A view of A Block as it appears today. Also visible is the entrance to the basement or “dungeon” cells as prisoners referred to them.
A modern view of the flat steel bars from the military era. Note the primitive lock bar mechanism.
An early photograph of the new Mess Hall during the military period.
Alcatraz was the Army's first long-term prison, and it was beginning to build its reputation as a tough detention facility by exposing the inmates to severe and harsh confinement conditions and iron-handed discipline. The prisoners were divided into three classes based on their conduct and the crimes they had committed, and each class held distinct levels of privilege. The system was described in a manual of Alcatraz Rules and Regulations from 1914:
Classification of Prisoners:
General Prisoners will be received in first class with exceptions made by the Commandant only. Third class men will be promoted to second-class and second-class men to first class after two and one half months excellent conduct respectively. Promotions, paroles, and reductions will be made by the Commandant only. Promotion Order will be issued on the 15th of each month. Any first class prisoner may be paroled (under 943 A.R.) after serving half of his sentence.... Class will be designated by a cloth badge 21/2 inches by1/2 inch, white, red, and yellow for first, second and third class respectively, on a brown cloth patch 31/2 by 11/2 inches which will be sewed on a sleeve of right arm above cuff. Paroled prisoners will be designated by a white triangular cloth badge 11/2 inches to a side which will be sewed on the sleeve directly above the class badge.
The quarters, mess tables and benches in the Assembly Room of disciples will be separated from those of other general prisoners by an aisle. There will be no correspondence between such prisoners. Similarly the Quarters and Mess tables of enlisted prisoners will be separated from all general prisoners by an aisle.
Privileges:
Third class prisoners will enjoy the letter and tobacco privilege only. Segregated prisoners and 2nd class prisoners will enjoy letter and tobacco privileges in addition the library privilege once a week and entertainment privilege once a week, by detachment, as segregated. The second-class men making a separate detachment. First class prisoners will in addition enjoy the privilege of closed but unlocked door to individual quarters, between Reveille and Tattoo... The disciples will in addition have the privilege of open doors from Reveille to Tattoo, talking in quarters and visiting in day room.
Prisoners who violated the rules faced harsh disciplinary measures. In addition to losing their earned class rankings, violators were assigned other punishments including but not limited to hard labor details, wearing a twenty-four pound ball and ankle chain, and solitary lock-downs with a highly restricted bread and water diet. In his book entitled Alcatraz 1868-1963, author John Goodwin referred to the use of disciplinary cages that were merely twelve inches deep and twenty-three inches wide, thus “forcing anyone locked inside to remain standing throughout his confinement.” The cages were used specifically for inmates termed as “conscientious objectors.” These were men who had objected to military service during World War I, based on religious or political beliefs. The National Civic Liberty Bureau claimed that several of these inmates were confined in the disciplinary cages for ten-day stretches, and that upon being released they would collapse to the floor. Prison officials, however, claimed that the cages were to be used only in the most extreme cases.
The “Torture Cages” that were installed at Alcatraz during World War I as seen in a San Francisco Examiner illustration. In later years an inmate work crew cleaning out a storage area located a broken pillory device. One of the inmates recalled a guard jokingly referring to it as an “Alcatraz Life Preserver.”
A 1918 photograph of the Alcatraz Medical Unit Staff. During this era, the prison maintained an advanced medical center that included full surgical, dental, and laboratory facilities.
The average age of law-offending soldiers was twenty-four and they were generally serving short-term sentences for desertion or lesser crimes. However, it wasn't uncommon to find soldiers serving longer sentences for the more serious crimes of insubordination, assault, larceny and murder. One interesting element of the military order was that prisoner's cells could be used only for sleeping, unless the prisoner was in lock-down status. All inmates were prohibited from visiting their cells during the day. Inmates with first or second class rankings were allowed to go anywhere about the prison grounds, with the firm exception of the guards’ quarters on the upper levels.
Despite stringent rules and harsh standards for those convicted of thuggish crimes, Alcatraz primarily functioned in a minimum-security capacity. The types of work assignments given to inmates varied depending on the prisoner, their assigned prison class and how responsible they were. Many prisoners worked as general servants, who cooked, cleaned, and attended to household chores for island families. In many cases select prisoners were entrusted to care for children who lived on the island. Alcatraz was also home to several Chinese families who were employed as staff servants, and during this period they represented the majority of the island’s civilian population.
The lack of strict focus in the minimum-security environment worked to the advantage of some inmates who hoped to make a break for freedom. Most prisoners never made it to the mainland and more commonly turned back to be rescued. Those who were not missed and failed to turn back would eventually tire and drown. The prison did not start to utilize trained military prison guards until 1907, and up to that point inmates were usually guarded by young garrison soldiers, which sometimes provided seasoned prisoners with valuable opportunities. For this reason, there were numerous escapes during the military era.
