Last Major American Train Robbery

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Last Major American Train Robbery

Last Major American Train Robbery

The year was 1937, a time when the echoes of the Wild West still lingered in the American imagination, even as the nation grappled with the harsh realities of the Great Depression. It was during this era that a daring, albeit ill-fated, attempt to rob a train unfolded, etching its place in history as the last major American train robbery. The stage was set on November 25, 1937, aboard the Southern Pacific Railroad’s westbound Apache Limited, departing from El Paso, Texas. The protagonists of this audacious act were two young men, Henry (Lorenz) Loftus, aged 22, and Harry (Dwyer) Donaldson, aged 27, driven by a romanticized vision of the Old West and a desire for adventure.

The Dreamers: Henry Lorenz and Harry Dwyer Donaldson

Henry Lorenz’s early life was marked by a series of events that would shape his yearning for escape and adventure. Born in 1915 to German immigrants in Manitowoc, Wisconsin, Henry’s childhood took a somber turn when his mother passed away when he was just six years old. His father remarried within a year, but the new stepmother proved to be ill-tempered and abusive, creating a difficult home environment for young Henry.

As a teenager, Henry found solace and inspiration in dime novels that chronicled the thrilling escapades of western adventurers and outlaws. These tales of daring cowboys, gunfights, and frontier justice ignited his imagination and fueled a growing fascination with the Wild West. However, his parents dismissed his passion as a mere "Wild West complex," assuming he would eventually outgrow it.

In his late teens, Henry’s life took another turn when he was arrested for burglary. However, a sympathetic judge recognized his potential and placed him on probation, giving him a chance to turn his life around.

In 1936, the Lorenz family relocated to Chicago, Illinois, where Henry’s father purchased a shoe store. However, the bustling city life failed to capture Henry’s restless spirit. After just a few months, the 21-year-old set off for Brooklyn, New York, in search of new opportunities.

In Brooklyn, Henry found work in a factory, where he met Harry Dwyer Donaldson, a Canadian man who shared his fascination with the American West. The two men bonded over their shared dreams of riding the range, engaging in gunfights, and rescuing damsels in distress. As their friendship deepened, they hatched a plan to turn their dreams into reality.

After saving nearly $200, Lorenz announced his intention to head west "to seek fame and fortune in the wide-open spaces." With their shared ambition burning bright, Lorenz and Donaldson boarded a Santa Fe train bound for the border town of El Paso, eager to immerse themselves in the world they had only read about.

El Paso: A Disillusioning Reality

Upon arriving in El Paso, the two dreamers were met with a stark contrast to their romanticized vision of the Wild West. Instead of a frontier town teeming with cowboys and saloons, they found a modern city with paved streets, automobiles, neon signs, and a distinct lack of horses. The El Paso of 1937 had long shed its frontier past, leaving Lorenz and Donaldson disillusioned.

However, their determination to experience the "west" remained unwavering. They purchased cowboy attire, including fringed chaps, Mexican boots, and black sombreros, transforming themselves into what locals derisively called "drug-store cowboys." Despite the ridicule and the jarring reality of modern El Paso, the two men pressed on, undeterred in their pursuit of the Old West experience.

Undeterred, they purchased two horses, saddles, and other necessary gear, and set off on horseback northwest toward Deming, New Mexico. After two days on the trail, they were again disappointed when they found another modern town. Concluding that the Wild West they had read so much about no longer existed, they returned to El Paso. Still wanting a taste of the Old West, they made another plan. After selling their horses and gear, they purchased two old-fashioned six-shooters, hand-tooled holsters, and two train tickets.

The Apache Limited: A Fateful Ride

On November 24, 1937, Lorenz and Donaldson boarded the Southern Pacific Railroad’s westbound Apache Limited, departing from El Paso at 11:20 p.m. As the train rumbled westward, carrying passengers from all walks of life, the two young men prepared to put their plan into action.

About 30 miles west of El Paso, near Mt. Riley in Dona Ana County, New Mexico, Loftus drew his pistol on conductor W.M. Holloway. The conductor would later say that he thought the young man was drunk and didn’t really think it was a holdup. However, he was afraid that the gun might go off because Loftus’ hands were shaking. In the meantime, Donaldson, also pointing a six-shooter, was moving through the train demanding cash and valuables from the passengers.

“These two fellows got on the train at El Paso with tickets for Hermanos, New Mexico. They were in the first day coach. We were about 40 miles out when they pulled out their guns and ordered everyone to put up their hands.” – Jim Velsir, railroad brakeman

Chaos and Capture

As Donaldson moved through the train, brandishing his six-shooter and demanding valuables, panic began to spread among the passengers. The tense atmosphere reached a boiling point when one nervous passenger, Jose A. Rodriguez, made a sudden move.

Donaldson, startled by the unexpected movement, panicked and fired his weapon. The bullet struck Rodriguez, but fate intervened in the form of a pocket watch, which absorbed the impact and saved the man’s life.

The sound of the gunshot reverberated through the train, drawing Loftus’ attention. He rushed to assist his partner, but was met with unexpected resistance. An off-duty brakeman, W.L. Smith, who was traveling as a passenger, tackled Loftus, initiating a chaotic struggle.

As the two men wrestled on the floor, Loftus fired his weapon, striking Smith. The shot ignited a collective response from the passengers, who surged forward, overwhelming Loftus and Donaldson in a frenzy of punches and kicks.

“If it hadn’t been that we had women passengers on the coach, these robbers would have been beaten to death.” – Doyle L. Ziler, train passenger who witnessed the event

The would-be train robbers were then tied to the seats, and the passengers tended to the mortally wounded Smith. Unfortunately, brakeman W.L. Smith died in Arizona three hours after being shot. The robbers received only small change and a few watches for their efforts.

Aftermath and Justice

The train continued westward to Hachita, New Mexico, where the bandits were taken off and transported to Deming. Loftus and Donaldson were arrested and charged with train robbery and murder upon their arrival. The pair were then sent to Las Cruces, New Mexico, to stand trial.

Loftus’ father, Conrad, and sister, Margaret, traveled by train from Chicago on December 1, believing the arraignment to be equivalent to trial. At that time, Margaret told the press that Loftus “does not seem to grasp the meaning of the charges against him.” Though the visitors did not have money to help the outlaw, they promised to return for the trial if they could. Donaldson’s mother, Mrs. Joseph Thibault, also traveled from Concession, Nova Scotia.

In court, if the two men were found guilty at trial, they faced the death penalty. Instead, the outlaws pleaded guilty to second-degree murder and were sentenced to serve 50-75 years in prison on February 21, 1938. They were then transported to the New Mexico Penitentiary in Santa Fe.

The ill-fated train robbery attempt on the Apache Limited marked the end of an era, sealing its place in history as the last major American train robbery. The romanticized dreams of two young men collided with the harsh realities of the law, leaving a trail of tragedy and disappointment in their wake.

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