Balloon Sighted Near Hazelton 2, BC

A.W.Powell
Superintendent of Indian Affairs
Victoria, BC

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).

Indian Office
Hazelton, B.C. July 10th, 1896

Sir:

I have the honor to report that this day at 7:55 P.M. (local time) an object by description in shape of a balloon was seen by a boy about four miles to the west of here Lat. 55” 15’ Long. 127” 40’.

In an, at the time, NNW wind it was seen to emerge from out of a heavy bank of white clouds, swerving in an intermediate clear space in semi-circular line, to disappear in another at an altitude of about four hundred feet above the timber line on the mountain.

It had a black appearance having been seen between the setting sun.

The boy's description of the balloon and its actions, leaves me no doubt as to its reality, and is no doubt, the Andre balloon expected to have left Spitzbergen for the North Pole on, or about the 1st Inst.


I have the honor to be:
Sir
Your Obedient Servant
(sgd) R.E.Loring
Indian Agent
HOMEPAGE Musgrave Files