<TABLE> <S> <C>

<ARTICLE> 7
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
       
<S>                             <C>                     <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   3-MOS                   9-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1997             DEC-31-1997
<PERIOD-START>                             JUL-01-1997             JAN-01-1997
<PERIOD-END>                               SEP-30-1997             SEP-30-1997
<DEBT-HELD-FOR-SALE>                            51,284                  51,284
<DEBT-CARRYING-VALUE>                                0                       0
<DEBT-MARKET-VALUE>                                  0                       0
<EQUITIES>                                       4,168                   4,168
<MORTGAGE>                                           0                       0
<REAL-ESTATE>                                        0                       0
<TOTAL-INVEST>                                  55,452                  55,452
<CASH>                                          76,339                  76,339
<RECOVER-REINSURE>                               4,399                   4,399
<DEFERRED-ACQUISITION>                           3,683                   3,683
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                 185,791                 185,791
<POLICY-LOSSES>                                 51,710                  51,710
<UNEARNED-PREMIUMS>                             20,973                  20,973
<POLICY-OTHER>                                       0                       0
<POLICY-HOLDER-FUNDS>                                0                       0
<NOTES-PAYABLE>                                      0                       0
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0                       0
<PREFERRED>                                          0                       0
<COMMON>                                         7,700                   7,700
<OTHER-SE>                                      76,223                  76,223
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                   185,791                 185,791
<PREMIUMS>                                      12,977                  40,537
<INVESTMENT-INCOME>                             49,934                  52,069
<INVESTMENT-GAINS>                              48,845                  48,861
<OTHER-INCOME>                                     309                     735
<BENEFITS>                                      10,017                  24,615
<UNDERWRITING-AMORTIZATION>                      3,299                   9,550
<UNDERWRITING-OTHER>                             5,717                  12,560
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                 44,073                  46,128
<INCOME-TAX>                                    14,995                  15,614
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                             29,078                  30,514
<DISCONTINUED>                                       0                       0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0                       0
<CHANGES>                                            0                       0
<NET-INCOME>                                    30,032                  33,871
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                     3.92                    4.42
<EPS-DILUTED>                                     3.91                    4.41
<RESERVE-OPEN>                                  37,036                  37,057
<PROVISION-CURRENT>                              7,816                  22,414
<PROVISION-PRIOR>                                2,201                   2,201
<PAYMENTS-CURRENT>                               1,620                   5,173
<PAYMENTS-PRIOR>                                 5,250                  16,316
<RESERVE-CLOSE>                                 40,183                  40,183
<CUMULATIVE-DEFICIENCY>                          2,201                   2,201
        

</TABLE>