Berlin, Jan. 4.
The parlous state of the Lancashire cotton industry is forcibly illustrated in a statement A terrific explosion occurred in the northern section of Berlin today, wrecking a house whose inmates were in bed. Half the building collapsed. A fire broke out and directors. of all Lancashire mills spinning "American cotton that margin now show heavy losses fore any interest or depreciation is charged.
Ten badly slured persons have p to the present, but it is feared that many were injured fatally.
Later.
The Axsociation estimates that to-lay's prices the trade is los ing at the rate of £2,000,000 a year.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.