Object Sighted Near Hazelton, BC

This document, derived from the Victoria, B.C. Semi-Weekly Colonist dated August 13, 1896, details a report of an unidentified object sighted near Hazelton, British Columbia. On July 3, 1896, at approximately 7:30 p.m., a young Indian boy reported seeing a dark-colored object four miles west of Hazelton. According to the report, the object emerged from a thick, white cloud bank, performed a semi-circular maneuver through a rift in the overcast, and subsequently entered another cloud bank. The object was estimated to be flying at an altitude of 400 feet above the mountains. The sighting was reported to Canadian Indian agent R. E. Loring, who was stationed in Hazelton. Although Loring expressed skepticism regarding the report due to the age of the witness, he formally notified his superior, the superintendent of Indian affairs, Mr. A. W. Vawell. The document also provides historical context regarding a Swedish balloon expedition planned for 1896, which was delayed until 1897 and ultimately failed, noting that many sightings in North America during 1896 were erroneously attributed to this balloon.