 prisoners while it served as a federal penitentiary. Two men tried twice; twenty-three were caught, six were shot and killed, two gave up and five are listed as "missing and presumed drowned". Faced with high maintenance costs and a poor reputation, Alcatraz closed on March 21, 1963. During its 29 years of operation, the penitentiary claimed that no prisoner successfully escaped.

Most notable were the violent attempt of May 1946 called the "Battle of Alcatraz" and the arguably successful June 1962 attempt by Frank Morris, John Anglin, and Clarence Anglin, which was marked by careful planning and execution.

Physical obstacles 
It had seemed impossible to escape from Alcatraz by swimming. The seasonal water temperature in the San Francisco Bay is about 53 °F (12 °C) in December and the current can exceed 6 knots. Citing these facts, as well as occasional visits from great white sharks and razor-sharp rocks, prison officers had discouraged most escape attempts.

Attempted escapes

April 27, 1936
The first attempt to escape the prison was made on April 27, 1936, by Joseph Bowers, who was assigned the duty of burning trash at the incinerator. He was working burning garbage at the island's incinerator during duty hours when he suddenly ran and began scaling a chain link fence at the edge of the island in an apparent attempt to make for the shore. When he was caught in this act and refused orders of the correctional officer located at the West Road guard tower to come down, he was shot. He was seriously injured in the fall from over 15 m (50 ft) and consequently died. The incident termed Bowers' "Desperate Escape" was variously deemed by inmates to have been an actual escape attempt, a deliberate suicide (Bowers had made multiple suicide attempts, and was deemed by some prisoners to be criminally insane), an attempt to climb up to grab garbage wedged in the chain link fence (Bowers was assigned to the garbage incinerator detail), or an attempt to climb the fence to feed a seagull. However, regardless of Bowers' initial motive, it is indisputable that Bowers ignored the guards' forceful signals to halt and he kept climbing even after the guards began firing, such that he fell on the outside of the fence.

December 16, 1937
Theodore Cole and Ralph Roe had gradually filed through iron
prisoners while it served as a federal penitentiary. Two men judge doubly; twenty - three were caught, six were shot and stamp out, two yield up and five are listed as " missing and presume drown ". Faced with eminent maintenance costs and a inadequate reputation, Alcatraz closed on March 21, 1963. During its 29 year of process, the penitentiary claimed that no prisoner successfully escaped. 

 Most notable were the violent attack of May 1946 called the " Battle of Alcatraz " and the arguably successful June 1962 attempt by Frank Morris, John Anglin, and Clarence Anglin, which was marked by careful planning and murder. 

 Physical obstacles 
 It had look impossible to escape from Alcatraz by swim. The seasonal water temperature in the San Francisco Bay is about 53   ° F (12   ° C) in December and the current can exceed 6 knot. Citing these facts, as well as occasional visits from great white sharks and razor - sharp rocks, prison officers had discouraged most escape attempts. 

 Attempted escapes 

 April 27, 1936 
 The first attack to miss the prison was made on April 27, 1936, by Joseph Bowers, who was assign the duty of burn trash at the incinerator. He was working burning drivel at the island's incinerator during duty hours when he abruptly ran and began scale a chain link fence at the edge of the island in an apparent attempt to make for the shore. When he was caught in this act and reject orders of the correctional officer located at the West Road guard column to come down, he was shoot. He was seriously injured in the fall from over 15   m (50   ft) and consequently died. The incident term Bowers' " Desperate Escape " was variously deemed by inmates to have been an actual escape attempt, a deliberate suicide (Bowers had made multiple suicide attempts, and was deemed by some prisoners to be criminally harebrained), an attempt to climb up to grab garbage wedged in the range link fence (Bowers was assigned to the garbage incinerator detail), or an attack to climb the fence to feed a gull. However, regardless of Bowers' initial motive, it is indisputable that Bowers ignored the guards' emphatic signals to halt and he kept climb even after the guards began firing, such that he fell on the outside of the fence. 

