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Example research essay topic: San Francisco Bay Correctional Officers - 1,087 words

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Alcatraz was a famous federal prison on Alcatraz Island in San Francisco Bay. The island stands on 12 acres of solid rock, and Alcatraz was often called The Rock. More than one mile of water separates it from the mainland. The Island received its name in 1775 when Spanish explorer Juan Manuel de Ayala charted the San Francisco Bay and named it La Isla de Los Alcatraces, which translated to "Island of the Pelicans. " The small-uninhabited island had little going for it with its swift currents, minimal vegetation, and barren ground. Seventy-two years later in 1847, the US Army took notice of the island and its strategic value as a military fortress. Topographical engineers began conducting geological surveys and by 1853, U.

S. Army Engineers started constructing a military fortress along with the Pacific Coast's first operating lighthouse. The discovery of gold along the American River and California in 1848, brought shiploads of miners from around the world into California seeking the precious metal. As word spread around the globe of abundant wealth in California, the United States government would evoke security measures to protect its land and mineral resources from seizure by other countries. After several years of tiresome construction and several preservation expansions, Alcatraz was set as the United States Western symbol of military strength. The new military fortress featured long-range iron cannons and four massive 36, 000 -pound, 15 inch Rodman guns capable of sinking mammoth hostile ships three miles away.

Alcatraz's guns could fire 6, 949 pounds of iron shot in one barrage. Though the fortress fired only one 400 pound canon round at an unidentified ship and missed, the Island had lived up to its self-given proclamation as an icon of U. S. military power. Within a few decades the Island's role as a military fortress would start to fade away and its defenses would become obsolete by more modern weaponry standards. Alcatraz was the Army's first long-term prison, and was beginning to build its reputation as a tough detention facility by exposing the inmates to severe and harsh confinement conditions along with ironhanded discipline.

The prisoners were broken into three classes based on their conduct and crime. Each class held distinct levels of privilege. For example, prisoners in the third class were not permitted reading material from the library, visits or letters from relatives, and a strict rule of silence was rigidly enforced at all times. Prisoners who violated these rules also faced additional disciplinary measures. In addition to losing their earned class rankings, violators were assigned additional punishments that included but were not limited to, unpleasant work details consisting of hard labor, a 12 -pound ball and ankle chain, and solitary lock-downs with a highly restricted bread and water diet.

Over the 29 years (1934 - 1963) that the Federal prison operated, 36 men were involved in 14 separate escape attempts. Twenty-three were caught, six were shot and killed during their escape, and two drowned. Two of the men who were caught were later executed in the gas chamber at the California State Prison at San Quentin for their role in the death of a correctional officer during the famous May 2 - 4, 1946; "Battle of Alcatraz" escape attempt. Whether or not anyone succeeded in escaping from Alcatraz depends on the definition of "successful escape. " Is it getting out of the cell house, reaching the water, making it to land, or reaching land and not getting caught? Officially, no one ever succeeded in escaping from Alcatraz, although to this day there are five prisoners listed as "missing and presumed drowned. " There are 14 recorded escape attempts: # 1: April 27, 1936 - While working his job burning trash at the incinerator, Joe Bowers began climbing up and over the chain link fence at the island's edge. After refusing orders to climb back down, Bowers was shot by a correctional officer stationed in the West road guard tower, then fell about 50 - 100 feet to the shore below.

He died from his injuries. # 2: December 16, 1937 - While working in the mat shop in the model industries building, Theodore Cole and Ralph Roe had, over a period of time, filed their way through the flat iron bars on a window. After climbing through the window, they made their way down to the water's edge and disappeared into San Francisco Bay. This attempt occurred during a bad storm and the Bay's currents were especially fast and strong - most people believe Roe and Cole were swept out to sea. Officially, they are listed missing and presumed dead. # 3: May 23, 1938 - While at work in the woodworking shop in the model industries building, James Limerick, Jimmy Lucas, and Rufus Franklin attacked unarmed correctional officer Royal Cline with a hammer (Cline died from his injuries).

The three then climbed to the roof in an attempt to disarm the correctional officer in the roof tower. The officer, Harold States, shot Limerick and Franklin. Limerick died from his injuries. Lucas and Franklin received life sentences for Cline's murder. # 4: January 13, 1939 - Arthur "Doc" Barker, Dale Stamphill, William Martin, Henry Young, and Rufus McCain escaped from the isolation unit in the cell house by sawing through the flat iron cell bars and bending tool-proof bars on a window. They then made their way down to the water's edge.

Correctional officers found the men at the shoreline on the west side of the island. Martin, Young, and McCain surrendered, while Barker and Stamphill were shot when they refused to surrender. Barker died from his injuries. # 5: May 21, 1941 - Joe Cretzer, Sam Shockley, Arnold Kyle, and Lloyd Barkdoll took several correctional officers hostage while working in the industries area. The officers, including Paul Madigan (who later became Alcatraz's third warden), were able to convince the four that they could not escape and they surrendered. # 6: September 15, 1941 - While on garbage detail, John Bayless attempted to escape. He gave up shortly after entering the cold water of San Francisco Bay. Later, while appearing in Federal court in San Francisco, Bayless tried, again unsuccessfully, to escape from the courtroom. # 7: April 14, 1943 - James Boarman, Harold Brest, Floyd Hamilton, and Fred Hunter took two officers hostage while at work in the industries area.

The four climbed out a window and made their way down to the water's edge. One of the hostages was able to alert other officers to the...


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