A good deal of speculation has taken place about Bass's fate. One story, attributed to William Campbell of the brig "Harrington", has it that Bass was captured by the Spanish in Chile and sent to the silver mines. The "Harrington" was engaged in smuggling and returned to Sydney some three months after Bass's departure. However, this story dates from 1811 in a report by William Fitzmaurice. There are good records of Campbell in 1803, and then in 1805 when he captured a Spanish ship, but Bass is not mentioned at those times. Three months is also too short a time for Bass to reach Chile and then the "Harrington" to get back to Sydney.