Alcatraz prison break USAT General Frank M. Coxe
the coxe prior restoration, dummy paddle wheel constructed on port side alcatraz prison lost 1 of boarders when john k. giles, aged 50, mail robber , four-time convict, stole army uniform prison laundry , jumped aboard coxe before departed angel island. although count of both soldiers on coxe , prisoners working on docks alerted authorities escape, error in communication , forged documents allowed giles land @ fort mcdowell. however, discrepancy in uniform brought him attention of officer, recognized forged documents , arrested him not knowing of prison break. giles returned alcatraz serve-out sentence. there controversy on whether constituted successful escape , recapture, or foiled plan. officially, alcatraz retained perfect record escape proof until closed in mid-1960s, since assumed other missing prisoners had drowned.