Most of the tower posts had their own toilets and running water. Nevertheless, officers considered these posts to be the worst assignments of any on the island. Former Captain of the Guards Philip Bergen, who was assigned to Alcatraz from 1939 until 1955, later commented: “There was nothing worse than being assigned to a tower or on the yard wall. I had that duty on a number of occasions and it was hell. Your lips and skin were always chapped from exposure, and the cold metal [of your gun] would numb your hands.” The tower assignments were typically cold and extremely boring. Radios were considered a dangerous diversion and were strictly prohibited. The tower officers were well armed with a variety of weapons, in a different configuration for each post. The weapons used included Thompson submachine guns, powerful .30-06 Springfield rifles, Colt .45 pistols, gas guns and gas grenades. Former Correctional Officer Al Bloomquist recalled his assignment to the Road Tower:
“At night, it was freezing cold and if the fog was thick enough, it had a very eerie feeling. You couldn’t see anything when the night fog shrouded the island and I can still remember hearing the deafening screech of the seagulls that would startle the hell out of you. It always made you a little nervous, especially after knowing that those desperate inmates had rushed Stites (an officer assigned to the Model Shop Tower during a 1938 escape attempt). When they finally gave me a day assignment in the industries, I can remember never being happier. I used to think that this was worse than being locked in one of those cells on the inside of the prison.”
Warden James A. Johnston 1934 –1948
A photograph of the first Warden of Alcatraz, James A. Johnston. This image was produced for his book Prison Life is Different. He authored several other publications, including a book on Alcatraz entitled Alcatraz and the Men Who Live There
In November of 1933, the U.S. Attorney General chose James A. Johnston, a strict disciplinarian with a humanistic approach to reform as the new warden of Alcatraz. Johnston came to the position with a broad-based background in business and twelve years of experience in the California Department of Corrections. James Johnston was born in Brooklyn, New York on September 15, 1874, to Thomas and Ellen Johnston. He moved to California to attend the Sacred Heart College in San Francisco to study law. In 1905 Johnston married Ida Fulton and the couple decided to remain in California. From 1912 until 1913, Johnston served a brief term as the warden at Folsom Prison on the appointment of the Governor of California. His successful term at Folsom led to another position as the warden of San Quentin Prison, where he would remain until 1925. After leaving the prison system, Johnston became the Vice-President of the American Trust Company and later took an appointment as a chief appraiser for the Federal Home Loan Bank Corporation.
Two photographs of James A. Johnston as a young man, during his terms as Warden of Folsom Prison in 1912-1913, and as Warden of San Quentin Prison from 1913-1925.
The Department of Justice considered Johnston a “scientific penologist,” and he had a remarkable track record of successfully returning a high percentage of inmates to productive society. Johnston had become well known for the programs he implemented in the area of prisoner reform and he was also a promoter of inmate rights. He abolished the wearing of striped uniforms, which he considered demeaning to the inmates and he advocated active inmate participation in religious services. He didn't believe in chain gangs, but rather in having inmates report to a job where they were respected and rewarded for their efforts.
Nicknamed the "Golden Rule Warden" at San Quentin, Johnston was praised in newspaper articles for the California highways that were graded by San Quentin prisoners. Although inmates were not compensated for this work, they were rewarded with sentence reductions. Johnston also established several educational programs at San Quentin, which proved successful for a good number of inmates. He invited famous actors and actresses of the era to entertain on special occasions, including such greats as Mary Pickford and Sarah Bernhardt. Johnston purchased a motion picture projector for the inmates at San Quentin and vaudeville companies were permitted to perform for the prisoners. But despite Johnston’s humane approach to prison reform, he also carried a reputation as a strict disciplinarian. His rules of conduct were among the most rigid in the correctional system and harsh punishments were meted out to defiant inmates. During his tenure at "Q," Johnston also oversaw the executions by hanging of several inmates.
Johnston abolished the wearing of striped prison uniforms, which he considered demeaning to the inmates. He didn't believe in chain gangs (depicted here in a movie still with the men walking in what was termed as “Lock Step”), and he advocated having inmates report to a job where they were respected and rewarded for their efforts. Johnston held a remarkable track record of successfully returning a high percentage of inmates to productive society, by teaching them job skills that could translate to employment outside of prison.
Warden Johnston served as Warden of Alcatraz from 1934 until 1948.
James Johnston was considered an icon of San Francisco during his term as Warden of Alcatraz. He is seen here during a public fundraiser, circa 1942.
At Alcatraz, Johnston was allowed to hand-pick his correctional officers from the entire federal prison system. Johnston’s first appointment was Cecil J. Shuttleworth from St. Paul, Minnesota, who he chose as his Deputy Warden. He also appointed four lieutenants who were all well versed in the federal prison system. They were Edward J. Miller and Paul J. Madigan (who was later to become Warden himself) from Leavenworth, Edward Starling from Atlanta, and Richard Culver from Virginia. Fifty-two other correctional officers would be transferred to Alcatraz to assume guard posts.
The Guards of Alcatraz
A letter detailing officers’ salaries for their new appointments at Alcatraz.
A group photograph of the Alcatraz Federal Penitentiary Personnel, taken on June 4, 1936. Warden Johnston is seen sitting in the middle. To his left is Deputy Warden C.J. Shuttleworth, and to his right is future Deputy Warden E.J. Miller.
A small group of Alcatraz officers posing in 1953. Standing on the far left is Captain of the Guard Emil Rychner.