Battle at Alcatraz: A Desperate Attempt to Escape the Rock [Paperback]

Ernest B. Lageson (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 2001

One of the bloddiest battles in the history of American prisons occurred at Alcatraz in May 1946, when prisoners staged a breakout, obtaining guns from the gun gallery and taking nine guards hostage. The escape attempt was the cumination of months of methodical planning. But, when a last-minute glitch foiled their escape, inmates shot the hostages in effort to leave no witnesses. Before order was restored, thousands of rounds were fired by federal prison personnel and a detachment of the U.S. Marines. Among the guards who survived the shooting was Ernie Lageson, Sr. the author's father. Now in Battle at Alcatrz, author Ernie Lageson Jr. passes on his father's story. Meticulously researched, this compelling story offers an insider's perspective on both the notorious riot and life inside the most infamous prison in America. Eight pages of photos.

Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal

After months of planning, six inmates attempted to escape from the infamous Alcatraz prison in May 1946. Although their plan was thoroughly thought out, it failed because the key needed for escape from the cell block was missing. Instead, a battle ensued between the inmates and the prison authorities. The author is the son of one of the guards taken hostage that day. When the plan failed, the guards were shot so that there would be no witnesses. Miraculously, though, the hostages were only wounded and kept still, pretending to be dead. In the meantime, the inmates fought to the bitter end: three died in the battle, and the other three eventually stood trial. Lageson thoroughly researched this tragedy, giving the reader a real feeling of what happened that day. Although he does give the readers an update of the principal characters involved, he fails to follow up on the aftermath of the incident. Nevertheless, libraries with an interest in prison history will probably want this for their collections.AMichael Sawyer, Northwestern Regional Lib., Elkin, NC
Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Review

They Said Nobody Could Escape "The Rock," but...in May of 1946, six desperate inmates attempted the impossible escape from Alcatraz. The result: one of the bloodiest uprisings in the history of American prisons. For months, the "cons" had meticulously planned the breakout, and at first, the plan went like clock work--they broke into the gun gallery, armed themselves, and took nine guards hostage. But when their plan hit a last-minute snag, the heavily armed inmates refused to surrender, swearing they'd fight to the end.

The battle ensued as U.S. Marines shelled the cell house, and five Coast Guard ships and a Navy destroyer circled the island. Thousands of rounds were exchanged during the three day siege. When the inmates realized their escape was doomed, they shot the hostages to eliminate witnesses.

Ernest Lageson Sr. was one of the guards shot. His son, Ernest Jr., a teenager at the time, agonized along with other hostage families, waiting to hear if loved ones were alive. Now, Ernest Lageson Jr. delivers an insider's account of both the notorious riot and life inside the most infamous prison in American history. -- Book Description

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Product Details

• Paperback: 304 pages
• Publisher: Addicus Books (April 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1886039372
• ISBN-13: 978-1886039377
• Product Dimensions: 8.2 x 5.5 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (19 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #597,045 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

10 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Best Account Written About This Event To Date!, April 16, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Battle at Alcatraz: A Desperate Attempt to Escape the Rock (Paperback)

Ernie Lageson has written the very best account of The Riot Of 1946. The events unfold in a manner that holds your interest and agree with the facts as I know them to be. My Father was also a Corretional Officer On Alcatraz during The Riot and shared his experiences with me. This is a Top Flight recounting of Alcatraz Island's biggest escape attempt!!

6 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A fascinating account of both life and riot inside a prison, March 23, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Battle at Alcatraz: A Desperate Attempt to Escape the Rock (Paperback)

For all readers interested in or fascinated by Alcatraz this is the book to READ. The Battle at Alcatraz literally puts the reader inside the prison walls and into the hearts and minds of the prisoners and guards. This is a true story written by the son of the officer in charge the day of the attempted breakout from Alcatraz in 1946. It reads like fiction as the six desperate convicts search for a missing key. It leaves the reader unsettled wondering if a warden's decisions could have made a difference. A must read. A Wisconsin reader

5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars This is a late-night page-turner !, March 26, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Battle at Alcatraz: A Desperate Attempt to Escape the Rock (Paperback)

If you like history and drama, BATTLE AT ALCATRAZ will keep you up late turning pages. Ernie Lageson retells the story of the prison's bloodiest escape attempt over three days in May 1946, and he has a real insider perspective: he wrote the book from notes made by his father, one of the prison guards wounded and held hostage during the siege. It is a look at a simpler world, when San Francisco stopped for three days while its citizens climbed on rooftops and walked to the waterfront to watch the drama unfold in the Bay - a drama that could not be played out on television (1946 was a radio and newspaper world), but instead flashed on movie screens around the world. It's a drama worth remembering.