‘Beaver Tales’ makes for good reading
By DENNIS APRILL, Outdoors Columnist
Trappers, traders, mountain men and scoundrels - these are the heroes of Clyde M. Rabideau’s new non-fiction work "Beaver Tales."
Rabideau, who lives in Schuyler Falls and who has done extensive research on his family history, traces distant relatives - the Robidoux - who left Montreal for St. Louis in the mid 1700’s. His focus is on Joseph, Antoine and Francois, among others, as they travel about the old west. Along the way, they cross paths with some of the most famous mountain men of the day - Kit Carson, Manuel Lisa, Joseph Meek and Jim Bridger. In one tale, Carson is hired by Antoine Robidoux to retrieve horses stolen by a Ute Indian. The successful rescue is described in detail.
Clyde M. Rabideau uses the biographical approach popularized by historian LeRoy R. Hafen in his famous work: "Mountain Men and Fur Traders of the Far West." Although this approach can, as Harvey Carter Professor Emeritus at Colorado College writes, "have a tendency toward adulation or animosity (of a person), no other approach can rival it in creating interest and holding attention."
And holding your attention is what Rabideau does very well using narration and diary excerpts intermingled with photos and maps. To check his facts, Rabideau took extensive trips out west to the sites of early 1800’s rendezvous, forts and battles. Clearly his love of the topic comes out in his 375 page hardcover book.
Signed copies of "Beaver Tales" are available directly from Clyde. To order, call him at 563-9154 or e-mail his at crabideau1@aol.com The cost including shipping and handling is $17.00. The book is also sold at Amazon.com.and Barnes and Noble.