Letters From Alcatraz - Michael Esslinger [177]
After the inmates assigned to the Industries were situated and the recreation door was secured, those who were assigned to “inside details” were released from their cells. Then when all of the count data had been submitted to Fish in the Armory, Ernest Lageson started assembling and issuing equipment to the twelve men assigned as cellhouse orderlies. He also assisted Bernie Coy, who was assigned to the library detail and briefly supervised the orderlies’ activities as they began reviewing the request and distribution lists. Cretzer was forced to remain in his cell, since he still had not been assigned to a work detail, while the other inside-detail inmates lined up, waiting to start work.
The breakfast detail was supervised by Chief Steward Bob Bristow and Steward Charles Scanland, assisted by Officer Larry O’Brien. There were twenty-three inmates assigned to the Culinary Department, and their work schedules were among the most demanding in the prison, though these assignments were also the most highly coveted by the inmates. The culinary workers often labored seven days a week, and their cells were located close together at the west end of the cellhouse. They generally worked long hours, starting their day around 5:45 a.m., and ending sometime after 6:00 p.m. The culinary employees were not paid, unlike those working in the industries. However, there were many benefits that made this assignment worthwhile. The workers could sample fresh foods, and could even make special dishes, provided they managed to squelch the suspicions of the correctional officers. It was also said that many of the culinary inmates were able to concoct their own “special brews.” For convicts serving long sentences and life terms, there was little use for the money that they could earn in the industries. Additionally, all of the inmates assigned to the “inside work details” were often allotted special daily recreation yard privileges, away from the normal inmate population. If their work in the cellhouse was completed satisfactorily, they were allowed a short respite in the yard every afternoon.
By 11:10 a.m. most of the inside detail activities were complete, and the inmates would then returned to their cells for a count and to prepare for lunch. On this particular day, Henry Langston was the only inmate assigned to the yard for clean up and maintenance duty. Convicts assigned to this detail were nicknamed “yard birds.” Langston too was eventually called into the cellhouse, since inmates would soon be lining up in the yard in preparation to return to the Mess Hall. At 11:30 a.m. the powerhouse steam whistle blew, signaling the inmates to complete their tasks and prepare for the march back up into the main block. If the winds were blowing to the east, the industries whistle could often be heard at Fisherman’s Wharf in San Francisco. As an inmate recalled in an interview years later, several of the prisoners referred to their walk down the steep narrow path from the Recreation Yard as the “The Lonely Walk Down.” It was the only time when the inmates could see the city of San Francisco with minimal obstruction from fences and barbwire.
When Captain Weinhold gave the okay, the inmates began their controlled march through the metal detector, up the steep and narrow stairwell and into the yard for another count. All the while, they were watched intensely by the watchtower guards, who were ready to aim and fire their rifles should this become necessary. As the inmates lined up in their rows, Officer Shield completed his counts. Once the counts from all of the industry assignments were tallied and verified, the inmates were quietly marched back through the second metal detector and in to their cells. Once again as they carried out their tasks according to the strict protocol, Officer Miller hooked Key #107 to the lanyard clip, and Burch hoisted the key back up into the gun gallery. The inmates then took the time to rest and have a cigarette before the lunch whistle sounded.
At 11:55 a.m. the sound of a whistle resonated throughout