<ARTICLE>                                           7
       
                                           
<PERIOD-TYPE>                                 3-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                             Dec-31-1998
<PERIOD-START>                                Jan-1-1998
<PERIOD-END>                                  Mar-31-1998
<DEBT-HELD-FOR-SALE>                            658,616
<DEBT-CARRYING-VALUE>                            37,008
<DEBT-MARKET-VALUE>                              37,922
<EQUITIES>                                       42,756
<MORTGAGE>                                            0
<REAL-ESTATE>                                         0
<TOTAL-INVEST>                                  738,380
<CASH>                                           31,728
<RECOVER-REINSURE>                               20,702
<DEFERRED-ACQUISITION>                           23,080
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                1,432,281
<POLICY-LOSSES>                                 818,949
<UNEARNED-PREMIUMS>                             112,598
<POLICY-OTHER>                                        0
<POLICY-HOLDER-FUNDS>                                 0
<NOTES-PAYABLE>                                 139,533
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                 0
<PREFERRED>                                           0
<COMMON>                                             96
<OTHER-SE>                                      269,074
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                  1,432,281
<PREMIUMS>                                       52,743
<INVESTMENT-INCOME>                              11,892
<INVESTMENT-GAINS>                                   99 
<OTHER-INCOME>                                    4,096
<BENEFITS>                                       31,924
<UNDERWRITING-AMORTIZATION>                      14,945
<UNDERWRITING-OTHER>                              4,269
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                  10,437
<INCOME-TAX>                                      3,070
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                               7,367
<DISCONTINUED>                                        0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                       0
<CHANGES>                                             0
<NET-INCOME>                                      7,367
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                      0.77
<EPS-DILUTED>                                      0.73
<RESERVE-OPEN>                                        0
<PROVISION-CURRENT>                                   0
<PROVISION-PRIOR>                                     0
<PAYMENTS-CURRENT>                                    0
<PAYMENTS-PRIOR>                                      0
<RESERVE-CLOSE>                                       0
<CUMULATIVE-DEFICIENCY>                               0