A Challenging Feat Starts with the Walls

By spring 1962, John and Clarence, alongside Frank, had meticulously carved out passageways from their cells, each barely wide enough to accommodate a man. These tight tunnels were not for the faint-hearted, but they were exactly what the trio needed to initiate their escape from Alcatraz.

Yet, escaping the prison walls was just the beginning of their challenge. Over the preceding months, the men had covertly collected raincoats from the prison’s factory. With these, they ingeniously crafted a makeshift raft and life preservers. Without this crucial equipment, the frigid waters of the bay would have claimed their lives long before freedom could.