Tombstone epitaph., 1895-08-25
HE SAW HEAVEN.
The Strange Case of Engineer
 John Russell.

The Los Angeles Express tells of a strange case oi John Russel, formerly engineer on the Ingersol and GirarI hoists in this district in early days. He paid Tombstone a visit not over two years ago, but returLed 10 Los Angeles where he has been employed on the santa Fe railroad. The Ex- press says
 Last Wednesday John Russell while Tn comatCse state beheld a vision of heaven. At least that is what he said. and that is what is be- lieved by the whole neIkhborhood, many Of whom have spiIitualistic pre- delictions.
 Russell with his wife and family reside at772 Central avenue in & very pretty little ruse embowered cottage. Russel is employed on the santa Fe railroad. About month ago he was obliged 10 lay of on account of sick ness. A few lays after his disability he was stricken with paralysis or more technically, the paraplegia. Two weeks ago last Wednesday he an nouncei 10 bis wife that he was going 10 die the next Wednesday,
 ''I am going 10 die today Russell stated tn lis wife, when Wednesday arrived, and no matter how hard she tried 10 call his mind from the matter, he would insist in recurring to tie | subject. Iu the evening Russell was observed to te sinking, and Dr. Wade was called in. Russell sank slowly and his body became rigid and cold and was in comatose state. All ,he while he was talking a. though the brai0 alone was alive and acting, 1 While in this cata!epiic state he des- cribed the beautiful heavenly visions he saw, and stated 70 tha, those about him could plainly hear that the nephew oi his wife who l. dead and others were becoming him 10 come. He des- cribed the visions he beheld as all light and glory, and that he was hear ng the ost beautiful and entranc- ing music. He went into the detail as 10 how all the persons he saw were arrayed and what they were doing. So graphic were the descriptions of Rus sell while in this comatose state that his wife became frightened and thought that her husband was surely dying or going 10 die. Sine rubbed his linn bs and an elt ctfic battery was ap- piled 10 him. For two hours Mrs. Russel and her daughter worked over the insensate body Of Russell, until little by little there were signs of re- turning life and activity. and finally their efforts were rewarded by the re- covery of Russell.
 After this strange spell Russell talked of his experience, and Is conf dent that he caught a glimpse of heaven. He talked rationally about the matter, and his descriptions of the persons seen in spirit land iallieG with those who knew them on this nun dane sphere.
 "The strange thing about the matter is that Russell during his fit of cata- lepsy had the power Of speech. There was a cessation of heart beats or the beats were so slight as to be imper- ceptible to the ordinary tests. letbal temperature and every other sign of dissolution including the most famil- jar symptoms or the rigidity of the limbs. Russell is not spiritualist, and has never at any time advocated or stated his belief in that dogma.
 "Itis not unusual, say the physi- cians, for invalids to have these attacks, but it is strange for a man afflicted by one of these spells to still retain the power of speech"