Balloon Sighting Near Black Water Lake2, BC

Victoria, B.C. Semi-Weekly Colonist. 13 Aug. 1896.

in: Loren E. Gross: Charles Fort, the Fortean Society, & Unidentified Flying
Objects. p. 17.

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).

And then, on July 10th, a hunting party of Kitapiox Indians led by their paramount chief, Chief Ghail, returned to Hazelton from a hunting expedition along the shores of Black Water Lake. Chief Ghail, known to agent Loring as a trustworthy person, reported to the Indian affairs office in Hazelton, saying he had an extraordinary story to relate. The chief said he and some of his warriors had spotted what must have been professor Andree's balloon, because they had seen something in the sky while they were at the lake, displaying very bright lights and moving in a northerly direction. "When" asked agent Loring. Chief Ghail replied: "the evening of July 3rd." (38.)
HOMEPAGE Musgrave Files