8 Pen and Ink Drawings of Fort Steele

Pen and Ink Drawing by Ray Mannix of Major General Sir Samuel Benfield Steele of the North West Mounted Police. He established the first North West Mounted Police post in British Columbia weswt of the Rockies. In 1887, with Inspectors S.T. Wood, C.F.A. Huot, Surgeon F.H. Powell and the men of 'D' Division, which totaled 75 officers and men, arrived from Fort McLeod in July to establish their first post west of the Rocky Mountains. The Presence of the first Police Force created a more stable atmosphere in the Kootenays. Superintendent "Sam" Steele with his usual tact and sense of fairness soon had established law and order between the Indians and the whites. Having accomplished its task, returned to Fort McLeod in August, 1888, leaving the small settlement of Galbraith's Ferry, which was soon to be renamed Fort Steele, and still bears his name to this day.