<ARTICLE> 7
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   12-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          SEP-30-1997
<PERIOD-START>                             OCT-01-1996
<PERIOD-END>                               SEP-30-1997
<DEBT-HELD-FOR-SALE>                         3,290,336
<DEBT-CARRYING-VALUE>                                0
<DEBT-MARKET-VALUE>                                  0
<EQUITIES>                                     634,970
<MORTGAGE>                                           0
<REAL-ESTATE>                                        0
<TOTAL-INVEST>                               4,368,429
<CASH>                                         106,336
<RECOVER-REINSURE>                                   0
<DEFERRED-ACQUISITION>                          27,018
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                               5,001,546
<POLICY-LOSSES>                              1,869,995
<UNEARNED-PREMIUMS>                            400,689
<POLICY-OTHER>                                  36,218
<POLICY-HOLDER-FUNDS>                                0
<NOTES-PAYABLE>                                      0
<COMMON>                                         6,911
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
<PREFERRED>                                          0
<OTHER-SE>                                   2,612,283
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                 5,001,546
<PREMIUMS>                                     644,838
<INVESTMENT-INCOME>                            237,823
<INVESTMENT-GAINS>                             127,982
<OTHER-INCOME>                                       0
<BENEFITS>                                     435,941
<UNDERWRITING-AMORTIZATION>                     46,957
<UNDERWRITING-OTHER>                                 0
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                461,354
<INCOME-TAX>                                         0
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                            461,354
<DISCONTINUED>                                       0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0
<CHANGES>                                            0
<NET-INCOME>                                   461,354
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                     8.02
<EPS-DILUTED>                                     7.96
<RESERVE-OPEN>                                       0
<PROVISION-CURRENT>                                  0
<PROVISION-PRIOR>                                    0
<PAYMENTS-CURRENT>                                   0
<PAYMENTS-PRIOR>                                     0
<RESERVE-CLOSE>                                      0
<CUMULATIVE-DEFICIENCY>                              0