<ARTICLE> 7
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   3-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1998
<PERIOD-START>                             JAN-01-1998
<PERIOD-END>                               MAR-31-1998
<DEBT-HELD-FOR-SALE>                           656,829
<DEBT-CARRYING-VALUE>                           14,020
<DEBT-MARKET-VALUE>                             14,180
<EQUITIES>                                           0
<MORTGAGE>                                           0
<REAL-ESTATE>                                   29,658
<TOTAL-INVEST>                                 791,826
<CASH>                                          81,319
<RECOVER-REINSURE>                              16,040<F1>
<DEFERRED-ACQUISITION>                          24,681
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                               1,205,022
<POLICY-LOSSES>                                713,473
<UNEARNED-PREMIUMS>                             49,469
<POLICY-OTHER>                                       0
<POLICY-HOLDER-FUNDS>                            2,823
<NOTES-PAYABLE>                                121,750
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
<PREFERRED>                                          0
<COMMON>                                             0
<OTHER-SE>                                     247,021
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                 1,205,022
<PREMIUMS>                                     139,612
<INVESTMENT-INCOME>                              9,627
<INVESTMENT-GAINS>                                 226
<OTHER-INCOME>                                     166
<BENEFITS>                                     114,286
<UNDERWRITING-AMORTIZATION>                      8,218
<UNDERWRITING-OTHER>                            33,914<F2>
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                (9,575)
<INCOME-TAX>                                   (5,394)
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                            (4,181)
<DISCONTINUED>                                       0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0
<CHANGES>                                            0
<NET-INCOME>                                   (4,181)
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                        0<F3>
<EPS-DILUTED>                                        0<F3>
<RESERVE-OPEN>                                 521,550
<PROVISION-CURRENT>                            114,888
<PROVISION-PRIOR>                                (602)
<PAYMENTS-CURRENT>                            (11,980)
<PAYMENTS-PRIOR>                             (106,473)
<RESERVE-CLOSE>                                517,383
<CUMULATIVE-DEFICIENCY>                          (602)
<FN>
<F1>REINSURANCE RECOVERABLE ON PAID LOSSES.
<F2>EXCLUDES INTEREST, GOODWILL AND DIVIDENDS.
<F3>EPS INFORMATION NOT APPLICABLE AS BIG WAS A WHOLLY
    OWNED SUBSIDIARY OF FHC.
</FN>