From: "Philip Merryman" <phil_merryman@hotmail.com>

Date: Wed May 08, 2002 07:50:54 PM Etc/GMT

Subject: Escape to Alcatraz

More about SF...

Having had a busy day on the streets the day before this was a quieter day. So a boat trip out to Alcatraz was definitely an escape, or at least a rest! It is only a mile and a half from the piers and it took the boat about 15-20 minutes to get there. It is bigger than you imagine and there is quite a climb up the roads from the jetty to the main block. Also all around are derelict other buildings including the Warden's house, workshops, Prison Officers quarters (yes they lived there too), etc. It also has a lighthouse which is the first lighthouse built on the West coast!

The main block is the area open for visitors, luckily we all had return tickets! :-) Or else you need your "Get out of jail free" card!! The cells are about 8ft by 5ft (2.5 x 1.5m) but each had a bed, washbasin and toilet. They are in 3 levels stacked up above each other. It was in use as a state prison for only 29 years (1934-62) but was originally built as a military prison in the early 20th Century. It was never full and some of the original military cells were never converted to the state cells. The state cells were a definite "upgrade". Solitary confinement cells were actually bigger! But the inmates bever left them during there time in there, so they had to have room to move about.

In the souvenir shop was a chap signing his book. He was the youngest ever prison officer, so I bought a copy of the book and had a little chat with him. He was only there less than 3 years and in 1950 he joined the army and went to fight in Korea as he thought it an improvement! He said that the place burned you out after about 3-4 years, so no one stayed that long.

It was blowing a really stiff cold wind on the island but you get some great views of the city and bridges.

In the afternoon after escaping from Alcatraz I went to the cable car museum, which is also the power house for the system. This time I used the cable car as genuine transport! No repeat of yesterdays events! There are 4 lines, each using a continuous loop of cable. All four loops were driven from this one building and the cables run out under the streets to the relevant places. Each cable has a 500hp electric motor, which was less than I expected considering the cable runs and weight of the cars. There was also a film about the history, some old cars, and explanations of how it all works. There used to be as many as 22 different lines, but a lot never survived the 1906 earthquake and many subsequently closed down to be replaced by busses or electric trams. The remaining 4 were completely refurbished in 1982-4 and are now a landmark of the city in their own right.

Share & Enjoy

Phil