<ARTICLE> 7 <MULTIPLIER> 1,000 <PERIOD-TYPE> 6-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> DEC-31-1998 <PERIOD-START> JAN-01-1998 <PERIOD-END> JUN-30-1998 <DEBT-HELD-FOR-SALE> 235,094 <DEBT-CARRYING-VALUE> 640,823 <DEBT-MARKET-VALUE> 675,342 <EQUITIES> 105,421 <MORTGAGE> 2,814 <REAL-ESTATE> 0 <TOTAL-INVEST> 1,026,845 <CASH> 0 <RECOVER-REINSURE> 14,964 <DEFERRED-ACQUISITION> 68,673 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 1,198,922 <POLICY-LOSSES> 763,855 <UNEARNED-PREMIUMS> 117,867 <POLICY-OTHER> 0 <POLICY-HOLDER-FUNDS> 0 <NOTES-PAYABLE> 0 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 0 <COMMON> 35,639 <OTHER-SE> 220,697 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 256,336 <PREMIUMS> 119,277 <INVESTMENT-INCOME> 33,022 <INVESTMENT-GAINS> 21,423 <OTHER-INCOME> 955 <BENEFITS> 91,475 <UNDERWRITING-AMORTIZATION> 23,083 <UNDERWRITING-OTHER> 30,714 <INCOME-PRETAX> 29,405 <INCOME-TAX> 7,913 <INCOME-CONTINUING> 21,492 <DISCONTINUED> 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> 21,492 <EPS-PRIMARY> 2.01 <EPS-DILUTED> 2.01 <RESERVE-OPEN> 0 <PROVISION-CURRENT> 0 <PROVISION-PRIOR> 0 <PAYMENTS-CURRENT> 0 <PAYMENTS-PRIOR> 0 <RESERVE-CLOSE> 0 <CUMULATIVE-DEFICIENCY> 0