Japanese Aviator and Machine

[Photo caption]: Top -- George T. Takasaw of Seattle in his aeroplane. Bottom -- Takasaw's aeroplane flying over American Lake.

SEATTLE JAPANESE FLIES IN AEROPLANE

George T. Takasaw Covers Himself and His Country With Glory by Performance in Machine Built by Himself.

IDEAS OF MANY EXPERTS USED IN CONSTRUCTION

Crowd of His Admiring Countrymen Witnesses Brilliantly Successful Trial Flight on Plain South of Tacoma.

Japanese in Seattle now step gaily forward with what they allege to be a highly successful home-made flying machine, a real and regular aeroplane, the first of its kind built here, they say, which has made a truly, honest-to-goodness flight.

It is the Takasaw II, being named that, if you please, in honor of George T. Takasaw is a chauffeur and mechanic, at present in the employ of C.T. Takahashi, president of the Oriental American Bank of this city.

Last week the aeroplane was taken from Seattle to the plains near American Lake, south of Tacoma, and there in the presence of a large company of Japanese, who reveled in the accomplishment of their countryman, the work of Takasaw was entrusted to the lanes of the air, as they talk of such things in the aero clubs.

As Good as Rodgers.

C.P. Rodgers, just now aeroplaning it across the country in search of fame and gold, never had anything on Takasaw. Any Japanese who was there will tell you so. The Seattle-made goods, steered by the little chap who made them, eased themselves through the ozone with grace and dispatch.

Takasaw flew straight over the plains for a mile, followed by the enthusiastic banzais of those who watched the start. The trial was a perfect success. The machine quickly ascended to a height of 100 feet and remained there until a skillful descent was effected ninety seconds later.

No further tests will be made until next spring.

According to Mr. Takahashi, who furnished the money to build the aeroplane, the Takasaw II, represents a combination, of all the present ideals, its inventor having used in its construction not the idea of one expert, but the ideas of many.

Studies Two Years.

Takasaw, himself a skilled mechanic, for the past two years has spent every spare moment in prodigious study of aeroplanes and their construction. The Takasaw II is the result.

Many other air craft, of one type and another, have been built here in the past few years, but it remained for Takasaw -- so say the Japanese -- to conceive and create an aeroplane which would really fly.

In Japan, Takasaw came into national prominence by becoming the chauffeur of Prince Arisugawa, nephew of the emperor, driving the first automobile in the Flowery Kingdom.