil disobedience to draw “keep in shape;” they saw him bleed from attention to the plight of the Native an altercation at Texarkana’s FCI (his only Americans. Groups throughout on-the-job injury in 25 years of service); they the country rallied to their support learned the necessity of caution, awareness until the Indians got out of hand. and responsibility. “When we came to Their leaders were unable to Texarkana,“ Pat remembers, “we were like control the destruction of the celebrities. We went to the old Liberty School island. A fire destroyed the homes (now C.K.Bender), and no one had ever once belonging to the lighthouse heard of Alcatraz.” keeper and the Warden as well “For us, it’s just how we grew up,” as the Officers’ Club. In addition, Mike adds. graffiti and vandalism defaced and Mike and Pat Craven have damaged many parts of the Island. remained in Texarkana to become vital In June 1971 Federal Marshals members of the community, both putting to removed the remaining Native good use the lessons of their unique history. Americans from the island. How did you do with the questions? Alcatraz Island and the Judge for yourself whether you get a gold former prison grounds are now star, a pat on the back or a Snickers. operated by which government Hopefully, you understand the subject of agency? Alcatraz is substantial, and you’ll do some U. S. Parks and Wildlife more exploring on your own. Thanks for / National Park Service / U. S. participating.

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