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The Vanished Family of Hickory Sticks

A chilled-to-the-bone night in October
During a fog hovering over the hills,
A West Virginia family came up missing
The story still gives neighbors the chills,
Seems their clapboard shack went up
In flames, there was nothing anyone could do.
Six people died in that house, supposedly,
No fragments were found sifting through,
No bones, no hair, not a single remnant
Testifying to the fate of the family of six
Rewards were offered for additional clues
To the vanished family of Hickory Sticks.
No fire would be hot enough to obliterate
All traces of bodies in such a conflagration
One by one the possibilities were discussed,
For years the subject of rapt conversation.
Could they have vanished to another place
After torching their home that awful night?
The strange disappearance was never solved
A memorial was built on the gruesome site.

Written October 17, 2022
[based on a true story]

Copyright © L Milton Hankins | Year Posted 2022

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Caren Krutsinger Date: 10/21/2022 2:08:00 AM I think they ran off "Six people died in that house, supposedly," - I think that you think this too. I HOPE they did! Login to Reply L Milton Hankins Date: 10/21/2022 8:48:00 AM It's a great mystery that people in that area still talk about.

Michael Tor Date: 10/18/2022 5:41:00 PM It is almost like these people were taken and then a fire was started to conceal the truth. Usually there are bone fragments or dental records this is really hard to believe. A thorough investigation should be made because this is certainly a multiple homicide in my opinion without doing research Milton... Login to Reply L Milton Hankins Date: 10/18/2022 7:07:00 PM This actually happened a long time ago (with minor poetic justice) near Fayetteville, West Virginia. I don't know that the mystery was ever solved, and I'm not sure it could be after so many years have passed.

Tom Cunningham Date: 10/18/2022 4:38:00 AM How strange Milton, I often think that there is another dimension that sometimes crosses over into ours. Tom Login to Reply L Milton Hankins Date: 10/18/2022 7:58:00 AM Oh, me, too, Tom. I am almost certain of it. I have experienced it over my lifetime. Every once in a while, that other dimension breaks through to us.