His story is one of contrast— In the twilight years of the Wild West!
Amidst the vast and rugged landscapes of the Rocky Mountains, there lived a man whose very name was synonymous with eccentricity and wild adventures.
Known far and wide as “Rattlesnake Jack,” this peculiar figure left a mark on the frontier, not through gunfights or bank robberies, but through his unusual and daring love. A college-educated man turned recluse, a snake charmer feared and revered, and a master trapper whose cunning outmatched the wiliest predators of the American West. Yet, his life was also marked by profound personal tragedy, culminating in his untimely and violent death in February 1911, alone in a remote cabin near Walden, Colorado.
Early Life: A World of Possibilities
The enigmatic figure known as "Rattlesnake Jack" remains shrouded in mystery. His early years are lost to history, and most of the details of his adult life are equally elusive. Over time, the true events of his life have become so intertwined with myths and legends that it is difficult to distinguish fact from fiction. However, by piecing together fragments from pioneer memories, old records, and prairie tales, we can begin to form a picture of this remarkable character.
We know from various newspapers that his name was S.A. McIntyre. No other indicator of his first or middle name was ever reported in the papers. His ancestors were believed to have come from Scotland, migrating to America in the early 19th century in search of a better life. The specifics of his birth remain unknown, though some accounts suggest he may have been born in New York. The 1910 and 1900 censuses both list Michigan as his place of origin and record his first name as Squire. According to the 1900 census, he was born in December 1848, but this date is questionable since the census records show his age as 51 in 1900 and 55 in 1910. The 1900 census also indicates that his mother was born in Michigan and his father at sea. This information led to a search in Michigan, where an 1860 census was found showing an eight-year-old Squire Jr. living in Paw Paw Village, Lafayette Township, Van Buren, Michigan. His father was listed as Squire McIntyre, and jr., had a younger sister named Minerva. Beyond this, there is little record of his time in Michigan. There is a grave in Ogden, New York, it is possible that this is the grave of Squire McIntyre Sr., father of our elusive trapper. Newspaper accounts state Squire Jr., was a “college graduate and a man of significant education and skill.”
You may be wondering why he was named “Rattlesnake Jack”. He earned the nickname for his extraordinary ability to handle venomous rattlesnakes—a talent that set him apart from others. Unlike many snake handlers who removed the snakes' fangs for safety, "Rattlesnake Jack" refused, believing that his deep affection for the creatures would protect him from harm. This got him bitten several times over the years.
So what caused this “educated” man to forsake a conventional path for one fraught with danger and solitude remains a mystery?
Perhaps it was the call of the wild, the allure of the untamed frontier, or a restless spirit that could not be confined by the trappings of society. In an era where the American West was still a land of myth and adventure, many young men were drawn to its promises of freedom and fortune. The late 1800s were a time of great change, with the expansion of the railroad, the decline of the Native American tribes, and the rise of industrialization. It was a period when the old ways of the frontier were dying, and the West was becoming tamed, but for men like McIntyre, the wild places still held a powerful sway. Other accounts suggest that he traveled with a circus in the late 1880s, no record of this can be found, but this is where it is thought McIntyre’s fascination with rattlesnakes began. Here, he discovered a natural affinity with the deadly reptiles, earning him his moniker Rattlesnake Jack. His performances would have been the stuff of legend, captivating audiences with their blend of terror and awe. McIntyre would probably handle the venomous snakes as if they were mere toys, his movements so assured that it seemed he possessed some secret knowledge that rendered him immune to their lethal bites.
A famous incident recorded in Bill Barlow's Budget in 1894 illustrated McIntyre's nerve. He casually dumped a sack full of rattlesnakes onto the ground, letting them writhe and hiss at his feet. He even broke off a rattle and then sewed it back on with a needle. To the onlookers, it was a display of reckless bravery; to McIntyre, it was just another day. His ability to charm these dangerous creatures was more than just a circus act—it became a central part of his identity, one that would follow him long after the circus lights dimmed.
But McIntyre’s relationship with snakes was not purely professional. He seemed to understand them in a way few others could, recognizing in their cold, unblinking eyes a reflection of his own inner turmoil. The rattlesnake, a symbol of death and danger, became his constant companion, a reminder of the thin line he walked between life and death. He reportedly became disillusioned with circus life, and eventually headed west, not in Despite his reputation as a master trapper.
