Sam Kelly Caves
These caves were believed to be original old wolf dens which were enlarged and used as living quarters for several years
around 1900 by the Nelson and Jones Gang. The area was an ideal hideout, water was handy and Picture Butte was a good place
to watch the border only a half a mile away.
Jones was a notorious train robber from Montana. He often robbed single handed and usually during the winter months. Then
he spent summers in the badlands.
Nelson alias Sam Kelly joined Jones in stealing horses from Montana and Canadian ranches, then altering brands and selling
them to settlers in the Big Muddy and Dakotas.
Police believed people on the Canadian side were involved in dispersing stolen horses and it was a general opinion, a great
deal was blamed on the Jones Gang to cover the tracks of others.
There was a fair amount of Whiskey smuggling. The The Watt Saloon, a few miles away in Montana was visited regularly.
Jones was finally shot by an American Sheriff and Kelly took up ranching. He gave himself up to American authorities on the
charge of helping a prisoner escape prison. This was the only charge they had against him. Later he moved to Debden, Saskatchewan
and homesteaded in 1913. He was very cautious and always alert with a gun under his pillow. He had an excellent shot and could dishorn
cattle with his 30:30 at 150 yards. Kelly died in 1954 at North Battleford. There is a lake named after this notorious outlaw - Kelly Lake.