Della was born in 1874, daughter of George F. and Anna (Robinson) Barnes, and died on June 27, 1897. The cause of her death is in dispute but this newspaper clipping from Paducah Kentucky describes what happened as follows:
"Accident Brings Woe, a Mistake Suddenly Ends the Young Life of Miss Della Barnes. Morphine Taken for Calomel. Scores of Sorrowing Friends Attend the Sad Interment at Oak Grove Cemetery.
A most unfortunate death occurred in the city yesterday morning. The victim was Miss Della Barnes, the youngest daughter of Maj. George F. Barnes, the well known councilman and coal merchant. The death was brought about through a dose of morphine accidentally taken for calomel.
Saturday Miss Barnes, though slightly indisposed, was down in the city and paid several visits during the day. She was very bright throughout the evening and along about 10 o'clock prepared to retire, saying as she left the family room that she was going to take a dose of calomel. Miss Clara Blair, a cousin, from Ohio, has been a guest of the family for several days and she and Miss Barnes were occupying the same room. Miss Blair was the first to retire, but was awake when Miss Barnes entered the room. The two spent a few moments in chatting and then Miss Barnes remarked that she was going to take a dose of calomel and proceeded to carry out the idea. She then began to undress, but soon complained of being sick and vomited up the medicine. In a few moments she laughingly said she was feeling better and believed she would try another dose of the medicine, and suiting her action to the remark she did take the dose. She then disrobed and got into bed, and after a few minutes Miss Blair said both had fallen asleep. Just how long the two had been in slumber no one knows, but shortly after 11 o'clock Miss Blair says she was awakened by Miss Barnes' breathing, and fearing she had the nightmare or was ill she attempted to arouse her, but was unable to do so. Becoming alarmed, Miss Blair jumped from bed and called to Mr. and Mrs. Barnes and the family was soon in the room. Their efforts to arouse Miss Barnes were also unsuccessful and a messenger was sent posthaste for Dr. E. A. Elliott, the family physician. By the time the doctor's presence could be secured it was about 12 o'clock and when he arrived Miss Barnes was to all appearances just alive. A hasty examination developed that Miss Barnes had accidentally taken a narcotic and from the description of the medicine given by Miss Blair it was clear that the medicine was morphine. Dr. Elliott immediately asked for assistance and Dr. D. H. Murrell was sent for and was soon present. The two made every effort to revive Miss Barnes, but though they were able to maintain life for several hours from the first it was evident she must die, and at 5:30 o'clock yesterday morning life was extinct. Death had once more come like a thief in the night and a home was in mourning, where but a few hours before all was happiness.
Miss Barnes was just on the verge of womanhood, being 22 years old. She was born and raised in the city and was well known. Her death would have been sad under any circumstances, but following so sad an error of her own and coming as such an affliction to her father and an invalid mother and two loving sisters, it falls as a most heartrending blow. The wide acquaintance of the family will extend the deepest sympathy.
This afternoon at 3 o'clock, after services at the family residence, 1723 Jefferson Street, by Rev. J. C. Tully, the remains were taken to Oak Grove Cemetery for burial. At the grave E. W. Bagby, esq., a close friend of the afflicted father, pronounced a beautiful oration. There were a number of friends at the house and grave to pay their last respects to the departed and weep with the bereaved."
Now another version is this:
Della's father served on the city commission back in the late 1800's. Della was a young woman and she was engaged to an older very successful Paducah businessman. Strange things happen sometimes and just before the marriage was to occur, Della fell in love with a younger less financially stable man.
When her fiance found out about her scandal it is told, he was so crazed with jealousy that he cut the high-priced ring from her hand. One story claims that she bled to death from the wound inflicted on her from her fiance. The town of Paducah was in shock by what happened so the story goes.
Della Barnes was put to rest in Oak Grove Cemetery in Paducah. Her father paid an Italian sculptor to create a life-size sculpture of his late daughter. The sculpture has been removed all the way down to it's pedestal. It was vandalized more than once and each time there was less of the statue left. The statue was first vandalized by the breaking off of the ring finger on the sculpture. This first photo is the way the statue looked originally. The second is after vandals damaged the top portion, and then finally nothing but the base is left.
Della is buried in the same family plot as her parents in the Oak Grove Cemetery in Paducah. Her parents have no headstones. Plot: Old Section, 9, 136.
After her death, her father hired an sculptor from Italy to create a life-size statue of his daughter that would serve as her grave marker. The statue is no longer in the cemetery and this is an absolute shame. I don't know what has become of the statue. Some say what is left of it is in storage. I do not know the answer to this but will try to find out more information concerning this.
What needs to be done is for the statue to be restored and a protective fence placed around the grave site, much like the statues at that tourist attraction in the cemetery at Mayfield, Ky. Why has no one tried to do anything about this? Something needs to be done, because this is a really famous thing going on for Paducah and a real tourist attraction too, and those in charge in Paducah need to think about doing something about this! I hope that by placing this story about this here that someone will rise to the occasion and help find a way to restore the Della Barnes statue. Any ideas anyone?
