On this date in 1943, four inmates tried to escape from the Alcatraz federal prison. The men, James Boarman, Harold Brest, Floyd Hamilton, and Fred Hunter, overpowered two guards in the industries area of the prison and tied them up. They climbed out the window and made their way to the water’s edge.
While the would-be escapees were entering the water, one of the guards they had tied up managed to alert others of the escape attempt. The alarm was sounded, alerting the tower guards, who opened fire on the men. Boarman was hit. His body sank and was never recovered. Hunter and Brest were rounded up by guards. Hamilton, who was assumed to have died in the escape attempt, hid in a cave on the island until the search was over. Cold and hungry, he was caught three days later hiding in a store room in the prison.
Further reading:
Alcatraz History – Escape Attempts
BoP – Alcatraz
Wikipedia – Alcatraz escape attempts
John D.:
Someone should have told these inmates that DEATH is only an escape from LIFE…NOT from Alcatraz.
🙂
Good story.
Roll safe out there.
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Nobody breaks The Rock. 😉
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