"Describes ghost sightings and hauntings in the western United States"--

Alcatraz Island has a chilling history. Surrounded by icy waters, enshrouded by thick fog, and wrapped in whistling wind, it is no surprise to find that it is haunted. In fact, there is so much sadness, desperation, torture, and death in its past, it's almost impossible to believe that there aren't spirits there. Learn about famous prisoners who haunt the island and of those unnamed folks who continue to linger there. Hear Al Capone's mournful banjo and Robert "Birdman" Stroud's shriek in the wind. Find Smitty, the amazing escape artist, and Rufe McCain, who was murdered by a monster. Visit with unsettled spirits on Alcatraz, but make sure you catch the last boat home...

Alcatraz is one of the most infamous prisons in the world. Evil spirits, unknown beasts, vicious murderers and an untold number of ghosts all are said to reside on this tiny island in San Francisco Bay. Rufus McCain, who died a brutal death at the hands of a fellow inmate, is said to roam the grounds, and the basement cells used for solitary confinement were rumored to be so frightening that inmates who endured one stint never wanted to go back. Multiple escape attempts were thwarted, including two attempts by Sam Shockley, who was later executed with fellow inmate Miran Thomson. Join Bob Davis and Brian Clune as they explore chilling tales of death, murder and savagery from America's Devil's Island.

As one of America's most notorious prisons, Alcatraz has been a significant part of California's history for over 155 years. The small, lonely rock, known in sea charts by its Spanish name "Isla de los Alcatraces," or "Island of Pelicans," lay essentially dormant until the 1850s, when the military converted the island into a fortress to protect the booming San Francisco region. Alcatraz served as a pivotal military position until the early 20th century and in 1934 was converted into a federal penitentiary to house some of America's most incorrigible prisoners. The penitentiary closed in 1963, and Alcatraz joined the National Park Service system in 1972. Since then, it has remained a popular attraction as part of the Golden Gate National Recreation Area.

The Last Guard Out is the fascinating true story of one man's life as a guard behind the merciless concrete walls of Alcatraz. I was newly assigned to the infamous island penitentiary of Alcatraz. Reporting to Alcatraz required me to uproot my wife Cathy and young son Kenny from Colorado to California. As we approached San Francisco via of the Oakland Bay Bridge we got our first foreboding glance of Alcatraz Island with a dense circle of fog surrounding it. A strange sense of dread came over me. I looked at our young son asleep in the back seat, then turned to my wife next to me and I whispered "What The Hell Did We Do". After moving on to Alcatraz our thought on Island life quickly changed and we decided not to apply for a transfer out, which consequently left us there until the Island closed in March of 1963. Because of our newly born daughters foot problem they left us there until June of 1963 making me The Last Guard Out.

Revealing a side of the famed city that tourists rarely experience, this handbook uncovers a hidden realm of ghosts, apparitions, and paranormal phenomena in San Francisco. The guide delves into the haunted hotspots that unsuspectedly lie in the city's most famous landmarks and neighborhoods, including Alcatraz, Chinatown, and the Presidio, while directions to each hair-raising location are provided, encouraging adventurous sightseers to seek out their own ghostly encounters. With the history of each frightening locale, the probable life stories of their resident spirits, and actual transcripts of their conversations with a psychic, this supernatural study delivers a realistic feel for encountering the uncanny.