<PAGE>   1
                                                                    Exhibit 24.1




                                POWER OF ATTORNEY


      KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS THAT the undersigned director of Mid Ocean
Limited, a Cayman Islands company, does hereby constitute and appoint Robert J.
Newhouse, Jr., Michael A. Butt, and Charles F. Hays, and each of them acting
singly, a true and lawful attorney in his name, place, and stead, in any and all
capacities, to sign his or her name to the Annual Report of Mid Ocean Limited on
Form 10-K for the year ended October 31, 1997, under the Securities Exchange Act
of 1934, as amended, and to any and all amendments thereto, and to cause the
same to filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, granting unto said
attorneys and each of them full power and authority to do and perform any act
and thing necessary and proper to be done in the premises, as fully and to all
intents and purposes as the undersigned could do if personally present, and the
undersigned hereby ratifies and confirms all that said attorneys or any one of
them shall lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.

Dated:  January 28, 1998



                                          /s/ Robert Newhouse
                                          --------------------------
                                              Robert J. Newhouse,Jr.
<PAGE>   2
                                POWER OF ATTORNEY


      KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS THAT the undersigned director of Mid Ocean
Limited, a Cayman Islands company, does hereby constitute and appoint Robert J.
Newhouse, Jr., Michael A. Butt, and Charles F. Hays, and each of them acting
singly, a true and lawful attorney in his name, place, and stead, in any and all
capacities, to sign his or her name to the Annual Report of Mid Ocean Limited on
Form 10-K for the year ended October 31, 1997, under the Securities Exchange Act
of 1934, as amended, and to any and all amendments thereto, and to cause the
same to filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, granting unto said
attorneys and each of them full power and authority to do and perform any act
and thing necessary and proper to be done in the premises, as fully and to all
intents and purposes as the undersigned could do if personally present, and the
undersigned hereby ratifies and confirms all that said attorneys or any one of
them shall lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.

Dated:  January 28, 1998



                                          /s/ Frank Borelli
                                          --------------------
                                              Frank J. Borelli
<PAGE>   3
                                POWER OF ATTORNEY


      KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS THAT the undersigned director of Mid Ocean
Limited, a Cayman Islands company, does hereby constitute and appoint Robert J.
Newhouse, Jr., Michael A. Butt, and Charles F. Hays, and each of them acting
singly, a true and lawful attorney in his name, place, and stead, in any and all
capacities, to sign his or her name to the Annual Report of Mid Ocean Limited on
Form 10-K for the year ended October 31, 1997, under the Securities Exchange Act
of 1934, as amended, and to any and all amendments thereto, and to cause the
same to filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, granting unto said
attorneys and each of them full power and authority to do and perform any act
and thing necessary and proper to be done in the premises, as fully and to all
intents and purposes as the undersigned could do if personally present, and the
undersigned hereby ratifies and confirms all that said attorneys or any one of
them shall lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.

Dated:  January 28, 1998



                                          /s/ Brian Corby
                                          -------------------
                                              Sir Brian Corby
<PAGE>   4
                                POWER OF ATTORNEY


      KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS THAT the undersigned director of Mid Ocean
Limited, a Cayman Islands company, does hereby constitute and appoint Robert J.
Newhouse, Jr., Michael A. Butt, and Charles F. Hays, and each of them acting
singly, a true and lawful attorney in his name, place, and stead, in any and all
capacities, to sign his or her name to the Annual Report of Mid Ocean Limited on
Form 10-K for the year ended October 31, 1997, under the Securities Exchange Act
of 1934, as amended, and to any and all amendments thereto, and to cause the
same to filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, granting unto said
attorneys and each of them full power and authority to do and perform any act
and thing necessary and proper to be done in the premises, as fully and to all
intents and purposes as the undersigned could do if personally present, and the
undersigned hereby ratifies and confirms all that said attorneys or any one of
them shall lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.

Dated:  January 28, 1998



                                          /s/ Geoffrey Elliott
                                          --------------------
                                              Geoffrey Elliott
<PAGE>   5
                                POWER OF ATTORNEY


      KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS THAT the undersigned director of Mid Ocean
Limited, a Cayman Islands company, does hereby constitute and appoint Robert J.
Newhouse, Jr., Michael A. Butt, and Charles F. Hays, and each of them acting
singly, a true and lawful attorney in his name, place, and stead, in any and all
capacities, to sign his or her name to the Annual Report of Mid Ocean Limited on
Form 10-K for the year ended October 31, 1997, under the Securities Exchange Act
of 1934, as amended, and to any and all amendments thereto, and to cause the
same to filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, granting unto said
attorneys and each of them full power and authority to do and perform any act
and thing necessary and proper to be done in the premises, as fully and to all
intents and purposes as the undersigned could do if personally present, and the
undersigned hereby ratifies and confirms all that said attorneys or any one of
them shall lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.

