Bingo is home for Christmas

This is a true story. It was written by Ellen Fenn, a schoolteacher nearly a century ago, and was carried in the Mt. Pleasant News as well as national and international newspapers. Ellen Fenn is the sister of Chester Mills — one of the men in the story.

A farmer Southwest of Mt. Pleasant, Lawrence Mills, and his son, Chester, had two coon dogs: Bingo, a terrier; and Black Jack, a shepherd. On a cold, clear December night they were coon hunting with Lawrence’s brothers, Jesse and Jimmie on Jesse’s farm. Bingo and Black Jack got hot on the trail of two coons. The men were following confidently, waiting for the dogs to “tree,” when they realized there was only one dog baying — Black Jack. Listening intently, the men could hear the muffled yelps of Bingo coming from the depths of the earth. They soon realized that Bingo had chased one coon into an unknown limestone cavern, with Black Jack pursuing the other.

While searching for the entrance, the entire cave collapsed under the weight of the men. They began frantically removing dirt and stone by hand, until they came to a limestone wall. Bingo’s hollow cries could be heard from within.

Black Jack returned to the collapsed spot. In staccato notes, Black Jack and Bingo yelped helplessly back and forth.

When morning arrived upon the beleaguered group, they trudged home for digging tools. By midmorning, every party on the local phone line, and those reached by the Salem switchboard operator, knew that Mills’ Bingo was imprisoned. Women went to work preparing lunches. Sympathizers flocked to the scene. A coon dog was part of almost every farm household, and feeling ran deep.

Hundreds were touched by the frantic rescue operation. By the second day, scores had volunteered with picks, shovels, axes, spades, lanterns, and lots of advice — even dynamite. Workers hearing Bingo’s frantic yelps labored on — one crew relieving another.

By the third day the story had spread over the state, nation and world. It was the height of the Great Depression, and people seemed to identify with a trapped and helpless coon dog.

It was determined that Bingo had fallen into a deep chamber. December’s farm activities ceased in the Mt. Pleasant-Salem area. Eugene and Leo Mills, small sons of Chester, trudged over the stony hillside to check progress. They then returned home to report to their mother and grandmother, who then relayed the news to the world. Calls came unceasingly. State and local reporters plus an audience of 50-to-100 people came and went.

On the fourth day, after finding small passageways that led further and further inward from the main tunnel, the men discussed abandoning Bingo. It was agreed that it was time for the last-ditch effort — dynamite. The explosion tore away the last remaining limestone wall, but Bingo, frightened by the noise, crawled further inward.

A Christmas message from Florida, a eulogy from a senator, and a letter addressed to “Bingo Mills,” with a prayer for safe deliverance — injected a booster-shot of hope. The weary rescue group, bundled and hooded, their faces black, continued to dig.

On the morning of the fifth day, Chester, alone in the cave, tempted Bingo with food on the end of a long pole. The weary terrier managed to crawl out of his narrow confinement to where Chester could lift him. Bingo was weak, his feet bleeding, his body badly scarred, his fur torn and his claws gone. Chester carried Bingo and the good news home.

Again the wires hummed. “Bingo is home for Christmas!”

Have a good story? Call or text Curt Swarm in Mt. Pleasant at 319-217-0526, find him on Facebook, email him at curtswarm@yahoo.com.