<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>                          SEP-30-1998
<PERIOD-START>                             JAN-01-1998
<PERIOD-END>                               SEP-30-1998
<DEBT-HELD-FOR-SALE>                         1,108,098
<DEBT-CARRYING-VALUE>                                0
<DEBT-MARKET-VALUE>                                  0
<EQUITIES>                                      69,115
<MORTGAGE>                                           0
<REAL-ESTATE>                                        0
<TOTAL-INVEST>                               1,177,213
<CASH>                                          48,093
<RECOVER-REINSURE>                               8,265
<DEFERRED-ACQUISITION>                          38,515
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                               1,783,106
<POLICY-LOSSES>                                816,305
<UNEARNED-PREMIUMS>                            341,916
<POLICY-OTHER>                                       0
<POLICY-HOLDER-FUNDS>                                0
<NOTES-PAYABLE>                                 75,000
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                          125,000
<PREFERRED>                                          0
<COMMON>                                           122
<OTHER-SE>                                     321,140
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                 1,783,106
<PREMIUMS>                                     187,996
<INVESTMENT-INCOME>                             45,717
<INVESTMENT-GAINS>                               4,838
<OTHER-INCOME>                                     248
<BENEFITS>                                     124,731
<UNDERWRITING-AMORTIZATION>                     37,484
<UNDERWRITING-OTHER>                            38,713
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                 37,871
<INCOME-TAX>                                     6,526
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                             31,345
<DISCONTINUED>                                       0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0
<CHANGES>                                            0
<NET-INCOME>                                    31,345
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                     2.86
<EPS-DILUTED>                                     2.68
<RESERVE-OPEN>                                       0
<PROVISION-CURRENT>                                  0
<PROVISION-PRIOR>                                    0
<PAYMENTS-CURRENT>                                   0
<PAYMENTS-PRIOR>                                     0
<RESERVE-CLOSE>                                      0
<CUMULATIVE-DEFICIENCY>                              0