Choked by Chance: Villa Rica Miner Dies in Tragic Accident

July 3, 1888 – In the sizzling summer heat of Georgia, tragedy struck in the small town of Villa Rica. Richard Tolbert, a seasoned gold miner, met his untimely demise after a freak accident on the mines. The 80-year-old veteran, affectionately known as ‘Lnco Dick,’ was working in the gold mines when a massive clod of dirt plummeted onto him, shattering his leg. The injury, while severe, was not what ultimately led to his downfall. Tolbert’s weakened state made him susceptible to cholera morbus, a disease that ravages even the healthiest of individuals. The once-sturdy Tolbert succumbed to the illness on Tuesday, leaving behind a wife and a brood of grown children, including his youngest, a son now in his late teens.