Steele's Scouts History: Steele’s Narrows

On the morning of June 2, 1885 Sam Steele, commander of an elite portion of the Alberta Field Force known as “Steele’s Scouts”, looked down on the narrows from an open ridge about two kilometres to the south. After the battle at Frenchman Butte he and 65 men had left Ft. Pitt to pursue the fleeing Cree northward through the forest. Now, lying below, was a small native camp and through his binoculars he could see people wading the narrows (where the highway is today) eastward. His orders were to free a group of hostages the Cree had captured at Frog Lake and Ft. Pitt and this was the opportune moment. Steele split his force which had dwindled to 42 men, into two groups; he’d lead one attacking the village, hopefully freeing the prisoners, the other would act as “cover” from rifle fire he expected from warriors on the overlooking ridge.

The attack on foot initially went as planned, but as it developed his group came under fire from not only the ridge, but from across the water (Sanderson Bay). His intrepid, fiery, Irish Sergeant, William Fury led the assault up the ridge as planned but was shot through the chest by a Metis with a long range, Sharps buffalo rifle. The battle became a confusing “jungle style” fight with both sides uncertain who was behind the next tree. The scouts opened fire at a group of people wading across the narrows, one of which was hostage, teenager Kitty McLean, carrying her young brother. A scout’s bullet narrowly missed, passing between their two heads, only inches apart.

At times, both sides tried in vain to call for a cease fire, the “Fighting Preacher”, George McKay with the Scouts, while on the other side of the narrows hostage W.J. McLean (Kitty’s father) attempted likewise. In the meantime about three kilometres east of the narrows Chief Seekaskootch and two of his faithful were murdered by Cree dissidents as he urged surrender. The number of natives killed in the battle is officially recorded as five; however, chronicles of several individuals suggest numbers in excess of that. No Steele’s Scouts were killed in the battle and William Fury eventually recuperated, passing away in 1936.

About a week later Gen. Fred Middleton and his force, pulling a Gatling gun, led by Steele’s Scouts returned to the scene, then continued around the lake to a second narrows on the north side, eventually giving up the pursuit at this point. The hostages would eventually be set free near Goodsoil. Around the middle of July the militia forces would be on their way home with the rebellion stamped out.

Steele’s Narrows Today: Steele’s Narrows is now a Provincial Historic Site, located on secondary Highway # 699 about ten km west of the town of Loon Lake. At the site there is a day-use, picnic area and boat launch as well as a commemorative cairn overlooking the narrows. The location of the Indian camp the Scouts attacked is approximately one km directly south of the cairn, hidden behind a ridge. The skirmish here in 1885 was far more violent than the battle at Frenchman Butte, yet the incident remains in relative obscurity. White cement markers and a small cairn on the south side of the highway indicate the approximate location where natives were killed that morning.

Text By Wayne Brown