I think I know what destroyed the statue. And since you probably read the title of this theory, I'm guessing you know I believe it was cannonballs from the black rock.
In the early days of travel it was not uncommon for many people to die out at sea. And we know from various points in the show that you don't have to be ON the island to be influenced by the island. So lets take a look at this theory in story form, the way i saw it last night after the show......
Jacob and "Dark" see the Black Rock out at sea, but close enough. They have their little discussion that we all saw, and dark leaves. Dark (actively looking for)finds his loophole in a recently deceased memeber of the Black Rock crew by the name of Ricardos. Ricardos "comes back to life", and to avoid suspicion tosses the body off the ship and out to sea(never saw that before on LOST) and gives orders to the crew to fire the cannons at the statue. The statue crumbles and tumbles, dark thinks he's won. Oops, Jacob was out fishing, or buying yarn or something, he's still alive. Curses, foiled again (this isn't the first time or the last). Jacob gets the lowdown on what "DARK" did, and resurects the real Ricardos who has just washed up on shore. This resurrection is permanent, not so much in terms of a reward of eternal life, but its an apology. That whole everlasting life is just how it works with resurection. Perhaps by bringing Ricardos back to life Dark no longer can hold h! is form as Richard.
So I feel that what we are seeing with Locke has already happened to Richard. Which explains why the events with the 316 people happened the way they did, its easier to show the body of Locke to Richard (who was asked for by name) because he already knows whats going on. After all there is no faster learning curve than experience.
And might I take this time to reiterate that Richard IS NOT wearing eyeliner. Nestor Carbonell has thick eyelashes, thats it.
Oh, and one more thing....
When Richard appeared to young Ben it was Dark as Richard. facts:(1)this was the only time Richard was heralded by whispers, (2) this is the only time we've seen Richard looking haggard like he would have been on the ship. It was Dark manipulating Ben, starting the chain of events that culminated (so far) in what we saw last night.
