----Source: CLARK COUNTY PRESS (Neillsville, Clark County, Wis.) 07/10/1875

Hackett, Thomas (1852? - 2 Jul 1875)

Last Monday we received information of a fatal accident by shooting, the particulars of which, as we received them, varied somewhat from the account of the same published in the Republican last week, but as Mr. Lindley received the details directly from Mr. Rand, who was out with the deceased when the accident occurred, the statements made in that article are doubtless correct. It is impossible to tell exactly how this sad occurrence was brought about, but the following , taken from our contemporary, gives the facts as nearly as it is possible to ascertain them:

"Last Friday, July 2nd, Thomas Hackett, a son-in-law of Jack Rand, who keeps the Hunter's House between Neillsville and Humbird, was killed by the accidental discharge of his gun. Rand and Hackett were out hunting in the woods about three miles east of the Hunter's House, and at the tiem of the accident Hackett was near the old fold on Wedge's Creek, on the old Neillsville road. As near as could be ascertained from the general appearance of the place and the position of the body, when found, he was walking on a log that lay in a slanting position across two other logs, when he lost his balance and fell. It seems that in falling he attempted to save himself by striking the butt of his gun on one of the lower logs, but it slipped off, striking the hammer with sufficient force to snap the cap and discharge the gun. The bullet entered the upper edge of the breast-bone, near the center, passing up through the neck into the back part of the head. Mr. Rand heard the report of the gun, and though the sound was smothered by the muzzle of the gun being very close to something and immediately went in the direction of the sound to see if anything was wrong. He searched until night without finding Hackett, and went home hoping to find him there. As soon as he found he had not bee home he made up his mind definitely that Hackett had met with a serious accident, and immediately instituted search for him. Word was sent to Humbird, and a large party went out in search. They proceeded to the vicinity where they supposed him to have been at the time Ran hear the gun go off, and there formed in line close enough to view the entire ground between them, and started forward. Warren Page of Humbird, and another gentleman went on either side of the place where he lay, when one of them saw signs of someone having been there recently. A few steps to one side, revealed the body, lying across the log and among the growth of vegetation. The gun lay against the log, and one of Hackett's legs lay across the gun, seemingly tin the exact position he fell. It is altogether probable that he never knew what hurt him, as death must have been instantaneous. The body had lain there about twenty-four hours."

The deceased was about twenty-three years old at the time of his death. He was a native of New York and had formerly lived at Augusta, Wis. He came to Clark County, Wis. to work in the mill of Boardman & Palmer, between this place and Humbird. During the time he was thus engaged he became acquainted with Miss Rand, to whom he was married, after which he made his home at the Hunter's house, where his unhappy widow still resides. He was a man of good habits, and the esteem in which he was held by those with whom he had associated was fully attested by many sorrowing friends, who accompanied the remains to their resting place.