John Paul Scott
Encyclopedia
John Paul Scott was the only inmate of Alcatraz to conclusively reach the San Francisco shore by floating. Scott was convicted of bank robbery and the possession of unregistered firearms in Lexington
and sentenced to 30 years in prison.
in 1959 and became #AZ2403. On December 16, 1962 he tried to escape from the island together with Darl Lee Park, a convicted bank robber and hijacker (sentenced to 52 years). The two bent the bars of a window in the latrine of the cellblock, roped down, and made it to the water. They then attempted to float to the San Francisco Shore. For that purpose, they made water wings from stolen rubber boots. The escape was noticed at 5:47 a.m. Park had to give up after a short time and was recaptured 20 minutes after the escape was discovered on the rock formation Little Alcatraz, which lies 10 yards from Alcatraz Island.
Although the Coast Guard
was searching the bay, they failed to find Scott. At 7:40 a.m., the Presidio
Military police
got a call from four teenagers who found an unconscious person at Fort Point beneath the Golden Gate Bridge
. That person was John Paul Scott, suffering from hypothermia
and exhaustion. After recovering in the Letterman General Hospital
, he was returned to Alcatraz.
It seemed impossible to escape from Alcatraz by swimming: The seasonal water temperature in the Bay is about 13°C (46°F) in December and there is a current of up to 10 knots (5,4 km/h). Citing these facts and myths of "man-eating" sharks and razor-sharp rocks, prison officers scared prisoners from trying to escape. When Frank Morris and brothers John
and Clarence Anglin
disappeared half a year earlier, the prison officials stated that they had drowned (although the FBI just called them missing). Due to Scott's escape, this line of reasoning was shaken. For the first time it was proven that a prisoner swam approximately three miles to the shore. Many people considered that Morris and the Anglin brothers might have survived.
, later on to Marion
, Illinois
, where he made another escape attempt. He died 1986 in the Federal Correctional Institution, Tallahassee
, Florida.
Lexington, Kentucky
Lexington is the second-largest city in Kentucky and the 63rd largest in the US. Known as the "Thoroughbred City" and the "Horse Capital of the World", it is located in the heart of Kentucky's Bluegrass region...
and sentenced to 30 years in prison.
Escape from Alcatraz
John Paul Scott was shipped to Alcatraz IslandAlcatraz Island
Alcatraz Island is an island located in the San Francisco Bay, offshore from San Francisco, California, United States. Often referred to as "The Rock" or simply "Traz", the small island was developed with facilities for a lighthouse, a military fortification, a military prison, and a Federal...
in 1959 and became #AZ2403. On December 16, 1962 he tried to escape from the island together with Darl Lee Park, a convicted bank robber and hijacker (sentenced to 52 years). The two bent the bars of a window in the latrine of the cellblock, roped down, and made it to the water. They then attempted to float to the San Francisco Shore. For that purpose, they made water wings from stolen rubber boots. The escape was noticed at 5:47 a.m. Park had to give up after a short time and was recaptured 20 minutes after the escape was discovered on the rock formation Little Alcatraz, which lies 10 yards from Alcatraz Island.
Although the Coast Guard
Coast guard
A coast guard or coastguard is a national organization responsible for various services at sea. However the term implies widely different responsibilities in different countries, from being a heavily armed military force with customs and security duties to being a volunteer organization tasked with...
was searching the bay, they failed to find Scott. At 7:40 a.m., the Presidio
Presidio of San Francisco
The Presidio of San Francisco is a park on the northern tip of the San Francisco Peninsula in San Francisco, California, within the Golden Gate National Recreation Area...
Military police
Military police
Military police are police organisations connected with, or part of, the military of a state. The word can have different meanings in different countries, and may refer to:...
got a call from four teenagers who found an unconscious person at Fort Point beneath the Golden Gate Bridge
Golden Gate Bridge
The Golden Gate Bridge is a suspension bridge spanning the Golden Gate, the opening of the San Francisco Bay into the Pacific Ocean. As part of both U.S. Route 101 and California State Route 1, the structure links the city of San Francisco, on the northern tip of the San Francisco Peninsula, to...
. That person was John Paul Scott, suffering from hypothermia
Hypothermia
Hypothermia is a condition in which core temperature drops below the required temperature for normal metabolism and body functions which is defined as . Body temperature is usually maintained near a constant level of through biologic homeostasis or thermoregulation...
and exhaustion. After recovering in the Letterman General Hospital
Letterman Army Hospital
The Letterman Army Hospital was located on the Presidio of San Francisco and was established around 1898.- History :The hospital, built in 1898 and named in 1911 for Jonathan Letterman, was featured in every US foreign conflict in the 20th century and remained in service until the army base was...
, he was returned to Alcatraz.
It seemed impossible to escape from Alcatraz by swimming: The seasonal water temperature in the Bay is about 13°C (46°F) in December and there is a current of up to 10 knots (5,4 km/h). Citing these facts and myths of "man-eating" sharks and razor-sharp rocks, prison officers scared prisoners from trying to escape. When Frank Morris and brothers John
John Anglin
John William Anglin was an American criminal who took part in the June 1962 Alcatraz escape and was never seen again.- Alcatraz :...
and Clarence Anglin
Clarence Anglin
Clarence Anglin was an American criminal who took part in the June 1962 Alcatraz escape and was never seen again.- Early life :...
disappeared half a year earlier, the prison officials stated that they had drowned (although the FBI just called them missing). Due to Scott's escape, this line of reasoning was shaken. For the first time it was proven that a prisoner swam approximately three miles to the shore. Many people considered that Morris and the Anglin brothers might have survived.
After Alcatraz
After the closing of Alcatraz, Scott was transferred to LeavenworthUnited States Penitentiary, Leavenworth
The United States Penitentiary , Leavenworth was the largest maximum security federal prison in the United States from 1903 until 2005. It became a medium security prison in 2005.It is located in Leavenworth, Kansas...
, later on to Marion
Marion, Illinois
The city of Marion is the county seat of Williamson County, Illinois. The 2010 census counted 17,193 residents, making Marion the 25th most populated city outside of the Chicago Metropolitan Area, in Illinois, and the second most populous city in Southern Illinois, outside of the Metro-East, behind...
, Illinois
Illinois
Illinois is the fifth-most populous state of the United States of America, and is often noted for being a microcosm of the entire country. With Chicago in the northeast, small industrial cities and great agricultural productivity in central and northern Illinois, and natural resources like coal,...
, where he made another escape attempt. He died 1986 in the Federal Correctional Institution, Tallahassee
Federal Correctional Institution, Tallahassee
Federal Correctional Institution, Tallahassee is a federal prison on the south side of Tallahassee, Florida, on Southeast Capital Circle...
, Florida.