<ARTICLE>           7
<LEGEND>
THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM THE
CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS OF THE REGISTRANT AND IS QUALIFIED IN
ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
</LEGEND>
<MULTIPLIER>        1,000
<CURRENCY>          U.S. DOLLAR
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   12-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1997
<PERIOD-START>                             JAN-01-1997
<PERIOD-END>                               DEC-31-1997
<EXCHANGE-RATE>                                      1
<DEBT-HELD-FOR-SALE>                         2,528,290
<DEBT-CARRYING-VALUE>                                0
<DEBT-MARKET-VALUE>                                  0
<EQUITIES>                                      11,757
<MORTGAGE>                                     165,452
<REAL-ESTATE>                                        0
<TOTAL-INVEST>                               3,634,001
<CASH>                                          37,395
<RECOVER-REINSURE>                             316,156
<DEFERRED-ACQUISITION>                         289,842
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                               4,673,550
<POLICY-LOSSES>                              3,213,811
<UNEARNED-PREMIUMS>                                  0
<POLICY-OTHER>                                 344,848
<POLICY-HOLDER-FUNDS>                                0
<NOTES-PAYABLE>                                106,830
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
<PREFERRED>                                          0
<COMMON>                                           261
<OTHER-SE>                                     499,060
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                 4,673,550
<PREMIUMS>                                     835,460
<INVESTMENT-INCOME>                            188,333
<INVESTMENT-GAINS>                                 334
<OTHER-INCOME>                                  47,388
<BENEFITS>                                     658,062
<UNDERWRITING-AMORTIZATION>                     76,989
<UNDERWRITING-OTHER>                            99,493
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                 84,071
<INCOME-TAX>                                         0
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                             55,321
<DISCONTINUED>                                       0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0
<CHANGES>                                            0
<NET-INCOME>                                    54,619
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                     2.15
<EPS-DILUTED>                                     2.13
<RESERVE-OPEN>                                       0
<PROVISION-CURRENT>                                  0
<PROVISION-PRIOR>                                    0
<PAYMENTS-CURRENT>                                   0
<PAYMENTS-PRIOR>                                     0
<RESERVE-CLOSE>                                      0
<CUMULATIVE-DEFICIENCY>                              0