Dated:  January 28, 1998



                                          /s/ Michael Esposito
                                          ----------------------------
                                              Michael P. Esposito, Jr.
<PAGE>   6
                                POWER OF ATTORNEY


      KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS THAT the undersigned director of Mid Ocean
Limited, a Cayman Islands company, does hereby constitute and appoint Robert J.
Newhouse, Jr., Michael A. Butt, and Charles F. Hays, and each of them acting
singly, a true and lawful attorney in his name, place, and stead, in any and all
capacities, to sign his or her name to the Annual Report of Mid Ocean Limited on
Form 10-K for the year ended October 31, 1997, under the Securities Exchange Act
of 1934, as amended, and to any and all amendments thereto, and to cause the
same to filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, granting unto said
attorneys and each of them full power and authority to do and perform any act
and thing necessary and proper to be done in the premises, as fully and to all
intents and purposes as the undersigned could do if personally present, and the
undersigned hereby ratifies and confirms all that said attorneys or any one of
them shall lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.

Dated:  January 28, 1998



                                          /s/ Robert Glauber
                                          ---------------------
                                              Robert R. Glauber
<PAGE>   7
                                POWER OF ATTORNEY


      KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS THAT the undersigned director of Mid Ocean
Limited, a Cayman Islands company, does hereby constitute and appoint Robert J.
Newhouse, Jr., Michael A. Butt, and Charles F. Hays, and each of them acting
singly, a true and lawful attorney in his name, place, and stead, in any and all
capacities, to sign his or her name to the Annual Report of Mid Ocean Limited on
Form 10-K for the year ended October 31, 1997, under the Securities Exchange Act
of 1934, as amended, and to any and all amendments thereto, and to cause the
same to filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, granting unto said
attorneys and each of them full power and authority to do and perform any act
and thing necessary and proper to be done in the premises, as fully and to all
intents and purposes as the undersigned could do if personally present, and the
undersigned hereby ratifies and confirms all that said attorneys or any one of
them shall lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.

Dated:  January 28, 1998



                                          /s/ Henry Harder
                                          -------------------
                                              Henry U. Harder
<PAGE>   8
                                POWER OF ATTORNEY


      KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS THAT the undersigned director of Mid Ocean
Limited, a Cayman Islands company, does hereby constitute and appoint Robert J.
Newhouse, Jr., Michael A. Butt, and Charles F. Hays, and each of them acting
singly, a true and lawful attorney in his name, place, and stead, in any and all
capacities, to sign his or her name to the Annual Report of Mid Ocean Limited on
Form 10-K for the year ended October 31, 1997, under the Securities Exchange Act
of 1934, as amended, and to any and all amendments thereto, and to cause the
same to filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, granting unto said
attorneys and each of them full power and authority to do and perform any act
and thing necessary and proper to be done in the premises, as fully and to all
intents and purposes as the undersigned could do if personally present, and the
undersigned hereby ratifies and confirms all that said attorneys or any one of
them shall lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.

Dated:  January 28, 1998



                                          /s/ Paul Jeanbart
                                          -----------------
                                              Paul Jeanbart
<PAGE>   9
                                POWER OF ATTORNEY


      KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS THAT the undersigned director of Mid Ocean
Limited, a Cayman Islands company, does hereby constitute and appoint Robert J.
Newhouse, Jr., Michael A. Butt, and Charles F. Hays, and each of them acting
singly, a true and lawful attorney in his name, place, and stead, in any and all
capacities, to sign his or her name to the Annual Report of Mid Ocean Limited on
Form 10-K for the year ended October 31, 1997, under the Securities Exchange Act
of 1934, as amended, and to any and all amendments thereto, and to cause the
same to filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, granting unto said
attorneys and each of them full power and authority to do and perform any act
and thing necessary and proper to be done in the premises, as fully and to all
intents and purposes as the undersigned could do if personally present, and the
undersigned hereby ratifies and confirms all that said attorneys or any one of
them shall lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.

