Yogo Inn of LewistownCharlie Russel Chew Choo
The Legend of Rattlesnake Jake
Coming from the Black Hills of South Dakota on July 4th, 1884, Charlie Owens, better known as Rattlesnake Jake, and Edward (Longhair) Fallon rode into Lewistown, Montana. It was reported that the duo had been prospecting in the Judith Mountains a few years earlier and were wanted for minor horse rustling, suspected of murder and wanted in half a dozen towns and at least four territories.
After getting roaring drunk and losing most of their money on a horse race they got into an argument with two locals; H. Goodshaw, better known as Dutch Henry and a half breed named Bob Jackson. The argument escalated and Rattlesnake Jake beat on Jackson with one of his two long barreled .45 caliber colt pistols before Jackson could run to safety.
It was then that the two outlaws started firing randomly at the local townspeople. It is reported that Jake fired the first shot and then a gun battle ensued between the outlaws and the local town citizens who, armed with Winchesters, positioned themselves behind barns, saloons and storefronts on Main Street.
Rattlesnake Jake was the first one hit, shot in the hand by John Doane in front of Crowley and Kemps Saloon. After a blistering battle on Main Street, Rattlesnake Jake and his partner Longhair Fallon lay dead rattled with 20 bullets, 9 for Jake and 11 for Longhair. One young citizen, Ben Smith was also killed by the outlaw’s bullets. The last stand was made in front of the tent of an itinerant photographer, who photographed their bodies where they fell.
Within weeks of the death of Rattlesnake Jake, seven horse thieves and outlaws were killed within a 60 mile radius of Lewistown ending the large scale cattle thievery.
It is reported that the bodies of Jake and his partner Longhair Fallon were exhumed and that Rattlesnake’s skull is now on display in the Lewistown Museum of the Central Montana Historical Association.
Though Lewistown is now a peaceful place, the legend of Rattlesnake Jake lives on at his namesake saloon in the Yogo Inn of Lewistown, Montana.
