Show RUMORS OF NAVAL CONFLICT n gulf of mexico but fcc rotary of navy says he has no such news i colon jan 1 there were persistent rumors here yesterday arid again today that the general had been sunk by american warships there Is no confirmation of tho report to this time the mayflower to which admiral coghlan transferred his flag yesterday steamed out of the harbor this morning there are no ships of war here washington jan 1 assistant secretary darling of the navy department said tonight that he had received no news whatever with reference to the rumored sinking ot a colombian by an american that he benevedo the rumor was with foundation in fact colon jan 1 it la not konowe here whether the indian chief left his territory ot ahls own accord arwas forced todo 0 by the colombians much importance seems to be attached to that point the cruiser olympia and the gunboat castane not returned from the direction of castl where they went to investigate the situation A dispatch to the associated press from colon december 31 eald that a man had arrived there from castl and reported to governor that colombian troops had landed at canutt december 21 and conferred with tha indian chief who after ward was taken aboard a vessel and it was thought conveyed to carta gena |