Dated:  January 28, 1998



                                          /s/ Roberto Mendoza
                                          -------------------
                                              Roberto Mendoza
<PAGE>   10
                                POWER OF ATTORNEY


      KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS THAT the undersigned director of Mid Ocean
Limited, a Cayman Islands company, does hereby constitute and appoint Robert J.
Newhouse, Jr., Michael A. Butt, and Charles F. Hays, and each of them acting
singly, a true and lawful attorney in his name, place, and stead, in any and all
capacities, to sign his or her name to the Annual Report of Mid Ocean Limited on
Form 10-K for the year ended October 31, 1997, under the Securities Exchange Act
of 1934, as amended, and to any and all amendments thereto, and to cause the
same to filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, granting unto said
attorneys and each of them full power and authority to do and perform any act
and thing necessary and proper to be done in the premises, as fully and to all
intents and purposes as the undersigned could do if personally present, and the
undersigned hereby ratifies and confirms all that said attorneys or any one of
them shall lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.

Dated:  January 28, 1998



                                          /s/ Brian O'Hara
                                          ----------------
                                              Brian O'Hara
<PAGE>   11
                                POWER OF ATTORNEY


      KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS THAT the undersigned director of Mid Ocean
Limited, a Cayman Islands company, does hereby constitute and appoint Robert J.
Newhouse, Jr., Michael A. Butt, and Charles F. Hays, and each of them acting
singly, a true and lawful attorney in his name, place, and stead, in any and all
capacities, to sign his or her name to the Annual Report of Mid Ocean Limited on
Form 10-K for the year ended October 31, 1997, under the Securities Exchange Act
of 1934, as amended, and to any and all amendments thereto, and to cause the
same to filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, granting unto said
attorneys and each of them full power and authority to do and perform any act
and thing necessary and proper to be done in the premises, as fully and to all
intents and purposes as the undersigned could do if personally present, and the
undersigned hereby ratifies and confirms all that said attorneys or any one of
them shall lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.

Dated:  January 28, 1998



                                          /s/ John Pasquesi
                                          -----------------
                                              John Pasquesi
<PAGE>   12
                                POWER OF ATTORNEY


      KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS THAT the undersigned director of Mid Ocean
Limited, a Cayman Islands company, does hereby constitute and appoint Robert J.
Newhouse, Jr., Michael A. Butt, and Charles F. Hays, and each of them acting
singly, a true and lawful attorney in his name, place, and stead, in any and all
capacities, to sign his or her name to the Annual Report of Mid Ocean Limited on
Form 10-K for the year ended October 31, 1997, under the Securities Exchange Act
of 1934, as amended, and to any and all amendments thereto, and to cause the
same to filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, granting unto said
attorneys and each of them full power and authority to do and perform any act
and thing necessary and proper to be done in the premises, as fully and to all
intents and purposes as the undersigned could do if personally present, and the
undersigned hereby ratifies and confirms all that said attorneys or any one of
them shall lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.

Dated:  January 28, 1998



                                          /s/ Henry Peters
                                          -------------------
                                              Henry H. Peters
<PAGE>   13
                                POWER OF ATTORNEY


      KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS THAT the undersigned director of Mid Ocean
Limited, a Cayman Islands company, does hereby constitute and appoint Robert J.
Newhouse, Jr., Michael A. Butt, and Charles F. Hays, and each of them acting
singly, a true and lawful attorney in his name, place, and stead, in any and all
capacities, to sign his or her name to the Annual Report of Mid Ocean Limited on
Form 10-K for the year ended October 31, 1997, under the Securities Exchange Act
of 1934, as amended, and to any and all amendments thereto, and to cause the
same to filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, granting unto said
attorneys and each of them full power and authority to do and perform any act
and thing necessary and proper to be done in the premises, as fully and to all
intents and purposes as the undersigned could do if personally present, and the
undersigned hereby ratifies and confirms all that said attorneys or any one of
them shall lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.

Dated:  January 28, 1998



                                          /s/Jeffrey Tabak
                                          -------------------
                                             Jeffrey S. Tabak
<PAGE>   14
                                POWER OF ATTORNEY


      KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS THAT the undersigned director of Mid Ocean
Limited, a Cayman Islands company, does hereby constitute and appoint Robert J.
Newhouse, Jr., Michael A. Butt, and Charles F. Hays, and each of them acting
singly, a true and lawful attorney in his name, place, and stead, in any and all
capacities, to sign his or her name to the Annual Report of Mid Ocean Limited on
Form 10-K for the year ended October 31, 1997, under the Securities Exchange Act
of 1934, as amended, and to any and all amendments thereto, and to cause the
same to filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, granting unto said
attorneys and each of them full power and authority to do and perform any act
and thing necessary and proper to be done in the premises, as fully and to all
intents and purposes as the undersigned could do if personally present, and the
undersigned hereby ratifies and confirms all that said attorneys or any one of
them shall lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.

Dated:  January 28, 1998



                                          /s/ Frank Tasco
                                          ------------------
                                              Frank J. Tasco