Crocker Land - The Killing of Piugaattoq

The Killing of Piugaattoq

After regaining land, MacMillan sent Piugaattoq and Green to explore a route to the west. The weather turned against them and they were forced to take shelter in a snow cave. One of the dog teams died in the snow, and during a squabble over the remaining team, Green took a rifle from the sled and shot Piugaattoq, killing him.

On 4 May Green rejoined MacMillan and told him what had happened. Upon their return to Etah, MacMillan informed the other European members of the expedition, but asked them to keep quiet, telling the Inuit that Piugaattoq had died in a blizzard. Ekblaw said later that this was “one of the darkest and most deplorable tragedies in the annals of Arctic exploration.”

Green was never prosecuted for the murder, although the Inuit suspected there was more to the story than had been told and that Green had had a relationship with Piugaattoq's wife Aleqasina, a striking beauty. She had previously been Peary's mistress and bore two children to him.