Becoming Inventive at Jail

The dummies were merely the beginning. To execute their escape from Alcatraz, the inmates ingeniously repurposed everyday items into essential tools. Cafeteria spoons were transformed into picks and wrenches, which they used to discreetly chip away at the prison walls. Each day, during the unsupervised hours between 5:30 p.m. and 9 p.m., they exploited this precious time.

After prying off the vents in their cells, they diligently widened the openings, chiseling bit by bit, until they crafted passageways large enough to squeeze through. This meticulous work was crucial, forming the physical path that would hopefully lead to their freedom.