Anglin Brothers – Escaping From Alcatraz
The story of John William Anglin (1930-??) and Clarence Anglin (1931-??) is one steeped in mystery, intrigue, and the enduring allure of the infamous Alcatraz prison. These two brothers, born into humble beginnings, etched their names into American folklore with their daring escape from "The Rock" in June 1962. Though officially presumed drowned, their fate remains a subject of speculation and debate, fueling the legend of the Anglin Brothers and their audacious act of defiance against the seemingly impenetrable fortress of Alcatraz.
Born into a sprawling family of thirteen children, John and Clarence Anglin’s early life was characterized by the rhythms of seasonal farm work. Their parents, George Robert Anglin and Rachael Van Miller Anglin, eked out a living as agricultural laborers, a profession that dictated their movements across the southeastern United States. The family’s roots lay in Donalsonville, Georgia, but in the early 1940s, they migrated to Ruskin, Florida, a town situated roughly twenty miles south of Tampa. This move was prompted by the promise of more consistent income offered by the truck farms and tomato fields that dominated the region’s agricultural landscape. Despite the relative stability of Ruskin, the Anglin family continued to follow the harvest, venturing as far north as Michigan each June to pick cherries. This itinerant lifestyle instilled in John and Clarence a close bond, and they were reportedly inseparable throughout their childhood.
The path that led the Anglin Brothers to Alcatraz began with petty crime and escalated into bank robbery. Clarence was the first to test the boundaries of the law, getting caught breaking into a service station at the young age of fourteen. As they matured, both brothers became increasingly involved in criminal activities, focusing primarily on robbing banks and other establishments. These heists typically occurred when the businesses were closed, suggesting a degree of planning and calculated risk. The brothers later claimed that they only ever used a toy gun during a bank robbery, seemingly downplaying the severity of their crimes. However, their luck eventually ran out.
The turning point in the Anglin Brothers’ criminal careers came with the robbery of the Bank of Columbia in Columbia, Alabama. This act proved to be their undoing. Clarence, John, and their older brother Alfred were apprehended five days later in Ohio, marking the end of their spree. The three brothers were handed sentences ranging from fifteen to twenty years and were subsequently incarcerated in the Atlanta Penitentiary. This institution served as the setting for a crucial encounter: it was here that they first crossed paths with Frank Lee Morris and Allen West, two individuals who would later play a pivotal role in their Alcatraz escape. Alfred Anglin remained at the Atlanta Penitentiary before being transferred to Kilby State Prison in Montgomery, Alabama, to serve his sentence for the Columbia bank robbery. He met a tragic end during an escape attempt from Kilby on January 11, 1964.
Meanwhile, Clarence and John’s journey through the penal system continued. They were transferred from the Florida State Prison to Leavenworth Federal Penitentiary in Kansas. This move proved to be a harbinger of things to come. When the pair attempted to escape from Leavenworth, their audacity and determination were noticed, resulting in their transfer to Alcatraz Island. John arrived on October 21, 1960, followed by Clarence on January 10, 1961. It was within the forbidding walls of Alcatraz that the seeds of their legendary escape were sown. Within a year of both being incarcerated there, the Anglin Brothers began to formulate an intricate plan with Frank Morris and Allen West to break free from the seemingly inescapable prison.
By late May 1962, the four inmates had painstakingly completed the first stage of their daring plan: cutting through the walls of their individual cells. The culmination of their efforts arrived on the night of June 11. Frank Morris and the Anglin Brothers successfully navigated a ventilation shaft, ascending through one of the prison’s chimneys and reaching the rooftop. Allen West, believed to have been the primary architect of the escape plot, was unable to escape as planned due to unforeseen circumstances. The three men who successfully reached the roof then climbed down and launched their homemade rubber raft into the frigid waters of San Francisco Bay.
The following day, a full-scale search was launched, encompassing the island, the surrounding waters, and the mainland. Despite the extensive resources deployed, no trace of the Anglin Brothers and Frank Morris was ever found. Four days after the escape, a small pouch containing photographs linked to Clarence Anglin was discovered floating near the foot of the Golden Gate Bridge. This discovery led authorities to officially presume that all three men had drowned in their attempt to reach freedom. However, the lack of definitive proof allowed speculation to persist, and the three escapees were placed on the FBI’s Most Wanted List, a testament to the enduring mystery of their fate.
The legend of the Anglin Brothers continued to grow in the years following their escape. Rumors and alleged sightings surfaced, fueling the belief that at least one of them had survived. One such account involved a man claiming to be John Anglin calling a lawyer in San Francisco the day after the escape. The caller requested the lawyer to arrange a meeting with the US Marshals Office but hung up when the lawyer refused. This anecdote, while unverified, contributed to the ongoing fascination with the case.
The story of the Anglin Brothers and their daring escape from Alcatraz has permeated popular culture, most notably through the 1979 film Escape from Alcatraz, starring Clint Eastwood. This cinematic portrayal further cemented the Anglin Brothers’ place in American folklore, transforming them into symbols of ingenuity, determination, and the enduring human desire for freedom. The Anglin Brothers’ story stands as a testament to the enduring power of the human spirit to challenge even the most formidable obstacles. Their audacious escape from Alcatraz remains one of the most captivating and debated events in the history of American prisons.
The legacy of the Anglin Brothers continues to intrigue and inspire, prompting ongoing investigations, documentaries, and countless articles. Whether they perished in the icy waters of San Francisco Bay or successfully navigated their way to a new life, the Anglin Brothers and their escape from Alcatraz remain an indelible part of American history, a testament to the allure of the impossible and the enduring power of hope.