Balloon Sighting Near Black Water Lake, BC

This document consists of a report from the Indian Office in Hazelton, British Columbia, dated July 10, 1896, addressed to the Superintendent of Indian Affairs, A.W. Powell. The report details an account provided by Ghail, the head chief of the Kitspioux, regarding an aerial sighting. According to the report, Ghail and a party of individuals were trapping at Black Water Lake, located above the headwaters of the Skeena River, on the evening of July 3, 1896. They observed an object that resembled a balloon and displayed very bright lights, moving in a near-northerly direction. The author of the report, Indian Agent R.E. Loring, explicitly notes that Ghail is a trustworthy individual whose statement should be credited. The document also includes a note from 'UFO*BC' providing historical context regarding a Swedish balloon expedition intended for the North Pole. This note explains that while the Swedish government had informed Canada of their intent to launch a balloon in 1896, the launch was delayed until July 1897 due to weather, and the balloon ultimately crashed on pack ice far from Canada. The note suggests that many sightings reported in Canada and the USA during 1896 and 1987 were likely misidentifications of this intended expedition.