Swedish Balloon Sighting

Canadian Pacific Railway Co's Telegraph

11 August 1896

UFO*BC NOTE:

On the 16th of May, 1896, the Swedish Government informed Canada that they would be sending a balloon from Sweden heading to the North Pole in the early summer of 1896. This information was requested to be widely disseminated across Canada so that any sightings could be reported back to Sweden and any assistance could be given to the explorers if needed. However, due to poor weather, the departure was delayed until the following year. Eventually the balloon set sale on July 11, 1897, but crashed on the pack ice after only 2 days (nowhere near Canada). Strangely enough, many sightings that were assumed to be this balloon were reported in Canada and the USA in 1896 and early 1987 (including this one).

To: Smith, High Commissioner, Canada, London

Following telegram received from Indian Agent at Victoria:

Telegram begins: Credible information received by Agent Lomis from two Indian parties separated by long distance at time of observation that the Andrée’s balloon had been sighted lat. 55.15 long 127.40 pursuing a nearly northerly course.

Telegram ends: Advise Swedish Minister.