<ARTICLE> 7
<LEGEND>
THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM THE
COMPANY'S THIRD QUARTER 10-Q AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO
SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
</LEGEND>
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   9-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1997
<PERIOD-START>                             JAN-01-1997
<PERIOD-END>                               SEP-30-1997
<DEBT-HELD-FOR-SALE>                           801,374
<DEBT-CARRYING-VALUE>                                0
<DEBT-MARKET-VALUE>                                  0
<EQUITIES>                                      56,138
<MORTGAGE>                                           0
<REAL-ESTATE>                                        0
<TOTAL-INVEST>                                 857,512
<CASH>                                          98,537
<RECOVER-REINSURE>                               2,752
<DEFERRED-ACQUISITION>                          32,385
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                               1,315,371
<POLICY-LOSSES>                                591,058
<UNEARNED-PREMIUMS>                            263,164
<POLICY-OTHER>                                       0
<POLICY-HOLDER-FUNDS>                                0
<NOTES-PAYABLE>                                      0
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                          125,000
<PREFERRED>                                          0
<COMMON>                                           119
<OTHER-SE>                                     257,745
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                 1,315,371
<PREMIUMS>                                     151,222
<INVESTMENT-INCOME>                             33,042
<INVESTMENT-GAINS>                               1,928
<OTHER-INCOME>                                     150
<BENEFITS>                                     101,543
<UNDERWRITING-AMORTIZATION>                     24,527
<UNDERWRITING-OTHER>                            28,889
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                 31,383
<INCOME-TAX>                                     5,486
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                             25,897
<DISCONTINUED>                                       0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0
<CHANGES>                                            0
<NET-INCOME>                                    25,897
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                     2.50
<EPS-DILUTED>                                     2.49
<RESERVE-OPEN>                                       0
<PROVISION-CURRENT>                                  0
<PROVISION-PRIOR>                                    0
<PAYMENTS-CURRENT>                                   0
<PAYMENTS-PRIOR>                                     0
<RESERVE-CLOSE>                                      0
<CUMULATIVE-DEFICIENCY>                              0