Ghosts of Alcatraz

Few, if any, have not heard of the famous prison
Alcatraz, or "The Rock," as it is often called. It is
situated on a small island in the San Francisco Bay
Area, and was used as an escape proof maximum
security federal prison from 1934 until 1963. Before
that, the rock had been used as a military prison,
housing criminal soldiers for a number of different
reasons from 1859 until 1933. In the beginning of
Alcatraz's life, living conditions for the unfortunate
soldiers were grim. The men slept on the stone
floors, side by side with no heat, or running water,
and disease spread easily. Even nature did not
agree with Alcatraz. The rain, fog, strong ocean
currents, and lack of vegetation made The Rock
seem empty, and emotionless; the perfect place for
pain.

When it was turned into a federal prison in 1934,
it's first inmates were given the numbers 1-32.
These were considered to be the most dangerous
criminals in the system, and so Alcatraz was the
perfect place for them. Al Capone was given the
number 85 when he was incarcerated later that
year.

Hellcatraz, as it was later nicknamed proved to be
just that. Inmates, who for the most part, were not
allowed to speak, led a life of intolerable routines,
and when not in comliance with the many rules
placed on them, were sent to the hole; D block.
Prisoners were only allowed to leave these tiny cells
only once in seven days for a short shower.

The story of Alcatraz is horrific enough without any
paranormal events to help it out. Even so, we now
know that the evil energy and pain that permeates
the prison is alive and well some 38 years after it
was officially closed.

Even before Alcatraz was built, the Native
Americans who lived in the area avoided the island ,
seeing it as a place of evil. The first recorded
deaths on the island took place during the
construction of the soon the be prison in an
accident. Soon after it began to accept military
criminals, guards started hearing stories about
phantoms in the hole, particularly in cells 12 and 14
D. It became a joke to them, hearing the cries for
help from the prisoners in the windowless rooms. It
was an occasion such as this when a prisoner
screamed for the guards to help him because a
creature with red glowing eyes was in the cell with
him. The guards ignored him, and the man
screamed for much of the night until finally he
stopped, and the cell block was eerily silent. The
next morning when the guards went to check on
him, they found him dead, obvious hand marks
around his neck.

Speculation ran wild, and it was thought by some
that a guard must have killed him, tired of his
constant screaming. No guard ever admitted to
having killed him though. Others believed that it
was the evil spirit of a former convict, as revenge
for his own wasted life.

This was not the only time that the thing with
glowing eyes was seen. Several guards claimed to
have seen this image as well as many other unusual
sightings. Cold spots, bad smells, sounds of
sobbing, screaming, moaning, phantom canon shots,
gun shots, strange tappings, footsteps, doors
slamming and unusual crashing sounds were
witnessed several times. Even entire groups of
soldiers and prisoners have been seen by people,
only to disappear right before their eyes.

Even if you don't see anything at all, it is easy to
feel as if you are not alone. A fierce intensity
surrounds the island, which feeds on the negative
vibes that flowed from the prisoners so long ago.
It's really unthinkable to believe that a place that
housed such hardened criminals, and tortured their
minds and spirits can really escape being haunted.

The most haunted portions of the island seem to be
D Block, Cell C utility door (where a very bloody and
unsuccessful escape attempt took place.), the
Warden's house, the hospital and the laundry room.
Cell block D appears to be the most haunted.

The hole is the name of cells 9-14, named this
because there are no windows. In the hole, and
especially cells 12 and 14 house the most intense
feeling of panic. The moment you walk in, you can
feel it almost choking you with fear, hate and
palpable tension. In cell 14, it is always cold. So
cold in fact, that oftentimes, a jacket does little to
keep it out.

A number of psychics and ghost hunters have spent
time on the rock hoping to witness some paranormal
activity. Many were not disappointed. This is not a
place where you have to wait years for a ghostly
response. The ghosts of Alcatraz are so active that
they almost always deliver.

Several people attempted to escape, most with
disastrous results. Those who actually made it off
the island, and into the cold, rough water often did
not make it to shore, and those who did were
captured just in the nick of time. Most turned back
to the rocky shores of the island, unable to beat the
currents, or at least their bodies did. Some bodies
were never found. ---> next column

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