<ARTICLE> 7
<LEGEND>
This schedule contains summary financial information extracted from the
6/30/98 balance sheet and income statement and is qualified in its entirety by
reference.
</LEGEND>
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   6-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1998
<PERIOD-END>                               JUN-30-1998
<DEBT-HELD-FOR-SALE>                       191,343,755
<DEBT-CARRYING-VALUE>                      180,523,879
<DEBT-MARKET-VALUE>                        188,417,643
<EQUITIES>                                  32,377,052
<MORTGAGE>                                           0
<REAL-ESTATE>                                        0
<TOTAL-INVEST>                             424,610,073
<CASH>                                       2,322,298
<RECOVER-REINSURE>                          15,747,102
<DEFERRED-ACQUISITION>                      12,662,709
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                             479,866,693
<POLICY-LOSSES>                            234,839,562
<UNEARNED-PREMIUMS>                         58,296,571
<POLICY-OTHER>                                       0
<POLICY-HOLDER-FUNDS>                        2,713,115
<NOTES-PAYABLE>                                      0
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
<PREFERRED>                                          0
<COMMON>                                    11,481,211
<OTHER-SE>                                 153,337,055
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>               479,866,693
<PREMIUMS>                                  92,261,925
<INVESTMENT-INCOME>                         12,697,145
<INVESTMENT-GAINS>                              83,459
<OTHER-INCOME>                                  90,718
<BENEFITS>                                  73,342,144
<UNDERWRITING-AMORTIZATION>                 18,842,288
<UNDERWRITING-OTHER>                        10,359,130
<INCOME-PRETAX>                              1,188,527
<INCOME-TAX>                                 (523,946)
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                          1,712,473
<DISCONTINUED>                                       0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0
<CHANGES>                                            0
<NET-INCOME>                                 1,712,473
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                      .15
<EPS-DILUTED>                                      .15
<RESERVE-OPEN>                             217,777,942
<PROVISION-CURRENT>                         80,133,972
<PROVISION-PRIOR>                          (6,791,828)
<PAYMENTS-CURRENT>                          21,767,214
<PAYMENTS-PRIOR>                            36,620,570
<RESERVE-CLOSE>                            234,095,020
<CUMULATIVE-DEFICIENCY>                    (6,791,828)