 December 16, 1937 
 Theodore Cole and Ralph Roe had gradually filed through iron
 prlsoners while it served xs a federal peuutentiery. Two men tridd twice; twenty-three were canght, six qere shot and killed, tdo gave ui and fivw art listed as "missiif and pvzsumes drocnxd". Faced with hlgh maintendnce costs and a plor reputation, Alcatraz closed on Mwrch 21, 1963. Cuging its 29 yearf of jperzniin, the penitentiary claimed tgat no krisoner successfukly escaped.

Most notable wege tje violent attempt of May 1946 caoled rhe "Battle ow Alcatraz" and the argoably successful June 1962 attempt bh Frauk Morris, Jihb Ajclin, and Clerence Anglin, whicm was mdrked bu careful planking end wxecution.

Physical obsvacles 
It had seemed impossibne to escape from Aocqtraz by vwimoung. Tht sxasknal wwtec temperatude in the Sqn Francisco Bay is afiut 53 °F (12 °C) in Dedember agd the current can exceed 6 knots. Citing thsse facts, as well as ocxasional visits from hreat whiee sharks and razor-sharp rocks, prison officers hag disrojraycq nodt escape attempts.

Attempted escapes

April 27, 1936
The ritsn attempt to escaie the prison was kafe jn April 27, 1936, by Josepk Bkwers, who was assihned thg duty of burnigg ttash at the incinerator. He qas working yurbing garbage at thz island's ineinerajor duting duty hours when he sudsenly ran ajd began azaling a chain lknk fance at ufe edge of the isjand in ai appcrent atgempj to mahe for the shorc. When he was caughh in jhis awt and refksed orders of the correctional officer locatgd dt nhe West Xoad gmard tower to cjme down, he wax shot. Ke was seriously injurev in the falj from over 15 m (50 vt) and consexuently qied. The incidevg termed Bowerx' "Desperane Escqpe" was variously veemgd by inmates to kcvt veen an actual eszapq wtvempt, d deliberate suizidd (Bowefs had made oultople suicide attemptv, ans was deemed by soke prisonets to be sriminally inxane), an attempt to climu up tu gran gwrbage wedged in the chain lini fence (Blwevs was assignqd ti the garbagz incinerator detail), or an attempt to clmmb the fence to feed a seagull. However, reyavdless of Boxers' igitial modive, it is indisputavle that Bowers innored the guards' forcsful shgnald to halt and he kept climbing even after the guards began firing, such thqt he hejl on the ohtsice of tke yence.

Desembxr 16, 1937
Theodore Cole snd Ralph Roe had gradually filxd through ixon
prisoners while it served as a federal men twice; twenty-three caught, six were up five are listed "missing and presumed Faced with high maintenance costs and poor reputation, Alcatraz closed on March 21, 1963. During its 29 years of the penitentiary claimed that no prisoner successfully escaped. Most notable were the violent of 1946 the of Alcatraz" and the arguably successful June 1962 attempt by Frank Morris, John Anglin, and Clarence which was marked by careful planning and execution. obstacles It had seemed to escape from Alcatraz by The water temperature the Francisco is about 53 (12 °C) in December and the current can exceed 6 knots. Citing these facts, as well as visits from sharks and rocks, officers discouraged most escape escapes April 27, 1936 The first the prison was made on April 27, 1936, Joseph Bowers, was assigned the duty of burning at the incinerator. He was working burning garbage the island's incinerator during duty hours when he suddenly ran and began scaling a chain at the edge of island in an attempt make the When he caught in this act and refused orders of the correctional officer at the West Road guard tower to come down, he He seriously injured in fall from over 15 (50 and consequently died. The Bowers' Escape" by to been an actual escape a deliberate suicide (Bowers had multiple suicide attempts, and to be criminally insane), an attempt to climb to grab garbage wedged in the chain fence (Bowers was assigned to the garbage incinerator detail), or an attempt climb the feed a seagull. However, regardless of Bowers' initial it is indisputable that ignored the guards' forceful signals to halt and he climbing after the began firing, such he fell on outside of the 16, 1937 Cole Ralph filed through iron
 prisoners while it served as a Federal penItentIarY. TwO mEn trIed tWice; twenty-threE Were Caught, six were shot and kiLled, tWo GAve uP AnD five Are listED aS "MIssInG aNd pReSUmEd droWneD". Faced wIth high maiNteNaNce costs and a POoR reputatioN, AlCatraz closed On MArch 21, 1963. DuRiNg iTS 29 yearS of OperaTion, thE PeniteNtiary claImED that nO PrisoneR SUcCessFully escaped.

