Make Some Noise
But how did they manage to do this without making anyone notice? Apparently, the inmates used prison reform to their benefit. In the ‘60s, they let inmates have an hour of music every day. It was hard to hear anything over the disharmony that happened during that time! Morris played an accordion loudly to cover up the racket made by chipping the cement and banging at the walls. They eventually learned that there was an unguarded utility corridor at the back of the cells.
Up Up And Away
This utility corridor was unguarded and had bars, not unlike those you find at the jungle gym. If the prisoners made holes wide enough to enter, they would be able to climb all the way to the roof! After this, they just needed to hope for the best. They had to use a large shaft for roof access. They could not believe it when they learned that the shafts were mostly sealed off using cement. Luckily, they chanced upon an unsealed shaft that they then pried open with a homemade wrench.