Life on the Frontier: The Master Trapper
After leaving the circus, McIntyre turned his attention to the life of a trapper, a profession that suited his solitary nature. He roamed the vast, rugged landscapes of Wyoming and Colorado, where he became known as one of the most skilled and successful trappers in the region. His exploits were well-documented in local newspapers, with The Laramie Boomerang noting his remarkable achievements in the field. In a single year, McIntyre was credited with killing 98 wolves and 500 coyotes, a feat that earned him both respect and fear among his peers. McIntyre’s success as a trapper was due in part to a secret formula for wolf bait, a recipe he guarded closely. This bait was so effective that it became the stuff of legend, and many sought to learn the secret from him, but McIntyre refused to share it. The formula, like so many aspects of his life, was something he kept hidden, a symbol of the knowledge and power he wielded in the wild. Despite his reputation as a master trapper, McIntyre was a man of contradictions. He was known to be honorable in his dealings, a trait that stood in stark contrast to the ruthlessness required to survive in his line of work. He worked for various ranchers, including D. R. Tisdale on the south fork of Powder River, where he became an invaluable asset in controlling the predator population. Yet, even as he performed his duties with skill and dedication, there was a sense that McIntyre was always on the edge, teetering between the life of a respected trapper and the chaos that seemed to follow him.
With the many “Rattlesnake Jacks” in this country it was hard to discern which one was correct. Based on the information I did know, ie: his name and employers, I was able to find many articles on the specific Rattlesnake Jack. One of the earlier articles from The Sheridan Post (April 27, 1899) described him as a successful trapper, trapping wolves and coyotes for D.R. Tisdale and others north of Fetterman during the winter. The article also said, “He brought in the bounty certificates for over forty head of wolves and coyotes. Mr. McIntyre has had a very successful winter, having caught eighty-five wolves and over a hundred coyotes. The bounty on these will bring him in several hundred dollars. In his dealings he has been strictly upright, as is proven by the fact that no man in this county has presented him as a trapper for a fraudulent wolf scalp.” Another article highlighted his continued trapping activities. “He caught some eighty gray wolves and two hundred coyotes in the vicinity of Tisdales Ranch. At the V-V ranch he trapped some 15 wolves and thiry coyotes and about the same number at Jake Crouse’s place in Bates Hole (Bates Hole, Wyoming.)” Another headline from the Laramie Semi Weekly Boomerang said, “His Services Now in Great Demand to Exterminate Wolves.”.... it went on to say, “... left today for D.C. Bacon’s home ranch. While here he ordered several dozen new traps of the largest sizes and will pay special attention to wolves during the coming winter months.”
One from The Laramie Republican, talks about him being jailed for intoxication and that “the police authorities are wondering just what is best to be done with him.” It also said “He is a confirmed morphine eater, buying the drug in $.50 lots.” They hoped that they could persuade him to return to the mountains. The next article just a day later, also from the Laramie Republican says “McIntyre Has Gone Back To the Mountains.” We do not know how many times McIntyre married but we do know that on July 22, 1905, he married a woman named Mrs. M.A. Lawton in Walden, Colorado, the only other information was that Mrs. Lawton had a baby daughter. It is known they were married until S.A. McIntyre’s death.
By October 10, 1907, it was reported in the Laramie Republican that, “S.A. Mcintyre, known hereabouts as "Rattlesnake Jack," says the Walden New Era, has leased the A.H. Law block in the northeast part of town and has moved to that place where he and his son, Albert, will live, not in a marble palace exactly but in a comfortable house made from the fiber of the flax plant.”
An Article from the The Larimer County Independent, Fort Collins, Colorado, December 8, 1910, page 1, says, “J. A. McIntyre, better known as "Rattlesnake Jack," one of the best trappers in the North park country, during the first 23 days of November, trapped 23 coyotes and one wolf, which is a remarkable record. He has been trapping for the past twenty-five years and understands the habits of the wolf as few men do. For a number of years he had several wolves in confinement and made a careful study of their peculiarities. Another reason for his success as a trapper lies in the fact that he makes a bait, which is said to be more effective than any on the market, but he will not divulge the secret of its constituents. The name, "Rattlesnake Jack," which is the only one he is known by among the mountaineers, has clung to him ever since the pioneer days. when he was traveling with a rattlesnake show, in which he was the "snake charmer." being invulnerable to their bites. He is said to have used "dope" to counteract the poison and fellow trappers say he is still subject to the habit. He lives the simple trapper life, moving about as the prospects of game very. He is now working around the Two-Bar ranch, where a number of cattle have been killed by the wolves and coyotes. Although the traps are carefully buried in the ground and all traces of broken ground are covered up, great difficulty is experienced in getting the wolves near the bait; in one instance, Mr. Wheeler relates that a carcass was surrounded by six carefully concealed traps, but the next day the tracks of wise Mr. Wolf could be seen circling all around the place but keeping a safe distance outside of the traps and he finally gave up a very tempting dinner for fear of being caught. A bounty of $25 is offered by the North Park Stock Growers' association on wolves, added to which are private bounties, bringing the amount up to $40. The county commissioners of Jackson County, Colorado are contemplating raising the tax levy one mill to increase the bounty to $50. The reason that such liberal bounties are offered is that a grown wolf kills from $500 to $1,000 worth of young cattle in a year. A number of trappers have been attracted to coyote trapping, though there is no bounty offered. The pelts bring from $2.50 to $5.00 each. These are colored and doctored and sold as various kinds of furs by the manufacturers and, it is said, that a good specimen of coyote makes a beautiful set of Russian fox furs. Reports from Middle park and Routt county indicate that wolves have been doing considerable damage to stock, and as soon as North park is pretty well cleaned out, "Rattlesnake Jack" will begin operations in those places."
