This Mexican style Apparajo saddle was used by Jean Caux, more commonly known as Cataline. He arrived in BC in the mid 1860s and led mule trains from Yale to Barkerville. He gained a reputation as the most reliable packer in BC, never failing to fulfill a contract. During the Omenica Gold Rush, Cataline packed supplies and heavy equipment from the end of the road at Quesnel, north to the placer mines. In 1898 the Government decided to send a force of 200 soldiers to the Yukon to maintain order. They traveled up the Stikine River to Telegraph Creek and from there to Atlin Lake. Cataline was selected to assist with the supply train. Eventually he retired to a ranch on the Bulkley River across from Hazelton. He died in 1922. The saddle was purchased by the Higdon brothers from the ranch in Hazelton and was donated to the Quesnel Museum in 1960.