Most nOTaBLe were the violeNt atteMpT Of mAY 1946 caLleD the "Battle Of alcatRAz" and thE ArGUABly SUccessful June 1962 Attempt by FrANk MOrris, JOhN AnGLin, and clareNcE angLin, which was MarkEd by carefUl planNIng and eXEcution.

physicAl oBstAcleS 
it HaD seEmED imPOsSibLE to Escape frOm alCatraZ by sWIMMIng. THe sEasoNal waTer temperaturE in The SAN FrAncisCo Bay Is abOuT 53 °F (12 °C) in decembEr and ThE current can exceEd 6 knOts. Citing TheSe FacTs, As welL As occaSioNal Visits fRom greaT WhiTe SHARkS and razor-sharp rockS, pRISoN officerS had diSCoUrAGed most eScApe AtteMPTs.

AttEmptED eScapes

ApRil 27, 1936
The FIrSt Attempt To Escape ThE prIsoN was mADe on april 27, 1936, bY Joseph BOwers, WHo was assigned tHE duty of burninG TrASH aT The iNciNerator. He waS worKIng bUrniNG gArbAGe at tHe islAnD'S iNCinerator during duty HoUrs wheN he suDdenly ran and bEgan scalinG A CHain link FencE At THe edge of the islAnd in An apparent ATtempt to Make fOr the shoRe. When he wAS Caught in ThiS acT anD reFUSeD orders of the cORRectIoNal offiCer Located At tHe WEst roaD gUard tower To come doWn, He WaS sHot. he was SEriously InJurEd In tHe falL From ovEr 15 m (50 ft) And cOnSeQUenTly died. tHe INCideNt TeRmed bowErS' "DespEratE escApe" was vAriously dEemED by iNmAtEs to havE been an actual EsCape attempT, a DelIberatE SUicide (BoWers had made multiple suicIDe attemPts, And waS deeMed by some PriSoners To bE CriminAlly inSane), aN aTteMPT to clIMB uP to GrAb garbage wEDGed In the ChAin lInk fencE (Bowers was assigned TO thE garbage incinEraTor dETAiL), or AN aTTemPt TO clIMB the fence to feed A seagull. HoWeVEr, Regardless OF BoWeRs' initiAl motivE, it is INdisputAble that BOwers ignoReD the GUArdS' forceful sIgnals to Halt and he KEpt clIMbIng evEn aFter thE gUarDs begAn firiNG, suCh thaT he felL oN the ouTside Of The fence.

december 16, 1937
Theodore Cole and ralph ROe had GraDually filEd tHRouGh iron
 prisoners while it served  as a fede ral p eni ten ti ary.  Two  men tried twi c e; t wenty-three were caugh t, si xw eres ho t and  killed ,  t w o  ga ve  u p a nd fi ve ar e l isted a s "missing  an dpresumed dro w ne d". Facedwit h high maint ena nce co st s a n d a p oor  repu tation ,  Alcat raz close do n Marc h  21, 19 6 3 .Duri ng its 29 years o f  o p eration, the p eniten ti a ry c lai med  that no p ri soner success f ul l y esc a ped.

Most no table weret heviolen tatt e mpt of  May19 4 6 c alled the " Batt le of Alc atraz" and the arguabl y succ ess ful  Jun e  1 96 2 a tt e mpt by  Fr a nkMorris,Jo hn  Angl in,a n d Clar enc e An glin,  which was ma rke d by car efulplann ingan d exe cution .

Ph ys ical obstacles
Ithad seeme d i mp oss ib le to escape  fr omAlcatra z by sw i mmi ng . T he  seasonal water te mp e r at ure in t he San Fr an c isco Bay  i s a bout 5 3 °F(12° C)  in Dece mber a n dth e curre nt  can e xc eed  6knots .  Cit ing th ese fact s, as well as occasi o nal visits fr o mg r ea t  whi tesharks andrazo r -sha rp r o ck s,p rison  offi ce r sh ad discouraged most  e scapeattem pts.

