What the title says.
Obviously that is what Allen West said that plan was. But he either could have been lying, or the others could have changed their plans once they knew West wasn't going to make it. Is there some other evidence that I don't know about? Once they hit the water, nobody really knows where they tried swimming.
That's where the raft was recovered.
shareThat's the main reason. Allen West said the same thing when he was interviewed. Tides could have washed it there but that's only speculation. It is also known that they left from the north west side of Alcatraz which would be the closest point, tending to support the claim.
A book I have, which I bought when I went to Alcatraz, says that the current that night was 8 knots and ebbing, meaning that they would most likely have been swept out to sea. This was said to be exactly the same as for the Theodore Cole/Ralph Roe escape in 1937.
http://www.alcatrazhistory.com/alcesc1.htm
http://www.alcatrazhistory.com/escapes1.htm
http://www.alcatrazhistory.com/escapes2.htm
That none of them was ever heard of again suggests - to me at least - they died in the attempt.
The raft was not found. It was a paddle that was found at Angel island.
Snoogans.