The night was black, cold, and merciless — the kind of night that swallows sound and dares the desperate. Out of the shadows slipped three men hardened by years behind bars. On June 11, 1962, Frank Morris and the Anglin brothers didn’t just escape Alcatraz—they walked into legend. Their breakout became the most infamous prison escape in U.S. history, a mystery that haunted investigators, fueled wild theories, and inspired Hollywood for decades.
Alcatraz: The Rock That Broke Few
Alcatraz Island wasn’t just a prison; it was a fortress built to crush hope. Nestled in the icy waters of San Francisco Bay, it housed America’s most dangerous criminals: Al Capone, “Machine Gun” Kelly, and others deemed too cunning for any other facility. Officials boasted: it was escape-proof. Most of the 36 inmates who tried either drowned, were shot, or were dragged back. But the 1962 disappearance of Morris and the Anglins captured the world’s imagination.
The Master Plan
Frank Morris — brilliant and meticulous — teamed up with John and Clarence Anglin, seasoned criminals with nerves of steel. Together, they spent months carving a tunnel behind their cell vents using spoons, discarded tools, and a homemade drill from a vacuum motor. Every detail was calculated:
Cardboard painted to look like concrete hid the tunnels.
Dummy heads made from plaster, soap, and real hair fooled guards during nightly checks.
A raft and life vests sewn from 50+ raincoats offered their only chance across the treacherous bay.
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