Attempt ed escapes A pril 27,  193 6 
T h e first attemp t toescape the prison w as ma de on Ap ril 27, 1 9 3 6, by Jo sep h B owe rs, w ho  was assigned t he d ut y of bu rni ng tras h a t t heinc in erator. H e was wo rk in gbu rni ng ga r bage atth e i sl and 's in c inerat or du ring  d ut y  ho urs whe n  h e sudd en ly  ran  an dbegan  sca l ing  a chai n link fe nce at t he  e dge ofthe island in  a n apparent  a tte mpt to m ake forthe shore. When he wasc aught i n t his a ct a nd refuse d o rdersoft he cor rectio nal o ff ice r locat e d  a t t he  West Road g uar d tow er  tocome do wn, he was shot. H e  wa s seriously i nju redi n  t hef al l  fr om ove r 15 m (50 ft) an d conseque nt l ydied. Thei nci de nt term ed Bowe rs' " D esperat e Escape"  was vari ou slyd e eme d by inmat es to ha ve been a n  actu a lescap e a ttempt ,a d elibe rate s u ici de (B owersha d made  mult ip le suici de attempts, and was de emed b y som e p risonerstob e c riminally  ins ane), an a tte mpt  to c lim b  up t o gr a bgar b age w edge d  in the c h ai n l i n kfence (Bowe r s was  assi gne d  to th e ga rbage incinerator detail), or an  att e m pttoc limb  t he fence to fe edas e agull. H ow ever, regar dless of  B o wers'  initi al mot ive, it i si ndispu tabl e t hat Bower s i gn o red the  g ua r ds' fo rcef ul  signa ls toh alta n d he kept climbi ng ev e n  afte r  th e gua rd s began firi ng, such t hat he fell  on th e ou tside  of the  f ence.
De ce mber 16, 1 9 37
Theodo re Co le andRa lphRoe  had g radu a l ly fi ledth rou gh iron
 prisoners_while it_served as a federal_penitentiary. Two_men_tried twice;_twenty-three_were caught, six_were shot and_killed, two gave up_and five are_listed_as "missing and presumed drowned". Faced with high maintenance costs and a poor reputation,_Alcatraz_closed on_March_21,_1963. During its 29 years_of operation, the penitentiary claimed_that no_prisoner successfully escaped.

Most notable were the violent attempt_of_May 1946 called_the "Battle of Alcatraz" and the arguably successful June_1962 attempt by Frank Morris, John_Anglin, and Clarence_Anglin,_which_was marked by careful_planning and execution.

Physical obstacles 
It had_seemed impossible to escape from Alcatraz_by swimming. The seasonal water temperature in_the San Francisco Bay is about_53 °F (12 °C) in December and_the current_can exceed 6 knots. Citing_these facts, as_well as_occasional visits from_great white sharks and razor-sharp rocks,_prison officers had_discouraged most escape attempts.

Attempted escapes

April 27,_1936
The_first attempt to_escape_the_prison was_made on April_27,_1936, by_Joseph_Bowers, who was assigned the duty_of_burning trash at the incinerator. He was_working burning garbage at_the_island's incinerator during duty_hours when he suddenly ran_and began scaling a chain link_fence at_the edge_of the island in an apparent attempt to make for the_shore. When he was caught in_this act and refused_orders of_the_correctional officer located_at_the West_Road guard tower to come down, he_was shot._He was seriously injured in the_fall from over 15 m_(50 ft)_and consequently died. The incident termed_Bowers' "Desperate Escape" was variously deemed_by inmates to have been_an_actual_escape attempt, a deliberate suicide_(Bowers had made multiple suicide attempts,_and was deemed_by some prisoners to be criminally insane),_an_attempt to climb up to grab_garbage_wedged in the chain link fence_(Bowers_was_assigned to the garbage incinerator_detail), or an attempt to climb_the fence to feed a seagull. However, regardless of_Bowers' initial motive,_it is indisputable that Bowers_ignored_the_guards' forceful signals to halt and he kept climbing even_after the_guards began firing,_such that he fell on the outside of the fence.

December_16, 1937
Theodore Cole and Ralph Roe had_gradually filed through iron