05-03-2016, 03:08 PM
Going there got me curious, so I did a little reading:
The Riddle of the Rock by Don DeNevi
This is supposedly about the 1962 escape where no trace was found, but actually it's about both that and the 1946 "Battle of Alcatraz" escape attempt. The author's source was Clarence Carnes, who was involved in both. Note that Carnes said that Cretzer shot the guards, although Shockley was yelling for him to do so, and Cretzer told Carnes to go in and make sure they were all dead. Carnes told them to play dead, which probably saved him from the death penalty. Lots of detail on both escapes and on prison life. Note that Carnes was a heroin addict after his release, which to me raises some questions about his reliability as a source.
Alcatraz from Inside: The Hard Years by Jim Quillen
Actually only about a third of this is about Alcatraz; it's the author's life story instead. He includes his story of the 1946 riot. The chapters on Alcatraz are the best part; the rest is not as good.
Alcatraz Screw by George H. Gregory
The author was a guard there from 1947-1962 (but not during the 1962 escape attempt, so it's not covered). This is the one to read if you want to know about how the prison was run and the routine. A quick read with short chapters. I enjoyed this one the most.
The Riddle of the Rock by Don DeNevi
This is supposedly about the 1962 escape where no trace was found, but actually it's about both that and the 1946 "Battle of Alcatraz" escape attempt. The author's source was Clarence Carnes, who was involved in both. Note that Carnes said that Cretzer shot the guards, although Shockley was yelling for him to do so, and Cretzer told Carnes to go in and make sure they were all dead. Carnes told them to play dead, which probably saved him from the death penalty. Lots of detail on both escapes and on prison life. Note that Carnes was a heroin addict after his release, which to me raises some questions about his reliability as a source.
Alcatraz from Inside: The Hard Years by Jim Quillen
Actually only about a third of this is about Alcatraz; it's the author's life story instead. He includes his story of the 1946 riot. The chapters on Alcatraz are the best part; the rest is not as good.
Alcatraz Screw by George H. Gregory
The author was a guard there from 1947-1962 (but not during the 1962 escape attempt, so it's not covered). This is the one to read if you want to know about how the prison was run and the routine. A quick read with short chapters. I enjoyed this one the most.
the hands that guide me are invisible