In August of 1898, four young soldiers serving time for minor crimes escaped from the prison library and stole a rowboat that was tied under the wharf. The inmates ultimately reached the mainland, but not before one of them had been wounded by a garrison soldier who was on guard at the military wharf. The inmates were able to paddle a considerable distance out, but when one of them missed a stroke, the splash attracted the sentry's attention. The soldier opened fire on the inmates and hit one of them, who dropped into the bottom of the boat screaming and moaning in pain. Another of the inmates stood up and shouted to the soldier, “Don't shoot anymore. Don't you see we've got no oars? We surrender!” The sentry stopped firing and briefly left his post to get assistance. Having succeeded with their clever ruse, the prisoners quickly pulled out their oars and rowed towards the mainland. A prison break alarm was sounded and the island’s five-oared boat was launched. The guards gave chase, but in spite of their best efforts, the prisoners got away. In another incident in 1884, two inmates stole a boat and rowed against the currents to the Marin shores. A sentry spotted the escapees but didn’t shoot and the inmates made a successful getaway.
In June of 1900 two inmates worked themselves through a chimney, and using a large section of lumber boarding as a float, they attempted to swim to the mainland. However, they got caught in a whirlpool and remained clinging to the log until they were rescued. In one example of remarkable ingenuity, four prisoners attempted to use a large butter vat as a boat and struggled to paddle the unstable vessel to the San Francisco shore. They were promptly captured when the currents proved too fierce. Other escape attempts involved forgeries of orders, disguises and cutting of bars. Several shooting deaths also resulted from attempted prison breaks. Each of these attempts displayed a certain amount of courage and desperation, coupled with the ingenuity born of constant contemplation under long years in confinement. The obsession of escaping Alcatraz was continuously evident throughout the prison’s history.
One of the more interesting escape-related incidents occurred in the fall of 1926, when a crowd of inmates allegedly plotted a mass prison break. Colonel G. Maury Crallé had recently taken over as Commandant of the Disciplinary Barracks, when rumors began to circulate among the military guards about the mammoth plot. The alleged plan was fo
r all of the inmates who were at work outside of the cellhouse perimeter to rush on signal toward the water’s edge, and swim for San Francisco. From the prisoners’ viewpoint, the scheme had considerable merit, but Colonel Crallé made the decision to address the inmates before they could attempt any such action. He called all of the inmates working on the labor details into the parade ground area and stood with his back to San Francisco. None of the officers were armed, and Crallé spoke to the men in a soft tone. He explained that he had been made aware of a mass escape plot and he expressed his opinion of such a foolish strategy. “GO AHEAD, SWIM!” he challenged, giving no indication that he would attempt to stop those who tried. He dared the men to make a run for the water and assured them that there would be no pursuit. However, he did calmly mention the hungry sharks that would surely attack the large groups of swimmers... and without a single incident; the inmates went back to work.
Colonel G. Maury Crallé.
Perhaps one of the best descriptions of the Military Prison was written in a presentation entitled: Definition and Operation by Major W.R. Stewart in 1930. Stewart wrote in part:
The mission of the United States Disciplinary Barracks is two-fold. First, rehabilitative, and second, punitive. Punishment by confinement at hard labor is not the paramount aim of such institutions. The reclamation of the convicted soldier for the Army and society is of equal importance... The Pacific Branch of the United States Disciplinary Barracks is located on Alcatraz Island in San Francisco Bay. Here, on this little island, some 600 soldiers are expiating their crimes. Their sentences range from six months to life imprisonment. Approximately 10 percent of them are serving sentences of ten years or more. Over one-third have been sentenced for military offenses, the remainder for misdemeanors and felonies.
The prisoners at this institution are subjected to a firm, impartial discipline. Misconduct and misbehavior result in punishment, good conduct is rewarded. The punishments are not cruel but consist of forfeiture of good conduct time, loss of privileges, and solitary confinement for a limited period. The punishment is made to fit the offense and for minor infractions of rules may be only a reprimand or the loss of one or more entertainments. Every infraction is recorded for each prisoner and this record is considered in making work assignments and in taking action on requests for parole, clemency, or restoration.
All men in good standing – over 90% of the inmates of the institution - are granted all of the privileges allowed by law. Such men are permitted to attend all entertainments, including motion pictures, boxing bouts and shows provided by theatrical organizations of San Francisco and vicinity. They are permitted to write at least two letters weekly, with writing materials and stamps furnished by the government. They are issued tobacco with liberal smoking privileges. A well-stocked library is open to them. When not at work in the daytime they are allowed the freedom of the jail yard for exercise and games. Once a week all men in good standing are permitted to have visitors. Misconduct results in the loss of all privileges for stated periods, in the most refractory cases.
The spiritual welfare of the inmates of this institution is the charge of an Army chaplain detailed for this purpose. He holds regular services, teaches Bible classes and is the friend and advisor of all. It is also his duty to provide materials for sports and to provide and supervise entertainment...
The living conditions at Alcatraz are not uncomfortable, to say the least. The prison proper is considered to be a model in cleanliness, orderliness, and sanitation. The entire 600 prisoners housed in one great cell room, well lighted and ventilated. Each man has his own private cell, completely equipped. Every necessity is furnished to him. He wears a neat black uniform. His food is that of a soldier of the United States Army, the best fed of all the armies. The prisoner’s laundry and dry cleaning are done for him. A sanitary barbershop and baths are open to him daily. And, finally, a well-stocked storeroom is at his service from which he draws, as needed, everything from a toothbrush to a uniform.
