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These are the marks in the cut-off corridor where grenades were dropped on prisoners attempting an escape.
In 1946, inmate Bernard Coy used a makeshift bar spreader, climbed up to one of the gun galleries and used the spreader to gain entry. Coy overpowered an unsuspecting guard, took the guard’s weapon and dropped firearms to several waiting convicts. Led by Coy and fellow inmate Paul Cretzer, the inmates had planned to "blast out" with firearms, but were unable to locate the key that would provide access to the prison’s recreation yard. The desperate convicts took several guards hostage, and waged a violent war against Alcatraz.
The fighting lasted two full days, and finally with no place to hide from the ceaseless gunfire, Cretzer, Coy, and Hubbard retreated to a utility corridor for shelter. All three were killed from bullet and shrapnel wounds.
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