TOO SHORT - Blow The Whistle

The Lil Jon-produced title cut moves to a swampy bass line and piercing whistle bursts. Too Short explains his longevity in his laconic, twangy flow: "I go on and on/ Can't understand how I last so long/I must have superpowers."

TOO SHORT - Blow The Whistle

At the trial of the action above described there was evidence upon which the jury were warranted in finding that there was a custom among enginemcn of the defendant, if they saw any one on the track, to sound the whistle, or, if the road could not be seen ahead, to "shut off steam and slow down," and that it was the engineman's duty to blow the whistle if he saw a man ahead or if he had reason to believe that a man was ahead who did not know of'the train's approach. There was no evidence that the defendant had promulgated such a rule. Held, that there was no evidence warranting a finding that negligence of the engineman caused the death of the plaintiff's intestate.

It appears from the rules put in evidence relating to firemen that, "While engine is moving they will keep a constant lookout when not firing, and be on watch if the engineman is obliged to look away from the track in front until he can resume his lookout; they must give instant notice to the engineman of any signals or indications of danger or obstruction, or if there is any reason to believe that train has struck any person or object on the track." "They must observe trains on other tracks to see whether they are carrying signals. They must observe their markers frequently and see that train is complete and in good order. They must arrange their work, especially on passenger trains, so that fires will not need attention and that no other duties will interfere with their lookout when approaching stations or crossings." The rules relating to whistling signals on approaching stations, junctions and railroad crossings at yards, and that a succession of short sounds of the whistle is an alarm for persons or cattle on the track, and that enginemen and firemen shall be on the lookout when engine or trains are approaching stations or crossings, and the enginemen are responsible for the speed of their trains also were introduced.

As to the engineman the jury undoubtedly could have found on the evidence, that it was the custom if he saw any one on the track to sound the whistle, or if the road ahead cannot be seen to "shut off steam and slow down," because "every railroad man relies on that custom for his own safety and the safety of the people he is taking care of." And that it was the duty of the engineman "to blow the whistle if he did see a man there, or he had reason to believe that a man was there who did not know that his train was coming." But there is no evidence that the road ever promulgated such a rule for the observance of enginemen, and, even if it had done so, the record fails to show that the engineman saw, or by the exercise of reasonable diligence could have seen, the intestate. Nor was it evidence of his negligence that the jury could have found that the train was late and running "very much faster" than the plaintiff's witness "ever saw it go before." It is not shown that the speed was excessive. See Clapp v. New York, New Haven, & Hartford Railroad, 229 Mass. 532.

Steamers navigating in crowded channels and in the vicinity of wharves, must be run and managed with great caution, and with a strict regard to the established rules of navigation, including that ore which requires them, when approaching from opposite directions, to put their helms to port. If their the about to attempt any maneuver not usual and clearly safe, such as running in under the bows of another vessel in motion, they must not only sound their whistle or give the other proper signal, but before attempting the maneuver must be certain also that the signal was heard and understood by the approaching vessel.

"RULE 1. When steamers meet 'head and head,' it shall be the duty of each to pass to the right, or on the larboard side of the other, and either pilot, upon determining to pursue this course, shall give as a signal of his intention one short and distinct blast of his steam whistle, which the other shall answer promptly by a similar blast of the whistle. But if the course of each steamer is so far on the starboard of the other as not to be considered by the rules as meeting 'head and head,' or if the vessels are approaching in such a manner, that passing to the right (as above directed) is unsafe or contrary to rule by the pilot of either vessel, the pilot so deciding shall immediately give two short and distinct blasts of his steam whistle, which the other pilot shall answer by two similar blasts of his whistle, and they shall pass to the left, or on the starboard side of each other."

"RULE 2. When steamers are approaching each other in an oblique direction, they will pass to the right, as if meeting 'head and head,' and the signal by whistle shall be given and answered promptly, as in that case specified."

"RULE 3. If, when steamers are approaching each other, the pilot of either vessel fails to understand the course or intention of the other, whether from the signals being given or answered erroneously, or from other cause, the pilot so in doubt shall immediately signify the same by giving several short and rapid blasts of the steam whistle, and if the vessels shall have approached within half a mile of each other, both shall be immediately slowed to a speed barely sufficient for steerageway, until the proper signals are given, answered, and understood, or until the vessels shall have passed each other."

"RULE 4. The signals, by blowing of the steam whistle, shall be given and answered by pilots, in compliance with these rules, not only when meeting 'head and head,' or nearly so, but at all times when passing or meeting, at a distance within half a mile of each other, and whether passing to the starboard or larboard."

"N.B. The foregoing rules are to be complied with in all cases, except when steamers are navigating in a crowded channel or in the vicinity of wharves; under these circumstances steamers must be run and managed with great caution, sounding the whistle as may be necessary, to guard against collisions or other accidents."

The propeller, seeing the steamer thus coming dangerously towards her, blew one whistle, which is the regulation signal to indicate that she intended to keep to the right, and those on the steamer testified that she blew two whistles, which is the regulation signal that would have indicated that she was going to the left; but the men on the propeller did not hear the two whistles, and of course gave no answering signal. Indeed, had they heard them, the men on the propeller, as it rather seemed, could not at that time have done anything to prevent the collision, situated as the propeller 041b061a72