Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1898-01-01

IN,
was kept pretty busy In finding work for
these prisoners to do about the post. Alca-
traZ Island IL n six-acrc rock right In the
middle of San Francisco harbor opposite
the Preside the main army headquarters
on the Pacific COAST and about four miles
from the main land. There's no gloomicr
post on the map than AIcatraz, and. look
ing back to 1t now. the time / spent there
seems like Il nightmare.
A Gloomy Place.
AT the very top of the rock there is a
big stone and brick citadel. built by the
Spanlards good many years before an
American soldier ever saw the Pacific coast
On the roof of this citadel when Alca-
traz had the military prison. a sentry was
always placed to see that none of the
prisoners got away from the island in open
boats. There WAS n board walk running
all around the four sides Of the roof. and
as this roof was about $50 feet above the
level of the sea. the sentry patrolling this
walk had perfect view of every part OF
the island and all the waters surrounding
II. Az several prisoners had got away
from AlcatraZ with the aid of confederates
who brought sail boats close up to its
banks and anchored for the apparent pur-
pose of fishing. an order was issued pro-
nibiting any boat whatsoever from APP
proaching within 300 yards of the island.
1t WAS the business of the sentry on top
of the citadel to see that this order was
not violated. He had to keep constant
lookout to see that no boat came within the
prescribed distance; If boat did get in
side the imaginary line, the sentry would
bawl down to the guard house for the cor
poral of the guard and point out the di-
rcction whittier the boat was approaching
The corporal of the guard would then grab
his rifle. hustl" over to the point indicated
by the sentry on the citadel and shout to
the occupant or occupants of the boat to
sheer off. 1T happened once. by the way
while ! was there. that stubborn chap
not
warned off. he told the corporal of the
guard to go to the devil, and that all
American waters were free to Americans
He got a bullet in his foot. and would have
got Il few more in more vital parts II he
hadn't exhibited good deal of livelincss
in rigging up his sail and getting out OF
the way.
Blew Great Guns.
THAT post on top OF the citadel was n
good deal despscd by the soldiers for vari-
Gus reasonable responsibility of it. In the
first place. and. secondly, its horrible windi-
ness. | never saw day in San Francisco
that more or less cold biting wind did not
blow Il gale through the Gate, anyhow. and
up there on top of the citadel It was simply
awful. The wind pounded man on post
there so he could hardly keep his feet .
and two hours OF 1t four times on "A guard
was pretty raw work. There was a sentry
box at one corner of the roof, into which
the sentry was prohibited from going I'M
less the rain fell in torrents: but. all the
same, l don't suppose sentry ever did
his two-hour go up there that he didn't
put In at least half the time in the box. out
of the wind. l know l did. for one, and IL
l had been caught at this and been tried
for 1t ] wouldn't have minded 1t so much;
but was nailed OH account of the con,..tion
OF the elements. and believe I'm sore over
it yet.
THE corpora! of the guard stationed me
up there one clear. sharp morning for my
fNa,n -hnI ftIrp hnr <I,
sky when took my post and began jogging
around the citadel roof, although the wind
blowing like fury, and before I'd been
up there half an hour this wind. which was
blowing in from the Gate. hauled into the
bay the mightiest and densest bank of fog
you ever saw 1t beat the so-caied black
fogs of London all hollow; literally. l
couldn't see my hand before me- and l
couldn't help but think what n bully show
this was for some poor devil of a prisoner
to get off the island If one of his Frisco
pals would think to bring over a boat for
him. But didn't want this to happen on
my watch, you may be certain.
Somehow or another, I didn't go into
the sentry box at all that morning. 1 be-
lieve / was thinking, as l trudged around
the roof of the citadel, what an imbecile in
general i had made Of myself in getting
into private's uniform In the United
States army after throwing away a million
or so good opportunities on the outside. and
SO l just kept walking to work Off my
disgust for myself and forgot to go into the
box. l had been ploughing around In the
fog for about half an hour, when up pops
the corporal of the guards head through
the hatch in the middle of the citadel roof
A sentry, my relief. followed right after
him. AS 1t lacked an hour Of the time for
me to be relieved, 1 knew right of that I
was on the breakers.
An Escape in the Fog.
did you see any boat draw near to
the southeast corner Of the island about
ten minutes ago?' says the corporal Of the
guard to me.
How the dickens do you suppose a
man could see through all this foggy muck
even IL he had a search light? I inquired
of him.
That's all right, 80 far as I am con-
cerned, said the corporal 1--WE were ON