Man killed after he falls down elevator shaft in 1912

First of all, forgive us for being surprised that Prince Edward Island had elevators in 1912, considering 100 years later we can still count the number of lifts on the Island using only our fingers.
But, it appeared the device was, in fact, present and in use on March 17, 1912, when the ill-fated (and much beloved by all who knew him) Ernest Teed fell down the shaft at Rogers Hardware Company in Charlottetown.
The conveyance apparently worked by pulley, and the shaft ran 30 feet from the ground floor up to the third floor where poor Ernest had gone to fetch some whitewood board.
Read the account from the 1912 Charlottetown Guardian (they/we don't write 'em like this any more!):

Ch'town man's sudden death

Ernest Teed died from injuries sustained in fall yesterday

As the result of a distressing accident yesterday, Ernest Teed, Charlottetown, aged thirty-two, and for the past number of years connected with the firm of Rogers Hardware Co., passed away at the P.E. Island Hospital at 3:25 p.m.

For the past week or so the deceased had been ill and under medical treatment though able to be at the shop. Monday evening, George J. Rogers, the president of the Company, advised Mr. Teed not to return unless with the doctor's permission. He remained away in the forenoon but shortly after the dinner hour he went to the shop telling one of the clerks that he was going up to the third floor to get a piece of whitewood board for himself, stating that he would give the measurements to the clerk afterwards. The clerk went into the store and shortly after the noise of a fall was heard and Teed was found lying on the elevator on the first floor.

Mr. Teed was assisted to a barrel where he sat down and the ambulance and a doctor were summoned. He was removed to the P.E.I. Hospital and lived for about an hour, retaining consciousness until the end.

It is supposed that the unfortunate young man became dizzy in his weakened condition, and being subjected to the attack while preparing to raise the elevator, fell the distance of thirty feet. Death ensued as a result of internal injuries.

The deceased was a young man of excellent habits, of a cheerful and kindly disposition, and greatly beloved by all who knew him. His employers recognized in him a faithful and untiring employee and in the duties as a shipper proved himself capable and zealous and with his employers' interest at heart.

He was a member of the St. Lawrence Lodge, No. 8, I.O.O.F., and also of Lodge Eton, S.O.E., and with members of both orders was universally esteemed.

He was the son of Wm. and Mrs. Teed, Sr., Kent St., and besides the sorrowing parents the following are suddenly bereft of a greatly beloved brother: William, Jr., with G.D. Wright, Undertaker; Harry, formerly of Arty & Cp. now in Western Canada; Frank, with James Stewart & Son; Fred, with Rankins' Drug Store, and Mrs. Bert Essory, Charlottetown.

The funeral will take place tomorrow, service commencing at 3:15 p.m., and leaving his father's residence, 256 Kent St., at 3:45 p.m. for the People's cemetery. It will be under the auspices of the I.O.O.F. and S.O.E. The pall bearers will be Major J. R. Darte, George Moran, John Reardon, George Mugford, Walter Brown and H.I. Bethune. 

To the bereaved family The Guardian joins in tendering heartfelt sympathy to their more bereavement.

This news item appeared in the "From Our Pages" section on Page 2 of the March 27, 2012 Guardian and prompted a phone call from none other than Ernest Teed's great niece, Beryl Graham of Charlottetown.
Graham says the family's version of events, as passed down to her, differ slightly from The Guardian's account above.
She says the family understood Ernest, having just taken the elevator to get to the third floor of Rogers Hardware, was under the impression it was still stationed there. His view was obstructed by something he was carrying (presumably the whitewood board mentioned in the article), and he stepped into the void, never considering the lift was no longer where he'd left it.
Either way, the young man died of his injuries, leaving sorrowing parents, bereft kin and grieving lodge brothers.
Graham says she is the last of the Teed line. Her grandfather was Bill Teed — the William Jr. mentioned as being an undertaker in the 1912 article. He was an upholsterer for coffins at what is now known as MacLean's Funeral Home for years. Then he got bored with that, explained Graham during our phone call, and became a letter carrier for the rest of his life and was well known in Charlottetown.
Bill had two daughters: Graham's mother Margaret, and aunt Thelma Ernestine, named after Ernest.
Today this would be a worker's safety issue and would likely go to some sort of inquest and legislation would be put in place to ensure there be, say, doors in front of the elevator shaft. In 1912, it was a front page story. But only for one day. And a tale passed down through generations of Teeds who, if frightened off from using elevators by Ernest's experience, would not find much cause to overcome their fears in their native province.