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Show MEXICAN GUNBOAT AT SEA. Commander Taking no Chances on Being Bottled Up at Vera Cruz. Vera Cruz. The Mexican gunboat Progreso, with more than 500 soldiers sol-diers in heavy marching order aboard, steamed to the harbor mouth Thursday Thurs-day evening, April 23, but no further. The commander of the Progreso had not heard that the Americans were in possession of the city. The Progreso was hailed by the flagship and boarded by Lieutenant Byron McCandless of Rear Admiral Badger's staff, who informed the commander com-mander that he had the choice of remaining re-maining under the guns and searchlights search-lights of the flagship or putting out to sea. It was explained to hi'.n that the United States was not at war with Mexico, but that for the present the presence of Mexican gunboats and soldiers at Vera Cruz was not desirable. desir-able. ! When Lieutenant McCandless' reached the Progreso he asked that a gangway be lowered, but this was refused. re-fused. He jumped for the side of the vessel and clambered aboard. The interview in-terview ended by the Mexican gun-J boat putting to sea. j |