The coastland times. [volume] (Mnateo [i.e. Manteo], N.C.) 1947-1959, 1951-02-02

~ tNe Va
dy's" vocabulary was still limited
to that Of a two year old. She had
one Of the new puppies in her
arm.
"What do you want to name
your new Puppy" asked the par
ents.
Honey Baby!" replied Cindy
who had doll by the same name.
So Honey Baby is the name that
has stuck, just as "Curly" was
the favorite name of Patricia for
the other little puppy.
Tommy X. was originally own
ed by Col. Malcolm Bayer of the
Fidelis Trading Company, Ltd, of
New York City and us. Marine
officer during the war. After the
dog had grown up he was the
wrong size for a New York apart
ment and besides Colonel Bayer
was soon to be called back to ac-
tive duty in the Marine Corps. So
in 1910 or thereabouts he gave
the Chesapeake Retriver to his
friend Tommy Knowles of Viii
mington, Delaware, with the a
greement that it could be sent on
down to the John Swindell with
whom they had often hunted
while on trips to the far-famed
Lake Mattamuskeet wildfowl re-
gion.
"He had never seen a duck or
goose when he arrived. But he
was quick to catch on and from
the very beginning he was just
naturally, like most other dogs OF
his species, splendid retriever. In
time he developed superlative
qualities and showed an instinct in
doing his jobs better than any
other dog / have ever SEEM" said
Swindell. .
Swindell, who farms about 800
acres of fertile Hyde County land,
is brother of State Representative
Russell A. Swindell now attending
the General Assembly. John Swim
dell is active in civic affairs of
Hyde and is a member of the
Swan Quarter Lions Club.
Tommy X. should be an honor
airy member of the Lions Interna-
tional. He has twice played an inn
portant role in Lion activities.
Two years ago at state conven-
ton Of the organization at Rocky
Mount float was entered in the
big parade by the Swan Quarter
Lions. The float was replica of
Lake Mattamuskeet hunting
blind, surrounded by goose and
duck decoys and with live hunt
ers concealed behind brush and
cat-tails. Tommy X. also rode the
float and during the excitement
he never flinched or moved, but
remained statue-like and still.
"Our float won first prize in the
parade at Rocky Mount" said
Swindell, "and it made such fav-
orable impression we were asked
to enter the float in the big par
ade on Fifth Avenue at the inter
national convention in New York
that year."
In New York there were no
prizes offered for the best float
but the Swan Quarter Lions Club
entry won an honorable mention
and Tommy K. who rode the float
without showing a sign of excite
ment as the parade moved down
through the noisy canyon of sky
scrapers was given credit for its
high praise.
In New York where Tommy K.
had spent his puppyhood he saw
old friends again-the Bayer fam
lily. Cappy, the 14-year-old son
who had played with Tommy K
nine years previously, spoke to
the RETRIEVER.
From his actions as the dog
and boy were united briefly, we
were sure that Tommy K. remen-
bered his former playmate" de-
clared Swindell.
Author Don Tracy, whose story
"Smartest Dog in Maryland" was
responsible for the publicity that
Tommy K. received in the Post
recently, is no stranger to many
on the North Carolina coast.
Tracy is author of best selling
novel, Chesapeake Cavalier, and
he writes regularly for the Post.
He has had several stories with
North Carolina locale published in
the Post, including 'Island Fued".
about Ocracoke Island, Trouble
at Kinnakeet," about Avon, "The
Duck that Flew Backwards" with
North Carolina angles and others.
He is an Honorary Tar Heel who
has visited at Mays Head and