Every opportunity possible is afforded the ambitious man for study. Illiterates must attend school daily. For others there is a night school. Many are taking correspondence courses or devoting their evenings to self-study. The prison library has a large and varied selection of technical works. Study is encouraged to the fullest extent possible.
The hours of labor, except for such men as cooks and bakers, are from 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., with one hour for the noonday meal and Saturday afternoon and Sunday off. The prisoners rise at 6 a.m. and go to bed at 9 p.m. Their work varies. Many are engaged in rock quarrying, road building construction and farming. A large number work in the prison itself as clerks, cooks and janitors. In conformity with the mission of the institution to prepare prisoners for their return to civil life by teaching them trades, a number of industries are operated for this purpose. A few of these trades are furniture making, tailoring, book making and printing. In all, there are fifty trades open to the ambitious prisoner.
Lest the picture of the prisoner’s life seem too roseate let us turn to the other side of the picture. The prisoner, for long, weary months, is under a strict, never ceasing discipline, under which every lapse brings some punishment. He is cut off from all communication with his relatives and friends, except that for one hour weekly his relatives may visit him. Day after day, night after night alluring freedom spreads itself before his eyes across the narrow bay. Narrow it may be, but a gulf to the prisoners, as some of them have discovered, to their cost, in trying to escape by swimming. The city is so close that its sounds and sights are a constant reminder of the freedom that has been lost.
Fremont Older, president and editor of the San Francisco Call Bulletin, seemed to concur with Stewart when he visited the island during the same year. In a 1930 newspaper editorial, he described Alcatraz as one of the cleanest and best-run prisons in the world. He wrote in part:
It hasn’t the atmosphere, nor the feel of a prison. It is a clean, wholesome place and the five hundred young men who are temporarily abiding there seem more like students in a training school than men convicted of crimes. Alcatraz, being an island, where escape is practically impossible, it is not necessary to have many gunmen in evidence. I saw only two or three of these strolling about with shotguns. The cells where the men sleep are the most comfortable I have ever seen. They are spotlessly clean, contain a wash stand with running water, a flushing toilet, and a spring bed with a regulation army mattress, as many as eight army blankets, if desired, and a pillow and clean pillow case. Each cell has an electric light.
The food is excellent, as good, I should think, as the average soldier’s mess. There is a theatre with a show six nights in the week, a library containing twelve thousand well-selected books, and a playground for tennis and handball. The prisoners all wear a cheerful look and their behavior is excellent. Many of them are at work in the vocational department where trades are taught them. Twenty-six care for the vegetable gardens on Angel Island, and raise sufficient fresh vegetables for the entire prison.
Since January 1, 1915, up to the first of last January, 8,495 men have passed through this prison. Out of that number 1,609 have been restored to the colors without a black mark. Five hundred and forty paroled men should be subtracted from those figures; also ten percent should be deducted for men who didn’t care to return to the army. Those who are interested in prison reform should visit the disciplinary barracks at Alcatraz.
But despite these glowing reports, the public disliked having an Army prison as a sterile focal point seated right in the middle of the beautiful San Francisco Bay. In order to soften the island’s appearance, the military made arrangements to have soil from Angel Island brought over and it was spread across the barren acreage of Alcatraz. The Army trained several prisoners as gardeners, and planted several varieties of flowers and foliage. The California Spring and Wild Flower Association made contributions of top-grade seeding for plants ranging from rose bushes to lilies. The residents enjoyed tending their gardens and it was s
aid that the landscape work assignments were among the most favored by the prisoners.
Over the decades the prison's routine grew increasingly more relaxed, and recreational activities became more prevalent. In the late 1920's prisoners were permitted to build a baseball field, and even to wear their own baseball uniforms while playing.
Military prisoners at work in the Cobbler Shop.
Prisoners in the Barbershop in the prison basement. Note the shaving mugs lined up along the walls. Each inmate was provided with their own shaving mug for sanitary purposes.
On Friday nights the Army hosted "Alcatraz Fights" featuring boxing matches between inmates selected from among the population of the Disciplinary Barracks. These fights were popular, and they often drew visitors from the mainland who had managed to finagle an invitation. These boxing matches became such an attraction that sold-out arena events were held at Fort Mason, sponsored by local businesses. Patrons received event programs that included business advertisements and listings of the inmates’ weight classes.
In 1934 the Military decided to close the prison due to the high cost of operation, and ownership shifted to the Department of Justice. The Great Depression had become the root of a severe crime surge during the late 20's and 30's, and this gave birth to a new era of organized crime. The gangster era was in full swing, and the nation was a helpless witness to violent crime waves brought on by the twin forces of Prohibition and desperate poverty. The nation watched in fear as influential mobsters and sharply dressed “public enemies” exercised their considerable influence on metropolitan cities and their authorities. Law enforcement agencies were often ill-equipped to deal with the onslaught and would frequently cower before better-armed gangs in shoot-outs and public slayings.
Alcatraz: A Definitive History of the Penitentiary Years Page 7
