Ross Gilmore Marvin - Death and Legacy

Death and Legacy

There are a few theories as to what people think happened on the ice that day but because of the location, nothing can be proved conclusively. There was an official explanation in place until 1926. Initially, Kudlookto and Harrigan, the two Inuit cousins, reported that Marvin had fallen through the ice, and that there was no foul play. Seventeen years after the incident, Kudlookto confessed the murder to a Danish missionary, due to his newfound Christian beliefs. Because of the remoteness of the area in which Kudlookto lived and the indeterminate jurisdiction of the site of the crime, no attempt was ever made to prosecute Kudlookto. However, there are also stories that Marvin lost his mind and Kudlookto had to shoot him to save his cousin. Marvin was threatening to leave Harrigan behind and Kudlookto shot him to save Harrigan. Even with the stories, those who were close to the Eskimo claimed that he would not harm anyone. They still holdfast to the theory that Marvin drowned in the water after falling through the ice. Another theory is that since Marvin did not know the language well, his way to get through was by using hand gestures. There is a possibility that the two cousins may have misinterpreted what Marvin was trying to convey, and in the panic shot him.

Marvin is remembered at the one of his alma maters, State University of New York Maritime College in New York City with a plaque commemorated May 7, 1968.