<ARTICLE> 7 <MULTIPLIER> 1,000 <PERIOD-TYPE> 9-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> DEC-31-1998 <PERIOD-START> JAN-01-1998 <PERIOD-END> SEP-30-1998 <DEBT-HELD-FOR-SALE> 276,516 <DEBT-CARRYING-VALUE> 623,157 <DEBT-MARKET-VALUE> 666,571 <EQUITIES> 97,254 <MORTGAGE> 2,792 <REAL-ESTATE> 0 <TOTAL-INVEST> 1,038,653 <CASH> 0 <RECOVER-REINSURE> 15,699 <DEFERRED-ACQUISITION> 66,732 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 1,214,039 <POLICY-LOSSES> 796,441 <UNEARNED-PREMIUMS> 121,059 <POLICY-OTHER> 0 <POLICY-HOLDER-FUNDS> 0 <NOTES-PAYABLE> 0 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 0 <COMMON> 33,639 <OTHER-SE> 213,929 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 247,568 <PREMIUMS> 180,820 <INVESTMENT-INCOME> 49,986 <INVESTMENT-GAINS> 21,741 <OTHER-INCOME> 1,442 <BENEFITS> 144,897 <UNDERWRITING-AMORTIZATION> 35,251 <UNDERWRITING-OTHER> 50,386 <INCOME-PRETAX> 23,455 <INCOME-TAX> 3,926 <INCOME-CONTINUING> 19,529 <DISCONTINUED> 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> 19,529 <EPS-PRIMARY> 1.86 <EPS-DILUTED> 1.86 <RESERVE-OPEN> 0 <PROVISION-CURRENT> 0 <PROVISION-PRIOR> 0 <PAYMENTS-CURRENT> 0 <PAYMENTS-PRIOR> 0 <RESERVE-CLOSE> 0 <CUMULATIVE-DEFICIENCY> 0