New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1907-03-17
HELICON HALL BURNED.
ONE DEAD; MANY. HURT.
Members of Upton Sincl0ir's Home
Colony Narro5oly Escape.
IBy TeIegraph 70 Tho tribune ]

EnglewOOd N J., March 16.-Hellcon Han, tne
beautiful home of Upton Sinclair's cooperative
colony. was destroyed by fire this morning.
Three explosions that tore out the front part Of
the building were quickly followed by flames.
and it was with difficulty that the ffty-fve in
mates escaped. There one fatality, and
many were seriously injured.
BRIGGS. Lester carpenters assistant.
THE INJURED.
PONIES. NJ shock ana cont son,usio9s,
BOWLES Janice. daughter old contusions and
COOKE Mrs Grace MacGowan severe body bruises;
slightly burned Englewoed Hospital .,.., ~.
COOKE Helen daughter twelve years old sprained hip:
COOKE. Katherlne. daughter. Old bruised:
F1cIiT1NBEfti I<na, contusons and burns Enslevood
HE1DKER william. face and hands burned
MACGowAN. Miss Al,s. slight burns. shock and con
tuslons, Engewood Hospital
poTd5Sg slight i burns s bTses ana shock
The force Of the explosion was sufficient to
awaken the entire colony. For this all were
thankful for in a very few minutes the
torsive bnlldlng was developed in flames
The residents had to leap from the windows
or slide down ropes to escape. Little children
were tied about their waists and lowered TO
safety before the older persons made their
cape There was no time for dressing and, in
exposure to the cold. Women and children
walked barefooted in the 10 nearby cot
tages where they were cared for. Citizens of
Englewood furnished all with clothing, for there
was practically nothing saved from the fire.
Mr.. Sinclair and other writer's Of some note
lost valuable manuscripts
Nearly all Of the members Of the colony slept
on the second and third floors, and when the
flames reached the stairways all means Of es-
cape except the windows We're cut off. That is
why so many were injured in jumping
Briggs had a room the first floor. next 10
that of Miss Stdinland. She says that when she
was awakened by the explosions and heard the
cry of Fire." she out of her room without
waiting to dress She called to Briggs and he
responded slecpily. "All right" It is supposed
that he was not awakened sufficiently TO realize
what had happened. His body found in the
ruins in the cellar directly under his ROOM
f. D. Potter member of the board OF direct
ors of the colony in providing himself with a
rope for just such an emergency as occurred this
morning, probably saved a number of lives The
board Of directors at a meeting Tuesday night
last adopted a resolution to provide rope fire es-
capes for every room in the house.
Mr.. Potter. however. did not wait for the reso-
luton TO he put into effect, but yesterday pro-
vided himself with a long rope for use in case OF
fire. precaution that caused some good natured
joking the part of the other members of the
community Down this same rope. however
fourteen persons, besides Mr.. Potter and his wife
and child made their descent in safety.
Mrs. Grace MacCowau Cooke. the story writer
was also on the third floor. but at the other end
Of the building In her flight she jumped from
window and landed on her back in the snow, She
was unable to rise. and lay there moaning. with
no to aid her until the iremen arrived She
was then delirious. and when the fremen went
to her she tried to fight them off Finding a part
" burned mattress. the hremen laid her on it,
and thus she remained until an ambulance ar
rived from the Englewood Hospital
With her in the ambulance was Miss Fichten-
berg Both Mrs. Cooke and Miss Fichtenberg arc
being kept under the influence of opiates At the
hospital it said their condition was very
serious.
Miss Helen Knowles. assistant housekeeper.
jumped into the centre court Of the building and
landed in the little brook that ran through it,
She wears glasses and they were driven into the
upper part of her eyes she struck on her face.
1t is feared she may lose her sight
That 1t explosion of gas that resulted
in the destruction of the building there seems
70 be little doubt. The explosions occurred in
the ballroom at the extreme south end of the
building. while the boiler room was at the north
end The engineer says that the boilers were
in excellent condition and that there is not the
slightest doubt that the explosions took place
at the other end of the building
Upton Sinclair's home colony purchased He'll
con Hall, which was a three story frame
building. last October for $4,000 1t had been
built school for boys. and was founded ON
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