Alcatraz_ A Definitive History of the Penitentiary Years - Michael Esslinger [233]
This is the actual label from the scouring power that was combined with floor wax and soaked into string, then used as an abrasive to cut through a steel bar over a long period of time.
Surgical rubber gloves were inflated and sewn into a heavy mat that was successfully used as a flotation device.
In searching the basement area several times, we found items which included the impregnated string, and a twelve-inch crescent wrench that had been missed over two years ago from the old Furniture Factory and apparently had been secreted in the Kitchen basement behind one or the huge refrigerators. The rubber gloves obviously had been stolen from the hospital unit and SCOTT claims they had been there for a long time. The crescent wrench was used to twist out the last section of the outside detention sash, which was extremely eroded from the elements and of course, was never designed to be first-rate security material.
As attached reports will indicate, searches of the basement area had been ordered and apparently completed. The bars had been tapped by officers on both Saturday and Sunday, the day of the escape. At first glance it seemed strongly indicated that disciplinary action should be instituted against those who were ordered to knock the bars in this unit. However, after careful examination of all of the facts it became highly conceivable, from a technical or mechanical standpoint, that the officers hammering these bars with rubber hammers could very well have struck them a heavy blow (and they insist they did) without noticing any particular difference from any other bar. It is obvious, of course, that their visual inspection was not effective. However, since the cuts were on the back side of the main bar, and the duty of hammering bars is rather monotonous, it is highly possible that they could have overlooked the carefully concealed cut, thinking that they were doing a good job. With all of this in mind, and after careful consideration of all of the facts by the Captain, Associate Warden, Mr. Aldredge, and myself, at this point we do not feel that disciplinary action against the officers is indicated.
To further explain the reasoning, the top of the upright bar was not cut, but was eventually removed by SCOTT through the use of a three by two foot piece of oak, and it required considerable leverage to break loose the welds at that end. SCOTT claims that enough of the lower section of the bar was left solid that it took him five minutes to remove it, which would have fastened that end, making both ends rather solid and quite capable of receiving a heavy blow with a rubber hammer without showing any appreciable movement.
In reviewing our obvious weaknesses and in endeavoring to correct as many weaknesses as possible, we have instituted the following:
(1) We welded in bar material to replace that which had been removed. We then fabricated an additional set of stainless steel bars and secured them on the outside window, which now makes three sets of detention material that must be gone through to escape from this unit.
(2) We have completely secured with expanded metal the entrance to the elevator at the Kitchen level. This will be kept locked at all times unless actually in use, and then under direct supervision.
(3) Under existing operations the officer furnishing coverage for the back of the Kitchen was patrolling from side to side on the cat-walk around the yard wall in order to check both