Photo/postcard of His Excellency Earl Grey and group standing on the steps of a building, the Stony Mountain Manitoba Penitentiary with school children gathered at the bottom of the steps. One of the men in the photo is likely A.G. Irvine, formerly with the NWMP and at this time warden of Stony Mountain Penitentiary. On verso is written: "His Excellency, Earl Grey addressing the school children. 26 April, 1911
Samuel Benfield Steele was born at Purbrook, Medonte, County Simcoe, Ontario on 5 January 1848 to Captain Elmes Steele and Anne MacIan Macdonald. His father served under Nelson and other Admirals in the Napoleonic Wars, moving to Canada in 1832, with his first wife and family. After the death of his first wife, Captain Steele married Sam's mother, and they had six children, Sam being the eldest.
Published
See SBS's diary entry for April 26th, 1911. He writes:
Up at 6.30 went to the train to accompany his excellency Earl Grey to the Penitentiary at Stoney Mountain. The fellow passengers in Mr Whytes private car were, M Arundel Superintendant of the line to Fort William Mr JA.M. Aikens Dr Montague, Mr Chipman Lord Lacelles, His excellency Earl Grey and Sir Daniel McMillan. We were met at Stoney Mt by Mr A Manseau deputy Warden with three motor cars. The School Children sang God Save the King, but mistook the gorgeously dressed Sergeant of the Guard for His Excellency. Colonel Irvine met the party at the Penitentiary and conducted us all over. I was surprised to see on Sam Bedsons brass that his age was only forty four when he died, he was at least sixty years if not more. He died in. 92 and in 1870 was a heavily bearded Quartermaster Sergeant of the Quebec Rifles. We returned after seeing everything. Earl Grey much pleased with what he saw I went back to the office and found that I had to be personally present at Saskatoon to see the land for the drill hall I started at 9. PM by C.N.Ry. Met Hayes of Edmonton on the train, accompanied by an ex Klondyke man. To bed at 12.00
The photographs were in a envelope with Manitoba Penitentiary stamped on the back flap (possibly sent to SBS from sir D. H. McMillan).