Three juniors and a freshman went to the baked bean supper on the Boston Common on Saturday--along with 10,000 other people. The only difference was that they were the only ones wearing gas masks.

After a short conversation with Yale Joel, a Life photographer, the four were surrounded by apprehensive Boston cops. "It's guys like you who are always trying to make a joke out of a serious thing," said a lieutenant, casting a proprietary glance on 10,000 bean-eating Bostonians.

The four masked men were then escorted from the Common by three plainclothesmen, a lieutenant, a captain, four sergeants, and several patrolmen. The College men were not booked, presumably because the police could not decide on any charge.