In the October 1956 issue of Annals of Wyoming an article titled “The Hole-in-the-wall” by Thelma Gatchell Condit, in part III she talks of the Wolfers in the area, here she mentions Rattlesnake Jack. She said, “For the really bizarre wolfer we have Rattlesnake Jack. He hung around the Tisdale and May outfits a lot. He was a dirty, evil-looking, wizened-up fellow who wore a feather-decorated fur cap the year round. He was extremely dark-complexioned—like an Indian and reeked so strongly of wolf scent he could be smelled for miles around. Undoubtedly this was one reason he was so successful as a trapper, he smelled so like his bait. Also, this personal filth probably accounted for his safety in carrying rattlesnakes around in his shirt. He’d get drunk, open his shirt front, and out would crawl 2 or 3 huge rattlesnakes. He’d play with and fondle them in utter fearlessness and seemingly without danger to himself. He always had three horses—one which he rode and 2 tailed together which he packed and led. Sometimes he’d be seen with a coyote or wolf pup in a cage on his pack horse. He was a dope fiend which, no doubt, accounted in part for his eccentricity.”
The Shadow of Tragedy: A Family in Peril
McIntyre’s personal life was as tumultuous as his professional one. He had two children, a son and a daughter, whom he raised in the unforgiving wilderness. His parenting methods, however, were as unorthodox as everything else about him. He involved his children in his work, exposing them to the same dangers he faced daily. The Sheridan Post, and other newspapers recounted the horror many felt at his treatment of the children, particularly the way he forced them to handle rattlesnakes as part of their upbringing. The Judge granted McIntyre to keep his son, Albert, as long as he no longer handled snakes but his daughter, Martha, was taken to a Girl's chool in Geneva, Nebraska.
They both had full lives. (More on his children’s lives in my book, SHERIDAN WYOMING HISTORY SERIES - BOOK III - available starting January 2025)
After the judge granted McIntyre to keep his son, S.A., and Albert continued to trap and travel. In 1896, they purchased a pet monkey, which traveled with them and is listed in a few newspaper articles. The monkey’s name was Jennie.
The Final Descent: Addiction and Isolation
As McIntyre’s life unraveled, he turned increasingly to morphine, a drug that provided temporary relief from the pain and torment that plagued him. Addiction which had already taken hold, exacerbating his already volatile state of mind. The once formidable trapper, who had faced down wolves and charmed rattlesnakes, was now a broken man, consumed by his demons. By February 1911, McIntyre had retreated into near-total isolation, living alone in a remote cabin near Walden, Colorado. The winter was harsh, the landscape barren and unforgiving, much like McIntyre’s own life. He reached his breaking point on the night of February 25, 1911. Using a shotgun, McIntyre took his own life, the violent act a final, desperate attempt to escape the torment that had haunted him for years. Several different reports say, “His son discovered the body,” while this is true he did discover the body, they made it sound like he came home and he found him dead. In reality, Albert was saddling a horse to get help for his ailing father and S.A. shot himself while Albert was at the barn. McIntyre’s death, though shocking, seemed almost inevitable—a tragic end to a life defined by danger, isolation, and sorrow. News of McIntyre’s death spread quickly, and it was reported in newspapers across Wyoming, Colorado, and other states where he had become a legend of sorts. Some of the articles talked of his life, one called him Samuel A. McIntyre, which we know is not correct. You couldn’t always trust the newspapers back then to print the facts. The local, Sheridan Post reflected the mixed feelings of those who knew him, acknowledging his contributions as a trapper while lamenting the darkness that had consumed his life. McIntyre was a man who had lived on the fringes of society, a figure both revered and reviled, whose life story was as wild and untamed as the land he roamed.
The Legacy of "Rattlesnake Jack" McIntyre
Yet, even in death, McIntyre’s legend lived on. His name became synonymous with the dangerous allure of the frontier, a reminder of the thin line between civilization and chaos, between the known and the unknown. His secret wolf bait formula, his fearless handling of rattlesnakes, and his tragic family history all became part of the lore that surrounded him, stories told around campfires and in saloons long after he was gone.
"Rattlesnake Jack" McIntyre’s life was a testament to the complexity of the human spirit—a man who defied easy categorization, who lived by his own rules, and who ultimately paid the price for his choices. His story is a vivid chapter in the history of the American West, a place where legends are born, and where the line between hero and villain is often blurred.
An interesting article was published in the Sheridan Press six years after his death. It is clear from this article that the people of Sheridan, Wyoming actually liked Jack and thought highly of him.
A local Walden, Colorado Historian named Jason Slane looked into the burial of Rattlesnake Jack for me. Unfortunately there is no gravestone at the Walden Cemetery marking the final repose of Squire A. McIntyre.
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