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Haunted Alcatraz
Alcatraz is an island located in the San Fransico Bay. The U.S. Army used the
island now known as "The Rock" as a military prison until around 1933, when the
government converted the island into a maximum security penitentiary, designed to
house the most dangerous criminals of it's time. Prisoners were given very few
priviledges and were forced to live a very structured life. Only the basics were
provided, while anything extra had to earned.
This structured routine was created in an effort to break what would be otherwise
unruly prisoners. Al capone himself was housed at "The Rock" and was reportedly
treated no differently than other prisoners at the time. Alcatraz was a tough, strict
and regimented prison that showed no favoritism. Any violation of the rules could
result in a number of punishments. One of which being the "Strip Cell". This was a
small, dark cell located on D block in which prisoners would be stripped completely
naked and given only bread and water while being forced to spend their time in
total darkness and solitude. A hole in the cell floor was used as a toilet. The Strip
cell was said to have driven many men into madness. Prisoners were kept in The
Strip cell or other similar holding cells for long periods of time when rules would be
violated.
The total isolation of Alcatraz being built on an island helped to spark many tales of
torture of the inmates. It is believed by many that the deep history associated with
Alcatraz has provided a hot spot for paranormal activity. Although the prison was
closed in 1963, it is said that some of it's prisoners are still confined within it's walls.
One of the more famous ghost spots on Alcatraz is cell 14D. This cell was used as
one of the holding cells and many people have reported strange feelings of
heaviness or cold while in it's vicinity. There is an old tale of a prisoner who was
locked inside 14D. It is said that he spent the entire night screaming for help. he
screamed that there was a creature inside the cell with him. The next morning he
was found strangled to death. There was never much explanation for his death, but
upon doing head count the next morning, guards claimed seeing him in line with
other prisoners.
Another spooky place on Alcatraz is the corridor in which three inmates were
riddled with bullets as they tried to escape. Eerie sounds and other strange
experiences have been reported in the corridor. There have been many reports of
moans, sobbing and screams coming from inside the walls of Alcatraz. A warden of
Alcatraz was said to have experienced this strange phenomena as well has many
other people. Cell blocks A, B, and C are also said to be haunted.
Some also claim that Al Capone himself haunts Alcatraz. Capone had spent some
of his final years on "The Rock" and was reported to have spent a majority of his
time practicing his new found hobby, banjo playing. Capone was fearful of
spending his recreational time in the yard, for obvious reasons. Instead, he spent it
practicing his banjo skills in the shower room. Many people have reported hearing
the sounds of a banjo coming from the shower room area. It was even documented
by an employee who had no idea about the history of such sounds.
Alcatraz is definitely rich with it's own history and fame. It has been a place of
interest for some and horror for others. No matter what, Alcatraz will forever remain
one of the most famous prisons in the world and possibly one of the most haunted.
Alcatraz is an island located in the San Fransico Bay. The U.S. Army used the
island now known as "The Rock" as a military prison until around 1933, when the
government converted the island into a maximum security penitentiary, designed to
house the most dangerous criminals of it's time. Prisoners were given very few
priviledges and were forced to live a very structured life. Only the basics were
provided, while anything extra had to earned.
This structured routine was created in an effort to break what would be otherwise
unruly prisoners. Al capone himself was housed at "The Rock" and was reportedly
treated no differently than other prisoners at the time. Alcatraz was a tough, strict
and regimented prison that showed no favoritism. Any violation of the rules could
result in a number of punishments. One of which being the "Strip Cell". This was a
small, dark cell located on D block in which prisoners would be stripped completely
naked and given only bread and water while being forced to spend their time in
total darkness and solitude. A hole in the cell floor was used as a toilet. The Strip
cell was said to have driven many men into madness. Prisoners were kept in The
Strip cell or other similar holding cells for long periods of time when rules would be
violated.
The total isolation of Alcatraz being built on an island helped to spark many tales of
torture of the inmates. It is believed by many that the deep history associated with
Alcatraz has provided a hot spot for paranormal activity. Although the prison was
closed in 1963, it is said that some of it's prisoners are still confined within it's walls.
One of the more famous ghost spots on Alcatraz is cell 14D. This cell was used as
one of the holding cells and many people have reported strange feelings of
heaviness or cold while in it's vicinity. There is an old tale of a prisoner who was
locked inside 14D. It is said that he spent the entire night screaming for help. he
screamed that there was a creature inside the cell with him. The next morning he
was found strangled to death. There was never much explanation for his death, but
upon doing head count the next morning, guards claimed seeing him in line with
other prisoners.
Another spooky place on Alcatraz is the corridor in which three inmates were
riddled with bullets as they tried to escape. Eerie sounds and other strange
experiences have been reported in the corridor. There have been many reports of
moans, sobbing and screams coming from inside the walls of Alcatraz. A warden of
Alcatraz was said to have experienced this strange phenomena as well has many
other people. Cell blocks A, B, and C are also said to be haunted.
Some also claim that Al Capone himself haunts Alcatraz. Capone had spent some
of his final years on "The Rock" and was reported to have spent a majority of his
time practicing his new found hobby, banjo playing. Capone was fearful of
spending his recreational time in the yard, for obvious reasons. Instead, he spent it
practicing his banjo skills in the shower room. Many people have reported hearing
the sounds of a banjo coming from the shower room area. It was even documented
by an employee who had no idea about the history of such sounds.
Alcatraz is definitely rich with it's own history and fame. It has been a place of
interest for some and horror for others. No matter what, Alcatraz will forever remain
one of the most famous prisons in the world and possibly one of the most haunted.
| Haunted Alcatraz |
