"REPORTERS AND LOAFERS ARE WARNED FROM HERE."

[At our request the Captain of the University Crew has given us the reasons why the sign which proved so obnoxious to the press was posted over the Harvard quarters at Springfield. We do not think there is any one in college who would attach blame to the crew on account of the notice in question; but if there is such a one, the reasons given for the action and the attending results prove that the crew were perfectly justified, and that the Captain is to be congratulated on the success of his experiment. - EDS. CRIMSON.]

THE sign, "Reporters and Loafers are Warned from Here," was put up for these reasons: Reporters and newspaper men had annoyed and hindered us about our training by their impertinent questions, and had, moreover, written insulting and abusive articles on the crew and its members. Reporters came to our boat-house and interrupted us when we were busy, instead of coming to our quarters, as they should, when we were unemployed.

The float and grounds about the boat-house swarmed from time to time with what we at Cambridge call "muckers." These loafers intruded upon us when we were at work in the boat-house, got in our way when we were going out or coming in with our boat, and provoked us generally with their insulting remarks.

These actions on the part of the "Reporters and Loafers" were beginning to fret and irritate the crew, - a serious matter in training, when the crew should feel in first-rate spirits, and should be kept free from every annoyance that can possibly be avoided.

Therefore, these annoyances becoming so serious that they were beginning to interfere with our chances of success, we put up the sign for the purpose of getting rid of a nuisance, intending to take other steps if necessary.

I may say, however, that the sign was eminently successful, and that after it appeared our annoyances were for the most part ended. The crew, I think, were not ashamed of the sign in any sense, but were rather pleased with its effectiveness.

The sign was put up by my orders, and was regarded as a matter of necessity and expediency. It was of course a bold thing to do in the face of a frowning press, but they obliged us to do it to save ourselves.

Should any Harvard man see fit to attach reproach to our action, I wish to be held responsible for that action, claiming, however, the merit, if there is any.

W. A. BANCROFT,Capt. H. U. B. C.