Page:Collier's New Encyclopedia v. 01.djvu/554

BEACH he was editor of this paper and director of its patent business. In 1852 he perfected a typewriting machine, for which the American Institute awarded him a gold medal. Later he invented a system of underground pneumatic tubes, a pneumatic elevated railway, and a hydraulic shield, by the use of which a tunnel could be excavated without interfering with surface traffic. He died in New York City, Jan. 1, 1896.

BEACH, HARLAN PAGE, an American educator and missionary, born in South Orange, N. J., in 1854. He graduated from Yale University in 1878. For several years he taught at Phillips Andover Academy and then engaged in work in China as a missionary, serving until 1890. From 1892 to 1895 he was in charge of the School for Christian Workers in Springfield, Mass., and from 1895 was educational secretary of the Student Volunteer Movement for Foreign Missions. From 1906 he was professor of the theory and practice of missions at Yale University. He wrote much on missionary and other subjects. His works include "The Cross in the Land of the Trident" (1895); "India and Christian Opportunity" (1904); "World Statistics of Christian Missions" (1906) ; etc. He contributed articles to magazines on religious subjects.

BEACH, REX (ELLINGWOOD), an American writer, born in Atwood, Mich., in 1877. He was educated at Rollins College, Fla., and studied law at the Chicago College of Law. His first novel was "Pardners," published in 1905. This was followed by a succession of novels, nearly all of which achieved great popular success. They include "The Spoilers" (1906); "The Silver Horde" (1909) ; "The Iron Trail" (1913) ; "Rainbow's End" (1916). He also wrote, in collaboration with others, several plays and was a frequent contributor to magazines. In 1917 and 1918 he was president of the Authors' League of America.

BEACHY HEAD, a promontory in the S. of England, on the S. coast of Sussex, rising 575 feet above sea-level, with a revolving light, visible in clear weather from a distance of 28 miles. A naval battle took place here, June 30, 1690, in which a French fleet under Tourville defeated an English and Dutch combined fleet under Lord Torrington.

BEACON, a signal fire; a bale fire; a light placed on an eminence to announce the approach of an enemy, and arouse up the country. Beacon fires are of great antiquity, being referred to in Scripture (Jer. vi: 1), and were used by the Greeks and Romans. The intelligence of the capture of Troy is represented by Æschylus as having been conveyed to the Peloponnesus by signals of this kind. In England, the beacons were formerly piles of faggot wood, but afterward poles were erected, to which iron pots were attached, filled with pitch and other combustibles. Intelligence was quickly conveyed in this manner.

A beacon is also an erection placed at the entrance of a bar, river, or harbor, to indicate dangerous navigation, as sunken rocks, sand banks, etc. Vessels anchored in certain places, exhibiting lights at night, are called floating beacons, floating lights, or lightships.

BEACON, a city of New York, created in 1913 by the consolidation of Fishkill Landing and Matteawan, in Dutchess CO. There is a hospital, a public library, and several academies. The industries include the manufacture of hats, tools, machinery, etc. Beacon was the first city in the State to adopt the commission form of government. Pop. (1910) 10,629; (1920) 10,996.