Bagot Beast

The Bagot Beast is an art project created by local artists in Kingston, Ontario. The project satirizes monster sightings (particularly those of the Loch Ness Monster) by creating a pseudo-historical document (included below) and a fabricated life sized monster, installed in a quarry referenced in the article below.

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The Bagot Beast Pseudo-History

The Loch Bagot Beast is both a blessing and a curse. It has been a historical oddity in downtown Kingston for hundreds of years. As all Kingstonians know, the Bagot Beast, or BB as he is sometimes affectionally referred to, dwells in the quarry-like hole at the corner of Bagot and Queen Street in downtown Kingston, Ontario.

The hole has been there as long as anyone can remember. It is a natural land-locked fresh water fiord accessing its waters directly from Lake Ontario. It has been said that Sir John A. MacDonald when he was a young lawyer working in Kingston in the late 1850’s frequently saw the beast swimming its way around the Loch in the milky moonlight during one of his many solitary evening walks. The yet-to-be prime minister has been quoted as saying in the Whig Standard, “I don’t know whether it be Satan or saint but that would be the last place you would see me relieving myself or taking a swim.”
The Kingston historical archives has a photograph from the early 1820’s of families picnicking on the Loch’s edge. Written on the back of the photograph it says, “ Everyone is enjoying a fine summer day hoping to catch a glimpse of the Beast and at the same time keeping a close eye on their young children as they splash and play in the shallower waters at the North East corner of the Loch.”
The Loch itself is said to be hundreds of feet deep. Underwater cannels and tunnels connect the Loch to the deepest waters of Lake Ontario. During World War II some of the underwater caves and tunnels from the Loch were used to harbor the now famous Kingston Tiger Submarine. Like the Avro Arrow project of London, Ontario, documents about these programs are still national secrets under the Secret Securities Act of Canada. I guess only BB really knows what went on down there.
More recently, politicians have also spent time with the beast. Our own mayor, the honorable Harvey Rosen, says, “There was many a summer day that you could find me and my buddies throwing rocks at the beast…having a bit of fun.” He goes on to say “ I wouldn’t do it today. I have grown to respect the beast."

The Bagot Beast has been photographed innumerable times (see illustration above). Studied extensively by both scientists and naturalists alike. The beast is believed to be closely related to the Atlantic whale shark and the indigenous speckled salamander. Doctor Dugan, a wildlife biologist from the University of Guelph, says, that the Bagot Beast is likely most closely related to extinct Thalassomedons. However, opinion on this subject is divided since some genetic sequencing done on the Bagot Beast point to similarities to amphibians while analysis of Bagot Beast scales suggests that the Bagot Beast is related to primitive sharks. At present the Bagot Beast is the only representative of its species, as such it is heavily protected under Canada’s endangered species act. The Bagot Beast is listed as critically endangered by the World Conservation Union given that only one individual is known to exist. In 1933 with the appearance of the Loch Ness Monster photos it was hoped that a breeding program could be started to preserve this gentle giant, however, the Loch Ness Monster photos were later shown to be faked, (likely an attempt to increase tourism with a monster- no doubt inspired by the Bagot Beast).
Knowledge of the Bagot Beast’s physiology and habits is limited to observational studies, due to the high level of protection for this species. However, numerous studies have been carried out in the past and the scientific literature is filled with references to the Bagot Beast.

One early historical text described the great animal.

‘The beast is as wide as a man is tall and several times longer. It has a smooth scaly emerald hide, which ripples like an opal when one sees it sparkling in the sun. Its long jaw is filled with a row of needle thin teeth that glisten like pearls. It has four fins that act like great oars, allowing the gigantic amphibian to cut through the deep waters with ease, and a long thrashing tail that pushes it forward as fast as a horse can run. While its appearance may be intimidating to the ignorant mind, the large animal mainly feeds on fish life, which is abundant in the waters of the lake, and it seems indifferent to anything else as long as it is not intimidated. It can even be playful at times.’

Many Mohawk legends refer to the Napitan (Bagot Beast). Dating back more then a millennia the Mohawk’s of Tyendndinaga viewed the great beast as the guardian of their people. One famous legend told that the Napitan was a collection of dead souls and when a person would die they would become one with the great spiritual beast. As such the Mohawks have treated the animal with great respect for generations, viewing it as their ancestors. The Mohawk tribes were extremely offended when white settlers labeled the animal, ‘The Bagot Beast’ claiming that the foreigners were going to make this ancient spiritual animal just another tourist site. There have been many litigations on the encroachment of the beast’s habitat but all have been thrown out of court, judges simply stating ‘the city’s already here.’

Sightings of the Bagot Beast:

Although the Bagot Beast was sighted as far back as the early 1800’s, it is the modern day sightings that have captured the most imagination.
The construction of Bagot Street in the mid 1800’s brought about many of the new sightings of the BB from people using the road.
Indeed, it was Kingston's first Mayor, Thomas Kilpatrick, who saw BB around the time that Kingston was being incorporated as a town in 1838. Mr. Kilpatrick didn’t tell anyone and the after a few years Kingston incorporated as a city, 1846. City councelors who frequently took the Bagot Street route, thought it was peculiar that their mayor would never go near the street. One day they questioned him. They were at The Royal Hotel chatting over a drink. After a few beer or two, Kilpatrick confessed to his sighting. Although it has been documented that the city was not considered to be our capital city for reasons of being too small, lacking amenities and being too close to the States, the real reason has also been said to be BB.
In the 1830's, workers involved in the construction of the Rideua Canal also sighted the 'BB'. When there was much blasting and commotion from the construction of the Rideau Canal, the 'BB' could be seen sinking, followed by clouds of dirty water where he was probably digging out an underground canal where he could feel more save. Eventually he would be seen sinking into the water near the Whig Standard building and resurfacing shortly afterward on Bagot Street.
Sightings today are much easier. The BB is frequently sitting in the water on Bagot Street. He seems quite content dispite the murky, unstable looking water. He seems to enjoy the company of ducks landing close by and the fence that was just recently built around his home also makes the BB feel more comfortable.

2008

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